Three South African cities have climbed into Africa’s Top 10, showing that despite the noise, our metros are still places of opportunity, ambition and undeniable charm.
Global (08 December 2025) – South Africa just landed a seriously lekker win! Three of our cities have been ranked in Africa’s Top 10 Most Attractive.
And it feels good. Proper good.
No matter what we deal with day to day, moments like this remind us that our cities still have spark, ambition and a pulse the continent recognises.
The list comes from Jeune Afrique, who didn’t just toss opinions into a hat. They surveyed almost 8,000 people across major African metros and paired that with hard data from foreign direct investment between 2020 and 2023. They looked at everything… quality of life, infrastructure, housing, services and economic promise. The full picture. The honest picture.
Julien Wagner, the journalist behind the ranking, explained it, “Africa is experiencing unprecedented urbanisation… African metropolises must invent new financing models, strengthen their governance capacities, and adapt to a constantly evolving climatic, social, and economic context.”
And still, three South African cities rose to the top.
Cape Town sits at number four. Even after losing last year’s crown, it remains one of the continent’s most admired cities. The mix of scenery, opportunity, culture and infrastructure keeps pulling people in. It’s still one of Africa’s heavy-hitters and the ranking proves it.
Johannesburg takes seventh place. Yes, the city wrestles with many tough challenges but its economic gravity is undeniable. Joburg is where the deals happen, where ideas spark and where ambition gathers. For all its complexity, it remains one of Africa’s most important business hubs. And investors clearly haven’t looked away.
Pretoria lands in ninth, quietly and confidently. It’s the city that gets things done without shouting about it. Strong institutions, green spaces, a sense of calm and a lifestyle that just… works. Pretoria shows that consistency and balance matter just as much as size or noise.
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See the top 10 below:
- Cairo
- Kigali
- Nairobi
- Cape Town
- Casablanca
- Tangier
- Johannesburg
- Accra
- Pretoria
- Mombasa
The map of influence is changing and South Africa is still very much right there, on top!
But the real heart of this story is the people who make these cities what they are. The residents who build businesses, keep communities going, push for better, show up, innovate, care, fight for what matters and still believe in the places they call home.
This ranking might celebrate where our cities stand. But it also celebrates what they’re capable of becoming… and the people who keep them moving forward.
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