Insane mega-city set to become the world’s largest with 100m people | World | News
The city’s population is expected to grow rapidly (Image: Getty)
The world’s population is continuing to grow with many projections saying that it will peak around the year 2100. With that constant growth, cities around the world are getting bigger and bigger. Jakarta in Indonesia only recently became the largest metropolis on the planet, but it is not expected to retain its crown by the time 2100 rolls around.
The title of the biggest mega-city then is expected to go to Lagos in Nigeria. Lagos is one of the fastest-growing cities on the planet, with some long-term studies suggesting it could reach around 100 million people by 2100. The claim comes from research highlighted by the International Institute for Environment and Development, which looked at how global populations may change over the next century.
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According to some projections, Lagos could reach 100.2 million people by 2100 (Image: Getty)
It draws on work by academics Daniel Hoornweg and Kevin Pope, whose models show Lagos becoming the world’s largest city under the fastest-growth scenario.
In that version, Lagos reaches 100.2 million people by 2100.
Other scenarios predict lower numbers, around 61 million under a sustainable pathway, or roughly 80 million if current trends continue.
But all three versions agree on one thing: Lagos is on course to become one of the biggest cities in human history.
Right now, Lagos is home to an estimated 17.8 million people, although exact figures vary because different organisations measure the city’s boundaries differently.
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Traffic is a daily ordeal in Lagos (Image: Getty)
Lagos is expanding quickly for several reasons. Millions move there from rural areas each year in search of jobs, education and better opportunities.
Nigeria also has one of the highest birth rates in the world, so the city grows naturally as well as through migration.
On top of that, Lagos plays a huge part in the economy of Nigeria. It is home to ports, markets, technology firms, finance and manufacturing companies.
When it comes to Nigeria as a whole, the country is expected to more than double in size by 2100, with a large portion of that growth concentrated in cities like Lagos.
But this rise is also creating serious challenges, with infrastructure already under huge strain.
Traffic is a daily ordeal for millions every single day. Housing supply has not kept up with demand, leading to the creation of informal settlements where access to water, sanitation and electricity is limited.
Right now, Lagos is home to an estimated 17.8 million (Image: Getty)
Basic services are under pressure too. Water shortages, waste management problems and unreliable power supplies affect millions of residents.
Environmental concerns are growing as well, especially along the city’s coastline, where dredging and land reclamation have increased flood risks during heavy rains.
The government is trying to respond. Lagos State has invested in new public transport, including rail projects and expanded bus routes.
Housing plans and urban reforms aim to ease overcrowding, and efforts are being made to manage development more sustainably.
But many experts warn that investment will need to grow much faster if Lagos is to cope with what lies ahead.
