Inside Africa

UN: Half of world’s population growth is likely to occur in Africa

By Yemisi Adegoke, CNN
3 minute read
Updated 8:14 AM EDT, Mon June 26, 2017
A 2015 report by PwC ranked 20 African "Cities of Opportunity," looking at a number of factors, including infrastructure, human capital, economics and society and demographics. The Egyptian capital of Cairo topped the list thanks to its large scale, middle class and international clout, although analysts observed current political turmoil as a potential sticking point for investors.<br />
1. Cairo, Egypt —
A 2015 report by PwC ranked 20 African "Cities of Opportunity," looking at a number of factors, including infrastructure, human capital, economics and society and demographics. The Egyptian capital of Cairo topped the list thanks to its large scale, middle class and international clout, although analysts observed current political turmoil as a potential sticking point for investors.
Marco Di Lauro/Getty Images
North African cities dominated the top five, with Tunis coming second. Analysts cited the city's top ranking health system and number of graduate enrollments, with Tunis trumping the rest of African urban centers in terms of human capital.
2. Tunis, Tunisia —
North African cities dominated the top five, with Tunis coming second. Analysts cited the city's top ranking health system and number of graduate enrollments, with Tunis trumping the rest of African urban centers in terms of human capital.
LIONEL BONAVENTURE/AFP/Getty Images
An anomaly among the top five, Johannesburg is both south of the Sahara and, having been founded in only 1886, is a relative newcomer. The South African city performed strongly in all main categories with the exception of society and demographics, where high crime, stagnating middle-class and overall population growth hindered the city.<br />
3. Johannesburg, South Africa —
An anomaly among the top five, Johannesburg is both south of the Sahara and, having been founded in only 1886, is a relative newcomer. The South African city performed strongly in all main categories with the exception of society and demographics, where high crime, stagnating middle-class and overall population growth hindered the city.
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Casablanca triumphed in the hotly-contested economics index, coming first in GDP diversity and as a key location for Top 500 company headquarters -- top transport and energy infrastructure rankings no doubt helped in this sense. However, and like Tunis, the city was let down by poor diversity and population growth, typical of the North African cities surveyed.
4. Casablanca, Morocco —
Casablanca triumphed in the hotly-contested economics index, coming first in GDP diversity and as a key location for Top 500 company headquarters -- top transport and energy infrastructure rankings no doubt helped in this sense. However, and like Tunis, the city was let down by poor diversity and population growth, typical of the North African cities surveyed.
ABDELHAK SENNA/AFP/Getty Images
Algiers was a high achiever in terms of human capital, with the second highest rate of graduates and an excellent health system. Its mid-table position in economics hindered its progress up the table, and while its middle-class numbers stagnate, crime levels were one of the lowest in Africa.
5. Algiers, Algeria —
Algiers was a high achiever in terms of human capital, with the second highest rate of graduates and an excellent health system. Its mid-table position in economics hindered its progress up the table, and while its middle-class numbers stagnate, crime levels were one of the lowest in Africa.
FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP/Getty Images
Accra was commended for its ease of doing business and GDP diversity. Poor rankings in healthcare and infrastructure let the city down, but with a stable political environment and a high ranking in terms of attracting foreign direct investment, analysts expect Accra to climb the rankings in the future.
6. Accra, Ghana —
Accra was commended for its ease of doing business and GDP diversity. Poor rankings in healthcare and infrastructure let the city down, but with a stable political environment and a high ranking in terms of attracting foreign direct investment, analysts expect Accra to climb the rankings in the future.
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Nairobi came second only to Cairo when it came to international clout. The Kenyan capital was the top attraction for foreign direct investment and has a strong financial services industry, but shortcomings in infrastructure, healthcare and further education demonstrated room for improvement.
7. Nairobi, Kenya —
Nairobi came second only to Cairo when it came to international clout. The Kenyan capital was the top attraction for foreign direct investment and has a strong financial services industry, but shortcomings in infrastructure, healthcare and further education demonstrated room for improvement.
Courtesy: Kenya Tourism Board
High housing and business occupancy costs hindered Lagos, bringing down its infrastructure score. This is perhaps a result of its strong financial industry, with the Nigerian mega-city attracting substantial amounts of foreign investment and providing the headquarters for many Top 500 companies.
8. Lagos, Nigeria —
High housing and business occupancy costs hindered Lagos, bringing down its infrastructure score. This is perhaps a result of its strong financial industry, with the Nigerian mega-city attracting substantial amounts of foreign investment and providing the headquarters for many Top 500 companies.
EMMANUEL AREWA/AFP/Getty Images
Addis Ababa is experiencing a middle class explosion and boasts high diversity, while it topped the rankings in city scale. However, it had the worse GDP per capita and literacy rate of the cities assessed, while foreign investment is still in its infancy. But, ranking third overall in terms of infrastructure, analysts expect the investing situation -- and its ranking -- to improve.
9. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia —
Addis Ababa is experiencing a middle class explosion and boasts high diversity, while it topped the rankings in city scale. However, it had the worse GDP per capita and literacy rate of the cities assessed, while foreign investment is still in its infancy. But, ranking third overall in terms of infrastructure, analysts expect the investing situation -- and its ranking -- to improve.
Sean Gallup/Getty Images
Kampala founds its way into the top 10 off the back of one category: society and demographics. It had the highest ranked population growth, strong diversity and international clout -- fertile ground for a prosperous future workforce. GDP is growing at a steady rate and literacy rates are near the top. Limited infrastructure could be a barrier to future success.
10. Kampala, Uganda —
Kampala founds its way into the top 10 off the back of one category: society and demographics. It had the highest ranked population growth, strong diversity and international clout -- fertile ground for a prosperous future workforce. GDP is growing at a steady rate and literacy rates are near the top. Limited infrastructure could be a barrier to future success.
ISAAC KASAMANI/AFP/Getty Images
Economic potential of African urban centers

