Top 5 smart cities in Africa

Africa's urban landscape is rapidly evolving. The latest IMD Smart City Index has ranked Africa's top 5 smart cities, evaluating them based on technological and economic advancements. Based on data collected from 120 residents in each town, the list notes factors such as connectivity, infrastructure, and sustainable development as key factors.

Here are the top five African cities leading the charge in:

Cairo, Egypt 

Image: World Atlas

Located in northeastern Egypt, on the eastern bank of the Nile River, Cairo is at the forefront, thanks to continuous efforts to improve its technology and urban landscape. Egypt has built 38 cities since 2016, covering approximately 530,000 acres. Efforts to anchor the country's vision for smart living include investments in energy efficiency that have led to the advancement of sustainable living environments and the rise of quality work opportunities.

Cairo's vision is that by 2030, every tenth inhabitant of the targeted population of 15 million will live in a smart city.

Rabat, Morocco 

Image: Morocco News

Located on Morocco's northwestern coast along the Atlantic Ocean, Rabat distinguishes itself by adopting a highly participatory approach to advancing its smart city plan. The city advocates for digital inclusion and values the power of collaboration between residents and its leaders.

Its ongoing smart city project aims to increase digital skills among its residents while enhancing the quality of life. The broader program is focused on the complete digitization of municipal services and the establishment of a social digital hub across the metro.

Cape Town, South Africa 

Image: bookings.com

Cape Town, ranking 125th globally, has become a smart city through its effective use of digital tools to improve everyday life. Located in the Western Cape province of South Africa, it offers free Wi-Fi on city buses, which has largely improved accessibility and broadband infrastructure, helping residents access the City's Open Data Portal —the first of its kind in Africa, where all city information is stored.

The city has also used real-time data to improve city-wide surveillance and emergency response. According to Jacques Van Embden, CEO of Blok Property, Cape Town is well on its way to becoming a 15-minute city, where innovation, sustainability, and quality of life converge.

Algiers, Algeria

Image: Ath Salem, Flickr

Algiers' Smart City Project, situated in North Africa along the Mediterranean Sea, is scheduled to run until 2035, with plans to establish the Algerian Space Agency, a new international airport, and a railway station.

In the coming years, Algiers will advance to another one of its project pillars, which includes cloud computing, the Internet of Things (IoT), and an analysis model framed around advances in AI.

Abuja, Nigeria

Image: Shutterstock

The Abuja Smart City Project Model can be identified through its robust adoption of key digital infrastructure over the years. This pioneering approach in Africa transforms the city by focusing on the 'Smart People, Smart Service, and Smart City' campaign.

The city, located in the center of the country within the Federal Capital Territory, is optimistic about the upcoming phases, which are geared towards improving existing infrastructure. Indigenous-based customer support systems are also in the pipeline, relying heavily on fiber-optic networks, Wi-Fi, voice services, and satellite service providers available within the city.

These five cities embody Africa's future, growth, and innovation, paving the way for a bold, diverse continent that is deeply rooted in its people and progress.