Lagos has been crowned the world’s fastest-growing tech city for 2025, outpacing global contenders such as Istanbul in Turkey and Pune in India, according to the latest Global Tech Ecosystem Index released by Netherlands-based research firm Dealroom.co.
The report highlights Lagos’s meteoric rise as a technology powerhouse, attributing its top ranking to the city’s impressive track record of nurturing five unicorn companies: Interswitch, Flutterwave, Jumia, OPay, and Moniepoint. These homegrown giants have not only transformed Nigeria’s digital economy but have also placed Lagos firmly on the global map as a hub for innovation and investment.
Dealroom.co’s analysis reveals that Lagos’s tech ecosystem valuation has grown 11.6 times since 2017, a remarkable achievement given the city’s relatively smaller economy compared to other major global tech hubs. The report notes, “This year, Lagos (#1) is topping the list, having created 5 unicorns and grown its ecosystem valuation 11.6x since 2017 despite a smaller economy.”
The report further emphasizes that Lagos, along with other rapidly advancing cities, is fostering a new generation of tech companies poised to make significant global impact. Istanbul and Pune ranked second and third, respectively, underscoring the increasingly competitive landscape of emerging technology ecosystems worldwide.
Industry experts and stakeholders in Nigeria have welcomed the news as a testament to the resilience, creativity, and entrepreneurial spirit of Lagos’s tech community. The city’s continued rise is expected to attract more international investment, talent, and partnerships, further solidifying its status as Africa’s leading technology hub.
