Oxford Economics Names Dakar and Luanda Among African Cities to Watch
Pan-African · ECONOMY
Key Facts
- —What happened Oxford Economics published its 2026 Global Cities Index between 14 and 16 September 2026, covering 1,000 cities worldwide including 102 African cities.
- —The numbers Dakar scored 42.2 overall in the 2026 index, with economics at 38.0 and governance at 50.5, while Luanda scored 36.6 overall, with economics at 32.7 and governance at 23.1.
- —The catch The public release shows only selected African cities to watch, not the full Pan-African top 50 list that some readers may expect.
- —Why it matters African city performance is increasingly tied to foreign capital, logistics, energy access, debt conditions and great-power competition over supply chains and critical minerals.
- —What comes next Oxford Economics expects Sino-African relations to show strain in 2026 as African industrialisation collides with China’s search for alternative export markets.
Oxford Economics has named Dakar and Luanda among the African cities to watch in its 2026 Global Cities Index, which ranks 1,000 cities worldwide on economics, human capital, quality of life, environment and governance.
Oxford Economics published its 2026 Global Cities Index between 14 and 16 September 2026, ranking the world’s 1,000 largest cities across five categories. The Africa coverage includes 102 cities, but the public page shows only selected African cities to watch rather than a full Pan-African top 50 list.
What the 2026 Index Reveals About African Cities to Watch
Dakar appears as a 2026 city to watch with an overall score of 42.2. Its economics score stands at 38.0, while governance reaches 50.5, the stronger of the two categories for the Senegalese capital.
Luanda is also flagged as a city to watch, with an overall score of 36.6. The Angolan capital records an economics score of 32.7 and a governance score of 23.1, a notably weaker governance result than Dakar.
The index evaluates cities on economics, human capital, quality of life, environment and governance. Oxford Economics argues that global-city divergence is widening, with the strongest cities consolidating capital, talent and governance advantages.
The Data Behind the Ranking
The broader Africa offering from Oxford Economics covers gross domestic product, employment, population, household income, consumer spending and retail sales forecasts for 102 African cities. This data underpins the index scores and gives investors a granular view of urban economic performance.
The 2026 release was published on 14 to 16 September 2026. However, the public page available shows only selected African cities to watch and Africa-wide coverage, not the full Pan-African top 50 list that some readers may expect.
For Dakar, the governance score of 50.5 suggests institutional strength relative to its economics score of 38.0. For Luanda, the gap is reversed, with governance at 23.1 dragging below its economics score of 32.7.
Money, Power and the Great-Power Contest
African city performance is increasingly tied to foreign capital, logistics, energy access, debt conditions and great-power competition over supply chains and critical minerals. The index arrives as global investors weigh where to place capital across the continent.
Oxford Economics’ 2026 Africa Watchlist says Sino-African relations will start showing strain in 2026. African industrialisation is colliding with China’s search for alternative export markets, a shift that could reshape trade flows and urban investment patterns.
This dynamic matters for cities like Dakar and Luanda, both of which sit on Atlantic trade routes and have drawn Chinese infrastructure financing in recent years. The strain in Sino-African ties could alter the cost and availability of capital for urban projects.
Who Gains and Who Loses
Cities with stronger governance scores, such as Dakar, may be better positioned to attract diversified foreign investment. Luanda’s lower governance score of 23.1 could make it more dependent on commodity-linked capital and bilateral financing.
The index argues that the strongest cities are consolidating capital, talent and governance advantages. That suggests a widening gap between African cities that can offer stable institutions and those that cannot.
For investors, the scores provide a comparative benchmark, but the absence of a full public top 50 list limits direct ranking across all 102 African cities. Subscribers to Oxford Economics’ city services can access the complete dataset.
The Regional Read-Through
Dakar’s relative strength in governance reflects Senegal’s reputation for political stability in West Africa. Luanda’s weaker governance score aligns with Angola’s longer history of centralised, oil-dependent economic management.
Both cities are gateways to resource-rich hinterlands, and both are watching how great-power competition evolves. The index suggests that governance quality, not just economic size, will determine which African cities pull ahead.
The Africa coverage of 102 cities means the index spans far more than the two flagged cities to watch. Yet the public release keeps the full ranking behind a subscription wall, leaving investors to rely on selected highlights.
What to Watch Next
Oxford Economics expects Sino-African relations to show strain through 2026, which could affect financing for urban infrastructure across the continent. Investors should watch whether African cities can diversify their capital sources beyond Chinese lending.
The full Global Cities Index dataset, including the complete African city rankings, is available through Oxford Economics’ subscription services. The next update will show whether Dakar and Luanda improve their scores or fall further behind global peers.
For readers tracking the intersection of urban performance and the broader contest for African resources, the pattern fits a wider story. The Africa: The New Scramble pillar follows how great-power competition is reshaping the continent’s economic geography.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which African cities does Oxford Economics name as cities to watch in 2026?
Oxford Economics names Dakar and Luanda as 2026 cities to watch in its Global Cities Index, with overall scores of 42.2 and 36.6 respectively.
How many African cities does the 2026 Global Cities Index cover?
The 2026 Global Cities Index covers 102 African cities, but the public page shows only selected cities to watch rather than the full Pan-African top 50 list.
What does Oxford Economics expect for Sino-African relations in 2026?
Oxford Economics’ 2026 Africa Watchlist says Sino-African relations will start showing strain in 2026 as African industrialisation collides with China’s search for alternative export markets.
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