Africa reveals top 10 most attractive cities with four in the Maghreb
A new report from Oxford Economics has ranked African cities according to their attractiveness for residents and investors, highlighting regional leaders while underscoring the gap with global urban centres.
No African city features in the global top 300, but several capitals stand out within the continental ranking, led by Cairo, Port Louis, and Nairobi.
Four cities from the Maghreb—Algiers, Casablanca, Rabat, and Constantine—also appear, demonstrating the region’s economic and strategic significance.
Cairo dominates the African list, securing 302nd place globally.
Its strong human capital, ranked 56th worldwide, and robust economic performance, placed 171st, allow the Egyptian capital to surpass other African cities.
Port Louis, Mauritius, ranks 338th globally, with high marks for governance (160th) and environment (144th), while Nairobi, Kenya’s largest city, comes 381st, reflecting its rapid economic growth and expanding talent pool.
The Maghreb sees Algiers leading among its peers, ranking 389th globally and fifth in Africa. Casablanca (431st) and Rabat (447th) follow, while Constantine (474th) rounds out the regional representation.
The report highlights disparities within the Maghreb and across the continent, demonstrating the importance of infrastructure, governance, and innovation in shaping urban appeal.
Oxford Economics evaluated cities based on five key dimensions: human capital, economic performance, governance, environment, and innovation.
Cairo’s skilled workforce and economic vitality stand out, Port Louis benefits from institutional stability and environmental policies, and Algiers’ historic and political role is tempered by modest innovation scores.
Casablanca and Rabat, the report notes, need to strengthen governance and foster innovation to improve their global standing.
The study underscores Africa’s untapped potential. Cities such as Nairobi and Port Louis show that strategic investments and institutional reforms can enhance competitiveness. For the Maghreb, leveraging geographic and economic assets, improving governance, and investing in innovation remain key priorities to attract investors and boost regional influence.
Other African cities in the top 10 include Accra (387th), Johannesburg (457th), and Gaborone (475th), illustrating how urban hierarchies are shifting, with East African and Indian Ocean cities increasingly influencing the continent’s economic landscape.
Top 10 most attractive African cities in 2025
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Cairo, Egypt – 302nd
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Port Louis, Mauritius – 338th
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Nairobi, Kenya – 381st
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Accra, Ghana – 387th
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Algiers, Algeria – 389th
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Casablanca, Morocco – 431st
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Rabat, Morocco – 447th
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Johannesburg, South Africa – 457th
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Constantine, Algeria – 474th
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Gaborone, Botswana – 475th
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