The 2025 IMD Smart City Index has been released, providing valuable insights into the progress of cities around the world, including those in Africa, towards becoming smarter, more connected, and sustainable. According to the report, African cities have achieved mixed results, highlighting notable improvements but persistent urban challenges.

Cairo, Egypt, has emerged as the highest-ranked African city, placing 117th globally, despite ongoing challenges in infrastructure and affordable housing. Rabat, Morocco, and Cape Town, South Africa, followed closely, ranking 123rd and 124th, respectively, indicating little progress but significant room for improvement.

Abuja, Nigeria, and Lagos, Nigeria, showed modest progress, moving up to 133rd and 135th, respectively, reflecting ongoing efforts to tackle urban challenges and enhance digital connectivity. However, Nairobi, Kenya, dropped to 136th, five places lower than last year, due to growing challenges in basic services, healthcare access, safety, and employment.

The rankings highlight critical issues such as affordable housing, transport infrastructure, and managing urban density, which pose significant barriers to quality of life and economic productivity in cities like Nairobi, Lagos, and Accra, Ghana. Housing costs and limited public transport are major concerns in these cities.

Despite the challenges, African cities that improved their rankings demonstrate that strategic actions in infrastructure and governance can deliver tangible benefits. Abuja and Lagos offer encouraging examples of incremental progress through ongoing urban development initiatives.

The Smart Cities Index assesses cities based on two main pillars: structure and technology. Each pillar assesses five key areas: health and safety, mobility, activities, opportunities, and governance. The rankings are based on survey data from 120 residents in each city, weighted over the past three years (2025, 2024, and 2023) to provide a comprehensive overview of progress.

The report's findings underscore the need for African cities to prioritize sustainable urban development, addressing the pressing issues of affordable housing, transport infrastructure, and urban density management. By doing so, these cities can create a better quality of life for their citizens and drive economic growth.

As African cities continue to urbanize, the importance of smart city initiatives cannot be overstated. The 2025 IMD Smart City Index serves as a valuable benchmark for cities to measure their progress and identify areas for improvement, ultimately driving towards a more sustainable and connected future.