Netherlands-based research firm Dealroom.co has ranked Lagos as the fastest-growing tech ecosystem in the world for 2025, according to its newly released Global Tech Ecosystem Index 2025.
The report highlights Lagos as a standout hub for innovation, noting that the city is home to five unicorns: Interswitch, Flutterwave, Jumia, OPay, and Moniepoint. Dealroom.co emphasized that Lagos has grown its ecosystem valuation by an impressive 11.6 times since 2017, despite operating within a relatively smaller economy.
Ranked under the Rising Stars category—focused on emerging tech cities showing explosive growth—Lagos tops the list, followed by Istanbul (Turkey) and Pune (India). Other notable cities include Belo Horizonte and Curitiba (Brazil), Mumbai (India), and Riyadh (Saudi Arabia).
The Rising Stars list measures enterprise value growth, unicorn creation, and cost-efficiency, adjusted for local GDP per capita.
Despite its rising prominence, Nigeria is not featured in the Global Champions category, which includes well-established tech hubs like the Bay Area (#1), New York (#2), and Boston (#3).
Lagos State Commissioner for Innovation, Science, and Technology, Tunbosun Alake, attributed the city’s tech success to its large population, business-friendly policies, and targeted support for emerging sectors such as AI and robotics.