Lagos ranked top African city with worst traffic

Lagos State has been ranked as the city with the most severe traffic congestion globally, according to Numbeo, the world’s largest database of user-contributed data on cities and countries. Following closely behind is Nairobi, Kenya.

Numbeo provides up-to-date information on living conditions worldwide, including cost of living, housing, healthcare, traffic, crime, and pollution. The latest report highlights deteriorating traffic conditions in various African cities by mid-2024, leading to longer commutes and decreased productivity.

Numbeo’s traffic index evaluates commute time, dissatisfaction with traffic, CO2 emissions, and system inefficiencies. Lagos consistently ranks among the world’s most congested cities, with a Traffic Index of 354.5. Commuters in Lagos spend an average of 68.8 minutes in traffic daily, exacerbated by high population, poor road conditions, and an overcrowded, inefficient public transport system.

Nairobi, Kenya, ranks second with a Traffic Index of 249.0 and an average commute time of 52.7 minutes. As an economic and administrative hub, Nairobi’s traffic woes are significant.

Cairo, Egypt, with a Traffic Index of 242.4, sees commuters spending an average of 49.9 minutes in traffic. The city’s ancient infrastructure struggles to handle modern traffic volumes, compounded by overpopulation.

Pretoria, one of South Africa’s three capital cities, faces significant traffic challenges with a Traffic Index of 228.1 and an average commute time of 45.0 minutes. Similarly, Cape Town grapples with heavy congestion, having a Traffic Index of 209.3 and an average daily commute of 42.5 minutes.

As traffic congestion worsens across these major African cities, addressing the root causes such as overpopulation, inadequate infrastructure, and inefficient public transport systems becomes increasingly critical.