The fastest growing city in Africa is Bujumbura, in Burundi. In 2020, this city had an estimated population of about one million. By 2035, the population of Bujumbura could increase by 123 percent and reach roughly 2.3 million people. Zinder, in Niger, had about half million inhabitants in 2020 and, with a growth rate of 118 percent, is Africa's second fastest growing city. In 2035, Zinder could have over one million residents.

As of 2021, the largest city in whole Africa is Lagos, in Nigeria. Other highly populated cities in Africa are Kinshasa, in Congo, Cairo, and Alexandria, both located in Egypt.

Cairo, in Egypt, ranked as the most populated city in Africa as of 2025, with an estimated population of over 23 million inhabitants living in Greater Cairo. Kinshasa, in Congo, and Lagos, in Nigeria, followed with some 17.8 million and 17.2 million, respectively. Among the 15 largest cities in the continent, another one, Kano, was located in Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa. Population density trends in Africa As of 2023, Africa exhibited a population density of 50.1 individuals per square kilometer. Since 2000, the population density across the continent has been experiencing a consistent annual increment. Projections indicated that the average population residing within each square kilometer would rise to approximately 58.5 by the year 2030. Moreover, Mauritius stood out as the African nation with the most elevated population density, exceeding 627 individuals per square kilometre. Mauritius possesses one of the most compact territories on the continent, a factor that significantly influences its high population density. Urbanization dynamics in Africa The urbanization rate in Africa was anticipated to reach close to 45.5 percent in 2024. Urbanization across the continent has consistently risen since 2000, with urban areas accommodating only around a third of the total population then. This trajectory is projected to continue its rise in the years ahead. Nevertheless, the distribution between rural and urban populations shows remarkable diversity throughout the continent. In 2024, Gabon and Libya stood out as Africa’s most urbanized nations, each surpassing 80 percent urbanization. As of the same year, Africa's population was estimated to expand by 2.27 percent compared to the preceding year. Since 2000, the population growth rate across the continent has consistently exceeded 2.3 percent, reaching its pinnacle at 2.63 percent in 2013. Although the growth rate has experienced a deceleration, Africa's population will persistently grow significantly in the forthcoming years.

In 2024, Gabon had the highest urbanization rate in Africa, with over 90 percent of the population living in urban areas. Libya and Djibouti followed at around 82 percent and 79 percent, respectively. On the other hand, many countries on the continent had the majority of the population residing in rural areas. As of 2023, urbanization in Malawi, Rwanda, Niger, and Burundi was below 20 percent. A growing urban population On average, the African urbanization rate stood at approximately 45 percent in 2023. The number of people living in urban areas has been growing steadily since 2000 and is forecast to increase further in the coming years. The urbanization process is particularly rapid in Burundi, Uganda, and Tanzania. In these countries, the urban population grew by over five percent in 2023 compared to the previous year. However, in 39 countries on the continent, the urban population growth was over three percent. The most populous cities in Africa Africa’s largest city is Lagos in Nigeria, counting around nine million people. It is followed by Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Cairo in Egypt, each with over seven million inhabitants. Moreover, other cities on the continent are growing rapidly. The population of Bujumbura in Burundi will increase by 123 percent between 2020 and 2035, registering the highest growth rate on the continent. Other fast-growing cities are Zinder in Niger, Kampala in Uganda, and Kabinda in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Nigeria has the largest population in Africa. As of 2025, the country counted over 237.5 million individuals, whereas Ethiopia, which ranked second, has around 135.5 million inhabitants. Egypt registered the largest population in North Africa, reaching nearly 118.4 million people. In terms of inhabitants per square kilometer, Nigeria only ranked seventh, while Mauritius had the highest population density on the whole African continent in 2023. The fastest-growing world region Africa is the second most populous continent in the world, after Asia. Nevertheless, Africa records the highest growth rate worldwide, with figures rising by over two percent every year. In some countries, such as Chad, South Sudan, Somalia, and the Central African Republic, the population increase peaks at over 3.4 percent. With so many births, Africa is also the youngest continent in the world. However, this coincides with a low life expectancy. African cities on the rise The last decades have seen high urbanization rates in Asia, mainly in China and India. African cities are also growing at large rates. Indeed, the continent has three megacities and is expected to add four more by 2050. Furthermore, Africa's fastest-growing cities are forecast to be Bujumbura, in Burundi, and Zinder, Nigeria, by 2035.

According to Cognitive Market Research, the global smart city platforms market size will be USD 192541.2 million in 2024. It will expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.00% from 2024 to 2031.

