As the world aims to transition to more sustainable transportation with a focus on low-carbon fuels for cars and trucks, there remains a persistent, age-old problem that continues to drain resources, time, and contribute to excessive carbon dioxide emissions: traffic congestion.

This list, courtesy of Numbeo, a platform providing up-to-date information on the cost of living, quality of life, and socio-economic factors across cities and countries worldwide, highlights the severity of traffic congestion in various African urban centers. The evaluation is based on two key indexes: the Time Index and the Traffic Index.

As urbanization intensifies, traffic congestion poses an ever more daunting challenge for city dwellers. It not only leads to frustration and delays for commuters but also exerts substantial economic and environmental tolls on the affected regions.

In bustling city areas, traffic congestion is a common sight, with a complex interplay of vehicles, pedestrians, and public transport systems. Multiple factors contribute to this issue, including high population density, inadequate infrastructure, limited public transportation options, and urban sprawl, among others.

Importantly, the consequences of traffic congestion extend far beyond mere inconvenience. They encompass significant economic costs, environmental implications, and adverse effects on physical and mental health.

Addressing traffic congestion in urban areas necessitates a holistic approach. City planners can make use of tools like the Traffic Index to obtain valuable data, which in turn facilitates the development of effective strategies aimed at reducing congestion, improving public transportation, and promoting sustainable urban mobility.

The Traffic Index plays a crucial role in measuring the extent of traffic congestion in cities. It accomplishes this by comparing the time required to cover the same distance during peak hours to the time it would take under ideal traffic conditions.

Numbeo, with its real-time information on the cost of living, quality of life, and other socio-economic indicators in cities and nations worldwide, presents its own traffic index. This composite statistic considers various aspects such as commute time, dissatisfaction with time spent in traffic, CO2 emissions, and overall traffic system inefficiencies, thus providing insights into a city’s general traffic conditions.

Additionally, Numbeo’s Time Index provides average one-way transit times in minutes, indicating the duration it takes to travel from one location within a city or country. The platform employs complex formulae to calculate these data, with detailed methodologies available on their website.

As urbanization continues to surge, addressing traffic congestion becomes ever more critical for the sustainable growth and development of African cities. It requires collaborative efforts from governments, city planners, and the public to implement effective solutions and create a smoother, more efficient urban mobility landscape.

Based on these calculations, here are the top 5 African cities grappling with the worst traffic congestion:

1. Lagos, Nigeria (Traffic Index – 342.5, Time Index – 67.4)

2. Nairobi, Kenya (Traffic Index – 253.6, Time Index – 53.4)

3. Cairo, Egypt (Traffic Index – 244.5, Time Index – 50.2)

4. Pretoria, South Africa (Traffic Index – 230.5, Time Index – 45.5)

5. Cape Town, South Africa (Traffic Index – 208.9, Time Index – 42.5)