The population and urbanization rate in Africa are rising simultaneously. This leads to the expansion of existing cities and the emergence of new urban areas. The population of Africa is expected to double by 2050 and to reach more than 2 billion people.
According to the research of the World Economic Forum, the fastest growing cities in Africa are Lagos, Kinshasa, Cairo, Luanda and Nairobi.
Below you can find the list of the top 25 largest African cities in terms of population and growth rate.
Lagos, Nigeria – 21 Million

Lagos is located in the Western Coast of Nigeria and it is the most populous city in Nigeria. Lagos is the financial and business center of Nigeria with more than 20 million population. Lagos is also home of the largest port of Nigeria.
Cairo, Egypt – 20.5 Million

Cairo is the capital of Egypt. It is one of the largest cities in Africa with more than 20 million people living in the urban area. Cairo is located near the Nile Delta, in the center of Egypt. The city is renowned for its historic culture dating back to Ancient Egypt. It is an important hub for business, finance and trade.
Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo – 14.3 Million

Kinshasa is located alongside the Congo River and it is facing Brazzaville, Republic of Congo. The city is the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The economy of DRC is heavily dependent on Kinshasa. The official language is French.
Giza, Egypt – 8.8 Million

Giza is located alongside the Nile River and it is very close to Cairo. The pyramids are located very close to the city center. It is an important hub for tourism and trade.
Luanda, Angola – 8.4 Million

Luanda is the capital of Angola, it is also the largest city in the country. The Port of Luanda contributes greatly to the city economy. The government and headquarters of major companies are located in the city.
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania – 6 Million

Dar es Salaam is the largest city of Tanzania with a population of more than 6 million people. Although the capital is Dodoma, many government offices and embassies are located in Dar es Salaam. The Port of Dar es Salaam acts as the main contributor to the city economy. The city grows thanks to the import, distribution, export and trade activities.
Johannesburg, South Africa – 5.8 Million

Johannesburg is the largest city in South Africa and the financial heart of the country. Most of the international companies and banks are located in the city. The city hosted the 2010 FIFA World Cup. It is home of the University of Johannesburg and University of Witwatersrand.
Khartoum, Sudan – 5.3 Million

Khartoum is the capital of Sudan. Khartoum is located at the merge of Nile River. The city is the home of banking, trade and manufacturing activities in Sudan