Sub-Saharan Africa is expected to gain 748 million urban residents between 2025 and 2050, putting the region’s cities under pressure to create jobs, housing and transport connections on a much larger scale.
The projection comes from a World Bank report published on October 29, which argues that urban growth can help create better jobs if businesses and workers can reach one another.
Population growth alone will not deliver those benefits. A rapidly growing city can also become more expensive and difficult to navigate if homes, infrastructure and employment develop in different places.
Why proximity matters to businesses
Companies often benefit from being near other firms, suppliers and customers. A manufacturer can find specialized repair services locally, for example, while workers can move between employers without leaving the area.
Economists call the advantages of concentrating economic activity agglomeration benefits. They can include a larger pool of workers, more potential customers and easier exchange of ideas. Those benefits are not guaranteed: congestion, high land costs and unreliable infrastructure can offset them.
The World Bank says urban households in the region spen...