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The capital of Malawi, Lilongwe has a population of over one million people. The city is located in the center of the country.
Named after the Lilongwe River, the city is an important economic and transportation hub. It was officially recognized as a town in 1947, and grew in importance following Malawi's independence from British colonial rule in 1964.
Situated in the central plateau of Burkina Faso, the city became an important administrative center during French colonial rule. The city's name is commonly shortened to "Ouaga."
Ouagadougou is the largest city in Burkina Faso. The city was founded in the 11th century CE, and today has a population of over 2.4 million people.
A provincial city in northern Angola, Uíge grew from being a small market center in 1945, to gaining city status in 1956. It was the epicenter of rebel activities against Portuguese occupation in the 1950s. Between 2020 and 2025, its population is predicted to grow 5.92%.
Prior to the Portuguese colonial era, Tete was a Swahili trade center. Tete (or Mitete) means "reed" in the local tongue.
Located on the Zambezi River, Tete had an estimated population of 371,000 in 2020. This is projected to grow to 744,000 by 2035, a 101% increase.
Dar es Salaam means "Abode of Peace," and this city has lived up to its namesake, being one of the most stable in East Africa.
Originally founded by the Sultan of Zanzibar c. 1865, the city's population in 2020 was estimated to be 6.7 million people.
Niamey is Niger's capital and largest city. Its population in 2020 was estimated to be around 1.29 million. This is projected to grow by 101%, to 2.6 million, by 2035.
Located in a pearl millet growing region, the city probably emerged as a cluster of villages in the 18th century. It was developed as a colonial center by the French in the 1890s.
Located east of the Ituri Rainforest, Bunia in Congo is the base of one of the largest UN Peacekeeping Forces in Africa, due to conflict between two ethnic groups.
Despite clashes between rival groups and civilian deaths arising from the conflict, the city is projected to grow from an estimated 679,000 in 2020 to 1.36 million by 2035.
Created in 1984, Gwagwalada is a local government area in the Federal Capital Territory in Nigeria. Its populated is projected to increase from a 2020 estimate of 410,000 to 827,000 by 2035.
Gwagwalada is one of the five local government areas of the Federal Capital Territory (the other four being Abaji, Kuje, Bwari, and Kwali). The Federal Capital Territory includes the city of Abuja. The seat of government moved from Lagos to Abuja in 1992, causing a surge in the population of the Federal Capital Territory ever since.
Known as Rock City to residents, Mwanza is a port city on the southern shore of Lake Victoria. It's the second largest city in Tanzania after Dar es Salaam.
Mwanza city is also the capital city of Mwanza Region. Its population is expected to rise from an estimated 1.12 million in 2020 to 2.26 million by 2035.
Songea is named after a great Ngoni warrior. The city is expected to thrive with the opening of the Mtwara corridor, a major infrastructural project linking cities in involving southern Tanzania, northern Mozambique, eastern Malawi, and eastern Zambia to the Port of Mtwara.
Kabinda is the capital city of Lomami Province in the DRC. It was besieged by fighting between Congolese and Rwandan rebels during the Second Congo War. Today it has a population of over half a million people, and that's expected to reach more than 740,000 by 2035.
A bustling city and prominent cultural center, Kampala's current estimated population is expected to grow to over seven million people by 2035.
A harbor city located on the East Indian Ocean, it's the most important hub for business and government in Tanzania. It's also a prominent center for the arts, fashion, media, film, television, and finance.
Kampala, the capital city and economic engine of Uganda, has a rapidly growing population. Covering a total area of 189 km2 (73 square miles), the city was originally built on seven hills.
The largest city and main port in Burundi, Bujumbura is the economic capital of the country. Exports of coffee, tin, and cotton flow through here.
The city is divided into five urban municipalities, and its population is projected to grow to 1.06 million by 2035, a 118% increase.
Bujumbura is located on the north-eastern shore of Lake Tanganyika, the second deepest lake in the world. The city has many museums, parks, and monuments.
Originally a military post in German East Africa in 1889, it grew from being a small village to having an estimated population of 1.01 million in 2020, projected to grow 123% to 2.26 million by 2035.
Sources: (Business Insider Africa) (The Washington Post)
See also: This huge crack in Kenya could split Africa in two
Zinder, also spelled Sinder, is the third largest city in the country of Niger. Originally a small village site called Zenghou, it became a Trans-Saharan trade hub with the arrival of Kanuri aristocrats in the 1700s.
The second city in Burkina Faso on the list, Bobo-Dioulasso has a population of 1.12 million people. It's located in the southwest of the country, in Houet Province, 350 km (220 miles) from Ouagadougou. Its population is expected to grow to 1.94 million by 2035.
By the end of this century, it's forecast that most of the world's biggest cities, by population size, will be locations in Africa. Currently, the rate of growth in Africa's cities is outpacing the rest of the world's cities. Dozens of African metropolises will continue to expand, but currently there are 15 urban centers that are growing faster than the rest. These cities are not necessarily huge yet, but their rate of growth is so fast that they could become big players in the future.
Intrigued? Click on the following gallery to discover which African cities make the list.
The fastest growing cities in Africa
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By the end of this century, it's forecast that most of the world's biggest cities, by population size, will be locations in Africa. Currently, the rate of growth in Africa's cities is outpacing the rest of the world's cities. Dozens of African metropolises will continue to expand, but currently there are 15 urban centers that are growing faster than the rest. These cities are not necessarily huge yet, but their rate of growth is so fast that they could become big players in the future.
Intrigued? Click on the following gallery to discover which African cities make the list.