5 Worst Cities to Live in Africa

A recent report by the Economist Intelligence Unit has revealed that Lagos, Nigeria is one of the worst cities in Africa to live.

Its report, “The Global Liveability Index 2021,” boasts of employing a five-factor feature to measure the livability of all the cities throughout the world.

The first three features are stability, which entails levels of crime and conflict. Healthcare includes the presence and quality of healthcare. Environmental and cultural factors include climate, religious restrictions, food and drink.

Other features include schooling, which is the quality and availability of private or public education. Infrastructure is another factor which includes the quality of roads, public transport, provision of water, housing, energy and telecommunications.

Here are the 5 worst cities to live in Africa.

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1. Lagos, Nigeria

As of 2022, Lagos, Nigeria, became the most inhabited city in Africa, with an estimated population of 15.4 million people.

Lagos, Nigeria has been ranked as one of the worst liveable cities in Africa. It is ranked 139 in the world, with a rating of 38.5. 

According to the five-factor feature for measuring livability, Lagos’s stability is at 20, while the healthcare is at 20.8. Culture and environment is at 41.0, education at 25.0 and infrastructure has a score of 46.4.

2.  Algiers, Algeria

Algiers is Algeria’s capital and largest city. Algiers is a city on the Mediterranean Sea in Algeria’s north-central region.

With a rating of 38.5, it was placed 136th in the world. Algiers’ stability is rated 35 on the five-factor livability scale, while its healthcare is 29.2. 

Culture and the environment have a score of 37.3, education is 41.7, and infrastructure is at 30.4.

3. Tripoli, Libya

With a population of roughly 1.1 million people in 2019, Tripoli is Libya’s capital and largest city. 

It is situated on the outskirts of the desert in northwest Libya. Tripoli’s port and the country’s biggest commercial and manufacturing centre are both located there.

The city has a rating of 34.2 and it is placed 135th in the world. Tripoli’s stability scores a 30 on the five-factor scale, while healthcare is at 29.2.

Culture and the environment receive a score of 33.8, education is 41.7, while infrastructure is at 41.

4. Harare, Zimbabwe

Harare is Zimbabwe’s capital and most populous city. Harare is a metropolitan province that includes the municipalities of Chitungwiza and Epworth and is located in north-eastern Zimbabwe’s Mashonaland region.

It was ranked 133 in the world in the report, with a rating of 36.6. Using the five-factor feature for measuring livability, Harare’s stability is at 40, while the healthcare is at 12.5. Culture and environment is at 44.4, education at is 58.3 and infrastructure is 35.7.

5. Douala, Cameroon

Douala is Cameroon’s largest city and its economic hub. It is also the capital of the Littoral Region of Cameroon. 

Douala International Airport (DLA), Central Africa’s largest port and the main international airport is the commercial and economic capital of Cameroon and The Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC) region, which includes Gabon, Congo, Chad, Equatorial Guinea, Central African Republic, and Cameroon. 

With a ranking of 38.6, it was rated 132 in the report. Douala’s stability scores 60 out of a possible 100 on the five-factor livability scale, while healthcare is 12.5. 

Culture and the environment is at 40.3. Education receives a score of 25.0, and infrastructure is at 42.9.

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