Lagos Ranks 485th in Oxford Economics’ Index of 1,000 Global Cities
A new report by Oxford Economics has assessed 1,000 cities globally based on their economic performance, human capital, quality of life, environment and governance.
In its 2026 Global Cities Index report, Oxford Economics said the ranking provides a broad comparison of cities using its Global Cities Forecasting Service, with economic forecasts underpinning the assessment.
The economics category measures the economic size, structure and growth of each city, including historical performance and future potential.
Human capital assesses the educational and business environments of cities alongside demographic trends, while quality of life measures residents’ wellbeing, including financial and health outcomes and access to amenities.
The environment category considers issues related to the natural environment and climate change, while governance assesses political stability and the extent to which residents’ rights are protected.
The top 10 cities in the 2026 index are New York, London, Paris, Seattle, San Francisco, Dublin, Boston, San Jose, Tokyo and Zurich.
For Africa, the report identified Cairo, Accra, Nairobi, Dakar and Luanda as the five cities to watch, ranking them 255th, 302nd, 327th, 478th and 582nd globally, respectively.
Oxford Economics said African cities were gaining prominence on the global stage despite not occupying the top positions in the overall index.
It said the five cities are projected to generate a third of GDP growth among African cities included in the index over the next 25 years.
The report attributed the continent’s growing urban influence to fast-growing populations, expanding labour markets, structural economic shifts and rising technological adoption.
It described Nairobi as “Africa’s fintech capital”, citing its technology talent, digital infrastructure and innovation ecosystem.
It said Accra is emerging as “West Africa’s next major innovation centre” as its technology sector and business services base expand.
Dakar was highlighted for its growing strength in higher-value professional and scientific services, while Luanda was described as modernising its port and diversifying its economy beyond oil.
Cairo, Africa’s largest and most diversified economy, was recognised for leveraging its strategic location, trade links and expanding technology sector.
In Nigeria, the index ranked 18 cities, with Lagos placed 485th globally, followed by Abuja at 741st and Onitsha at 802nd.
Owerri ranked 817th, Enugu 850th, Ibadan 881st, Aba 925th, Port Harcourt 956th, Ilorin 957th and Ogbomosho 964th.
Benin City ranked 972nd, followed by Abeokuta at 973rd, Kaduna at 979th, Jos at 981st, Zaria at 991st, Kano at 992nd, Maiduguri at 995th and Sokoto at 1,000th.
