Nigeria’s commercial capital, Lagos, has been named the fastest-growing tech city in the world for 2025. The recognition comes from the Global Tech Ecosystem Index 2025 by Dealroom.co.
The index ranks cities with the fastest-rising startup environments. Lagos topped the “Rising Stars” category, beating cities like Istanbul and Pune.
According to the report, Lagos has seen an 11.6x growth in startup ecosystem value since 2017. It has produced five tech unicorns: Interswitch, Flutterwave, Jumia, OPay, and Moniepoint.
“This year, Lagos (#1) is topping the list, having created five unicorns and grown its ecosystem valuation 11.6x since 2017 despite having a smaller economy,” the report stated.
Tech Growth in Lagos Driven by Youth and Investment
Lagos’s tech boom is due to young talents and strong government support. The Lagos State Science Research and Innovation Council (LASRIC) has given over ₦1 billion in grants to local startups.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu said the growth is no surprise. He credited the energy and skills of young people working in tech.
“We are thrilled but not surprised because of the hard work that our youths are doing. We plan to make Lagos a big centre for tech experts. If Microsoft or Google and other giants are looking for good hands, there will be a big pool from which they can draw.”
Sanwo-Olu also praised the city’s innovation culture.
“Thousands of our youths are busy at tech hubs, using technology to resolve everyday challenges. We will keep encouraging them,” he added.
The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, also supported the governor’s message. He said Lagos will continue to invest in tech and innovation.
Lagos Leads Among Global Emerging Markets
Other cities listed among the top five fastest-growing tech hubs include:
- Lagos, Nigeria
- Istanbul, Turkey
- Pune, India
- Belo Horizonte, Brazil
- Curitiba, Brazil
The report also mentioned Mumbai and Riyadh as growing tech centres. These cities are part of a wider shift where emerging markets are gaining tech strength.
The “Rising Stars” ranking looks at how fast startup ecosystems are growing. It adjusts for the size of the local economy and cost of living, making it fair for smaller markets.
Lagos’s global success comes alongside other international praise. Earlier this year, Time Out Magazine named Lagos one of the Top 3 African Cities to Visit in 2025.
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