TECHNICAL BREAK N°5 - The Expansion of Urban Public Transport in Africa

Transitec has analysed the expansion of urban public transport in Africa. By 2050, the continent’s urban population is expected to double, reaching approximately 1.4 billion inhabitants, making it essential to rapidly structure efficient mobility systems to support this urban growth and limit dependence on private cars. To face this challenge, several encouraging developments have emerged over the past decade: many cities have established transport authorities, elaborated urban mobility plans, gradually integrated paratransit, and improved the performance of existing networks. Fleet electrification and the development of public-private partnerships are also contributing to the sector’s modernisation.

Transitec sought to assess the momentum of public transport development in light of the implementation of mass transit systems, reviewing projects that are operational, under construction, or under study. As of January 1, 2025, just over 1,000 km of infrastructure is in service, largely dominated by rail-based modes (tramways, metro systems, and suburban rail). By 2035, this figure is expected to double, driven in particular by strong growth in bus-based systems (Bus Rapid Transit – BRT, and Bus with High Level of Service – BHLS), which are less costly and quicker to deploy.

Despite this progress, overall levels of provision remain insufficient considering the pace of demographic growth. The RTR indicator (kilometers of mass transit per million inhabitants) shows that Africa is only maintaining a low level of provision, well below international standards. A large majority of cities, including some megacities, still lack structured mass transit projects.

In conclusion, the authors highlight three key priorities: continuous investment in already equipped cities to prevent network saturation; improved speed in the launch of projects in major metropolitan areas that are lagging behind; and anticipation of the growth of secondary cities by structuring them today around high-performance public transport systems.