North America held the major market share for more than 40% of the global revenue with a market size of USD 77016.48 million in 2024 and will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.2% from 2024 to 2031.
Europe accounted for a market share of over 30% of the global revenue with a market size of USD 57762.36 million.
Asia Pacific held a market share of around 23% of the global revenue with a market size of USD 44284.48 million in 2024 and will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.0% from 2024 to 2031.
Latin America had a market share of more than 5% of the global revenue with a market size of USD 9627.06 million in 2024 and will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.4% from 2024 to 2031.
Middle East and Africa had a market share of around 2% of the global revenue and was estimated at a market size of USD 3850.82 million in 2024 and will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.7% from 2024 to 2031.
The data management platform is the fastest growing segment of the smart city platforms industry

Market Dynamics of Smart city platforms Market

Key Drivers for Smart city platforms Market

Urbanization and population growth to drive market growth

Urbanization and population growth are key drivers of the Smart City Platforms Market, as they create the need for more efficient urban management solutions. Rapid migration to cities places immense pressure on infrastructure, transportation, energy, and public services. To address these challenges, smart city platforms enable cities to optimize resource allocation, improve traffic management, and enhance public safety through data-driven decision-making. As urban populations grow, the demand for sustainable and scalable solutions increases, leading to investments in technologies like IoT, artificial intelligence, and data analytics. These platforms allow city administrators to manage services in real time, ensuring smoother operations and better living conditions. Furthermore, governments worldwide are supporting smart city initiatives to handle the socio-economic impacts of urbanization, boosting the market's expansion.

Increased demand for efficient public services to boost market growth

The increased demand for efficient public services is a major driver of growth in the Smart City Platforms Market. As urban populations expand, cities face pressure to improve the efficiency and quality of essential services such as transportation, healthcare, energy management, and waste disposal. Smart city platforms provide a solution by integrating various urban services through the use of IoT devices, big data, and real-time analytics. By leveraging these technologies, cities can streamline operations, reduce costs, and respond more effectively to residents' needs. For example, smart traffic systems can alleviate congestion, while intelligent energy grids optimize power consumption. Citizens also expect more responsive and transparent services, pushing governments to adopt smart platforms to enhance service delivery and public engagement. This rising demand for smarter, more efficient services is a key factor driving market growth.

Restraint Factor for the Smart city platforms Market

Data privacy and security concerns to limit market growth

Data privacy and security concerns pose significant challenges to the growth of the Smart City Platforms Market. As these platforms rely on massive amounts of data collected from IoT devices, sensors, and city infrastructure, they become potential targets for cyberattacks and unauthorized access. Breaches in public data can compromise critical systems, including transportation, healthcare, and public safety, leading to severe consequences. Citizens are increasingly concerned about how their personal information is being used and protected, which raises issues around trust and transparency. Furthermore, stringent regulations like GDPR and other regional data protection laws require cities to ensure robust security measures, which can increase implementation costs and complexity. The fear of potential data misuse or leaks can slow down the adoption of smart city technologies, limiting market growth despite their benefits.

Impact of Covid-19 on the ...

Nigeria is the African country with the largest population, counting over 230 million people. As of 2024, the largest city in Nigeria was Lagos, which is also the largest city in sub-Saharan Africa in terms of population size. The city counts more than nine million inhabitants, whereas Kano, the second most populous city, registers around 3.6 million inhabitants. Lagos is the main financial, cultural, and educational center in the country. Where Africa’s urban population is booming The metropolitan area of Lagos is also among the largest urban agglomerations in the world. Besides Lagos, another most populated citiy in Africa is Cairo, in Egypt. However, Africa’s urban population is booming in other relatively smaller cities. For instance, the population of Bujumbura, in Burundi, could grow by 123 percent between 2020 and 2035, making it the fastest growing city in Africa and likely in the world. Similarly, Zinder, in Niger, could reach over one million inhabitants by 2035, the second fastest growing city. Demographic urban shift More than half of the world’s population lives in urban areas. In the next decades, this will increase, especially in Africa and Asia. In 2020, over 80 percent of the population in Northern America was living in urban areas, the highest share in the world. In Africa, the degree of urbanization was about 40 percent, the lowest among all continents. Meeting the needs of a fast-growing population can be a challenge, especially in low-income countries. Therefore, there will be a growing necessity to implement policies to sustainably improve people’s lives in rural and urban areas.

East Africa is one of the fastest urbanizing areas in the whole continent. From 2000 to 2018, urbanization in the region grew by 4.5 percent. Uganda and Burundi had the fastest urban growth rates, at six and 5.7 percent, respectively. In contrast, Djibouti's urban population expanded by 1.6 percent. Even though, the country was still the most urbanized in East Africa, with a share of close to 78 percent of urban population, in 2018.

Niger had the highest birth rate in the world in 2024, with a birth rate of 46.6 births per 1,000 inhabitants. Angola, Benin, Mali, and Uganda followed. Except for Afghanistan, all 20 countries with the highest birth rates in the world were located in Sub-Saharan Africa. High infant mortality The reasons behind the high birth rates in many Sub-Saharan African countries are manyfold, but a major reason is that infant mortality remains high on the continent, despite decreasing steadily over the past decades, resulting in high birth rates to counter death rates. Moreover, many nations in Sub-Saharan Africa are highly reliant on small-scale farming, meaning that more hands are of importance. Additionally, polygamy is not uncommon in the region, and having many children is often seen as a symbol of status. Fastest-growing populations As the high fertility rates coincide with decreasing death rates, countries in Sub-Saharan Africa have the highest population growth rates in the world. As a result, Africa's population is forecast to increase from 1.4 billion in 2022 to over 3.9 billion by 2100.