In brief
The World Bank released a report urging countries in sub‑Saharan Africa to turn their growing urban populations into engines of growth and employment. The report cites a surge to 913 million urban residents in 2025 and projects 1.7 billion by 2050, highlighting the need for better planning, infrastructure, and private capital mobilization. Citing data from Côte d'Ivoire and remarks from a World Bank director, the guidance stresses productivity gains, formal job creation, and stronger regulatory frameworks.
On Oct. 30, the World Bank released a report calling on sub‑Saharan African nations to turn their rapidly growing urban populations into engines of economic growth and job creation, according to Xinhua.
The report notes that the region’s urban population jumped from 170 million in 1975 to 913 million in 2025 and is projected to reach 1.7 billion by 2050. It also emphasizes that about 15 million young people enter the labor market each year, underscoring the urgency of creating more productive, better‑paid jobs.
Marie‑Chantal Uwanyiligira, World Bank division director for Côte d’Ivoire, Benin, Guinea and Togo, noted the region’s slow productivity gains.
"Productivity gains remain limited, incomes have grown slowly, and too many jobs remain informal and poorly paid,"
The document recommends better planning for urban expansion, targeted investment in infrastructure and transport, stronger regulatory frameworks and land governance, and a greater mobilization of private capital to fund urban facilities and services.
Data from Côte d’Ivoire show 17.84 million urban residents out of an estimated total population of 32.8 million last year, while the number of localities with more than 100,000 inhabitants rose from eight in 1998 to 17 in 2021. The country’s 2026‑2030 national development plan prioritizes urban development, mobility, and improved living conditions.
These recommendations were made in the report titled “Africa’s Urban Awakening: Catalyzing Economic Growth and Job Creation,” which the bank released Wednesday.