Nairobi set to be Africa’s largest megacity by 2050
Projections indicate that Nairobi will become Africa's largest megacity by 2050, with a population expected to reach 57.2 million. This rapid urbanization poses significant challenges for infrastructure, housing, and job creation in Kenya.
Why it matters
Rapid, unplanned urbanization in developing nations often leads to infrastructure strain and economic inequality, impacting regional stability and development goals.
Nairobi is set to become Africa's largest metropolitan area by 2050, overtaking megacities such as Cairo and Lagos, amid a surge in urbanisation, putting pressure on the capital’s infrastructure, housing and power to provide jobs.
Projections by Africapolis, a research and data visualisation tool developed by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), show Nairobi's population will hit 57.2 million by 2050, up from 15.95 million in 2025.
This will place Kenya’s capital ahead of Cairo's 55.5 million and Lagos' 36.9 million, with Egypt and Nigeria’s capital currently having the largest population in the continent.
The growth of Nairobi’s population is the product of urbanisation and the search for opportunities like jobs by school leavers from other counties, putting the devolved system of governance in the spotlight.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in