Best startup cities in Nigeria in 2027
7 cities in Nigeria make our ranking of 1,000 startup cities worldwide. Lagos leads at #122 with a total score of 4.69, followed by Ibadan (#353) and Abuja (#466).
For women founders, Lagos scores highest in Nigeria on the MeanCEO Index with 60/100. Each city page covers funding, company registration, taxes, founder visas, pros and cons, and the ten MeanCEO factors.
Startup cities in Nigeria, ranked
| # | City | World rank | Total | Quantity | Quality | Business | MeanCEO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lagos | #122 | 4.69 | 1.26 | 2.03 | 1.41 | 60 |
| 2 | Ibadan | #353 | 0.69 | 0.02 | 0.26 | 0.4 | 56 |
| 3 | Abuja | #466 | 0.42 | 0.13 | 0.04 | 0.24 | 52 |
| 4 | Port Harcourt | #906 | 0.14 | 0.04 | 0.02 | 0.08 | 56 |
| 5 | Enugu | #978 | 0.08 | 0.01 | 0.02 | 0.05 | 57 |
| 6 | Benin City | #979 | 0.08 | 0.02 | 0.02 | 0.05 | 58 |
| 7 | Kano | #981 | 0.08 | 0.01 | 0.02 | 0.04 | 57 |
Total = quantity (startups, accelerators, coworking spaces) + quality (traction of top startups, unicorns, exits) + business environment (national conditions), from the StartupBlink Global Startup Ecosystem Index (2024 edition). The MeanCEO Index (0 to 100) is our own score of how livable and welcoming a city is for women founders.
Other countries in Sub-Saharan Africa
- South Africa (4)
- Cameroon (3)