Africa has the fastest urban growth in the world. The continent’s population is projected to double between now and 2050. Two-thirds of this growth will be absorbed by urban areas and, in the next 30 years, cities will be home to an additional 950 million people. This offers great opportunities, but also challenges for African citizens, businesses, governments and their partners. The political development agenda needs to be revamped as policy decisions taken today will have lasting consequences for generations.
The pace of urbanisation in Africa over the last 60 years is without precedent. In 2015, Kenya had more urban dwellers than the entire continent combined in 1950. Africa’s urban population in 2015 was 567 million people, compared to 27 million in 1950. Africa will continue to have the fastest urban growth in the world. The continent’s population is projected to double between now and 2050 and two-thirds of this growth will be absorbed by urban areas. This means that in the next 30 years Africa’s cities will be home to an additional 950 million people.
