Top 5 Most Populated Cities in Africa (2022)

What are the most populated cities in Africa (2022)?

Lagos is the most populated city in Africa, with a population exceeding 24 million. Followed by Cario, Kinshasa, Nairobi, and Johannesburg.

This article will be detailing the top five most populated cities in Africa; their populations and economic viability.

Here are the 5 most populated cities on the African continent:

1. Lagos, Nigeria – 24 Million

Nigeria’s largest city is Lagos and its economic capital. It is also Africa’s fastest-growing city with a population of about 24 million and has the fourth-highest GDP in Africa.

Lagos is where you can find one of the largest tech communities in Africa, it is one of the largest and busiest seaports in Africa. Money yielding city with the popular slogan, “if you can make it in Lagos, you can make it everywhere”.

The Lagos metropolitan area has a total population of roughly 24 million as of 2022, making it the most populous city in Africa.

The city is a major African financial center and is among the top ten of the world’s fastest-growing cities and urban areas.

2. Cairo, Egypt – 21.3 million

Cario is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world. With a population of 21.3 million, the Greater Cairo metropolitan area is the largest urban agglomeration in Africa, the largest in the Arab world and the Middle East, and the sixth-largest in the world by population. Cairo is associated with ancient Egypt, as the Giza pyramid complex and the ancient cities of Memphis and Heliopolis are located in their geographical area.

Egyptian capital has the oldest and largest film and music industries in the Arab world, as well as the world’s second-oldest institution of higher learning, Al-Azhar University.

Cairo is the largest city in Egypt and the second-largest city in Africa.

3. Kinshasa, DR Congo – 14.9 million

Kinshasa is the capital and the largest city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the largest francophone city in the world. Once a site of fishing and trading villages situated along the Congo River,

It is the most important consumer center of the republic and the core of its industrial and commercial activity. The city serves as the headquarters of major public corporations and of privately owned industrial and commercial companies.

Not only is Kinshasa one of the largest French-speaking cities in the world, but it is also Africa’s third-largest metropolitan area after Cairo and Lagos.

As one of the world’s fastest-growing megacities, Kinshasa’s population is estimated at 14.9 million by various sources.

4. Johannesburg, South Africa – 10 million

Johannesburg’s population is estimated at 10 million according to various sources.

Johannesburg is considered the economic hub of the African continent and is often the first choice of destination by job seekers across the continent. The city generates 16% of South Africa’s GDP and employs 12% of the National Workforce.

Not only is Johannesburg the largest city in South Africa and the provincial capital of Gauteng, it is also the wealthiest city in Africa and one of the 50 largest urban areas worldwide.

5. Nairobi, Kenya – 9.6 million

Nairobi is Kenya’s largest city by population and the fifth-largest city in Africa. The last official population was taken in 2009 and at that time were 3,138,369 in the city proper. That number has since grown to approximately 4.9 million. The metro area has over 9.6 million residents.

It has grown to become a vital commercial regional hub. It serves as the home to the regional headquarters of various major international companies and organizations.

Summary 

Here is a quick recap of the top 5 most populated cities in Africa:

1. Lagos, Nigeria – 24 Million
2. Cairo, Egypt – 21.3 million
3. Kinshasa, DR Congo – 14.9 million
4. Johannesburg, South Africa – 10 million
5. Nairobi, Kenya – 9.6 million