In brief
In a new report released on October 30, 2026, the World Bank urged sub‑Saharan African governments to turn the region’s explosive urbanization into a driver of growth and job creation. The report highlights a jump in urban populations from 170 million in 1975 to 913 million in 2025, projected to reach 1.7 billion by 2050, and calls for better planning, infrastructure investment, and private‑sector mobilization to create productive, better‑paid jobs for millions of young workers. These recommendations follow the World Bank’s observation that productivity gains remain modest and that many jobs remain informal and poorly paid.
October 30, 2026, the World Bank released a report urging sub‑Saharan African governments to harness the region’s rapid urbanization as a catalyst for growth and employment. In a briefing in Abidjan, the international financial institution warned that a sustained surge in urban populations demands a corresponding increase in productive, well‑paid jobs for millions of young people entering the labor market annually.
The World Bank’s study, titled Africa's Urban Awakening: Catalyzing Economic Growth and Job Creation, charts the dramatic rise in urban dwellers, reporting 170 million people living in cities in 1975 and 913 million in 2025. It projects that by 2050 the urban population could swell to 1.7 billion, placing an enormous demographic pressure on national economies and labor markets.
Annual inflows of unemployment support continued youth unemployment, with around 15 million young workers seeking employment in the region each year. The report stresses that growth in urban labor supply must be matched by creation of productive opportunities that can deliver higher wages and stability, rather than a proliferation of informal and under‑paid jobs.
To achieve that, the World Bank recommends a suite of policy actions: better urban planning to guide orderly expansion; targeted investment in infrastructure and transport networks; and stronger regulatory frameworks and land governance to reduce uncertainty and encourage long‑term investment.
Marie‑Chantal Uwanyiligira
"Productivity gains remain limited, incomes have grown slowly, and too many jobs remain informal and poorly paid," she said in the briefing.
She noted that in Côte d’Ivoire, recent official data show 17.84 million urban residents out of an estimated total population of 32.8 million. The number of localities with populations above 100,000 increased from eight in 1998 to 17 in 2021, reflecting a rapid concentration of people in larger urban centers.
In response, the West African country has prioritized urban development, mobility, and improved living conditions within its 2026‑2030 national development plan. The plan pledges to upgrade transport infrastructure, expand access to clean water and sanitation, and promote affordable housing projects near job hubs.
The report also calls for greater mobilization of private capital to finance urban facilities and services. It urges governments to create an enabling environment through clear land policies, streamlined permitting processes, and guarantees that protect investors while safeguarding local communities.
Institutionally, the World Bank’s call underscores a shared responsibility between international finance institutions, national governments, and local municipalities to coordinate investments and policy frameworks to avoid fragmented development. The emphasis on regulatory frameworks and land governance points to a need for transparent, accountable institutions that can manage complex urban land markets.
Ultimately, rectifying the mismatch between urban demographic expansion and productive job creation will determine how well African societies can offer inclusive prosperity to their rapidly growing urban populations. The World Bank’s recommendations aim to align fiscal policy, public service delivery, and private sector incentives so that cities become engines of growth rather than hubs of informal labor markets.