Story highlights

A new report predicts the world's population will hit a staggering 9.8 billion by 2050

Fertility rates are dropping globally but remain high in Africa

Nine countries will contribute to more than half of the world's population growth, and five are on the African continent

CNN  — 

Nigeria will overtake the United States to become the third-most populous country in the world by 2050, according to a United Nations report.

Currently the seventh-most populous country in the world, the West African nation is projected to surpass the 300 million people mark by 2050, according to The World Population Prospects 2017.

The report predicted that the world population will hit a staggering 9.8 billion by 2050, and forecasted that over half of the expected growth between 2017 and 2050 is likely to occur in Africa.

Here are five African countries that will contribute the most to the world’s population growth.

Nigeria

A view of multi-story buildings in Lagos, Nigeria's commercial capital.
A view of multi-story buildings in Lagos, Nigeria's commercial capital.
PIUS UTOMI EKPEI/AFP/Getty Images

With an estimated population of more than 180 million people, Nigeria experienced annual population growth of about 2.7% between 2010 and 2015, according to the UN.

Nigeria's population in numbers

Current population: 187 million (2016) Population by 2050: over 300 millionLargest city: Lagos- between 17.5 and 21 million residents

High fertility rates, high infant mortality rates and the cultural value of large families have all been cited as factors driving Nigeria’s population boom.

Home to four of the world’s fastest-growing cities, it has been described as an economic powerhouse. However, there are fears that such an increase in population could cripple Nigeria’s already inadequate infrastructure.

The Democratic Republic of Congo

A view of Kinshasa city
A view of Kinshasa city
SCHALK VAN ZUYDAM/AP

The Democratic Republic of Congo population in numbers

Current population: 79.8 millionPopulation by 2050: 214 million Largest city: Kinshasha 7.8 million residents

The Democratic Republic of Congo is the largest country in Francophone Africa, with annual population growth of 3.2%. As in Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda and Afghanistan, high fertility levels have contributed to the country’s population increase. The fertility rate in 2016 was 4.53 births per woman.

The country’s capital, Kinshasa, has the third-largest urban agglomeration on the continent and is predicted to add more than six million people to its population by 2025, cementing its status as an African mega-city.

Ethiopia