Lagos has again emerged with the worst ranking in the world based on traffic congestion, in the Numbeo traffic index.
The ranking includes Los Angeles, CA, United States, Colombo, Sri Lanka, Delhi, India and Dhaka, Bangladesh as the top five worst-traffic cities in the world.
Lagos, the largest city in Nigeria and one of the fastest-growing urban areas globally struggles with severe infrastructural challenges that exacerbate its traffic woes.
The city’s road network, designed to accommodate a much smaller population, now strains under the weight of over 16 million inhabitants and an increasing number of vehicles.
Several factors contribute to the perpetual gridlock that grips Lagos.
These include high population density surpassing 6,871 people per square kilometre, rapid urban sprawl leading to poorly designed roadways, inadequate infrastructure development struggling to keep pace with population growth, and insufficient public transportation despite efforts like BRT systems.
Additionally, traffic management challenges are exacerbated by ineffective traffic control measures and enforcement of traffic laws, worsened during periods of heavy rainfall.
The traffic situation in Lagos has become a substantial economic and social burden, significantly affecting productivity due to daily commuting delays and exacerbating health issues stemming from air pollution.
Moreover, the city suffers substantial economic costs through fuel wastage and missed opportunities for economic growth.
In Numbeo’s traffic index, here are the top 10 cities with the worst traffic in the world.
1. Lagos, Nigeria: Traffic Index 354.5, Time Index 68.8 minutes
2. Los Angeles, USA: Traffic Index 354.5, Time Index 61.4 minutes
3. Colombo, Sri Lanka: Traffic Index 292.2, Time Index 59.8 minutes
4. Delhi, India: Traffic Index 286.7, Time Index 59.4 minutes
5. Dhaka, Bangladesh: Traffic Index 286.4, Time Index 57.8 minutes
6. Kolkata, India: Traffic Index 268.5, Time Index 57.1 minutes
7. Mexico City, Mexico: Traffic Index 261.3, Time Index 54.9 minutes
8. Mumbai, India: Traffic Index 257.9, Time Index 53.7 minutes
9. Jakarta, Indonesia: Traffic Index 254.9, Time Index 53.1 minutes
10. Bangalore, India: Traffic Index 252.9, Time Index 52.9 minutes