Lagos named world’s fastest-growing tech ecosystem for 2025 — Dealroom Report
Lagos has been named the fastest-growing tech ecosystem in the world for 2025, according to the newly released Global Tech Ecosystem Index 2025 by Netherlands-based research firm, Dealroom.co.
The report places Lagos ahead of Istanbul, Turkey, and Pune, India, in its “Rising Stars” category, which highlights emerging tech cities that have seen explosive growth in enterprise value relative to their economic size and cost of living.
Lagos is home to five unicorns—Interswitch, Flutterwave, Jumia, OPay, and Moniepoint—making it one of the most attractive hubs for startups in Africa. Dealroom noted that the city has grown its ecosystem valuation 11.6 times since 2017.
Other cities in the top ranks include Belo Horizonte and Curitiba in Brazil, Mumbai in India, and Riyadh in Saudi Arabia, all noted for their expanding innovation economies.
The report credits Lagos’ rapid rise to targeted government investment in innovation, particularly through the Lagos State Science Research and Innovation Council (LASRIC), which manages a N1 billion fund for startups and tech research.
Reacting to the news, Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, quoted Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu as saying the recognition reflects the dedication of young innovators in the state.
“We are thrilled but not surprised because of the hard work that our youths are doing. Thousands are at tech hubs, using technology to solve everyday challenges,” Sanwo-Olu said.
The Dealroom ranking adds to Lagos’ growing global profile, coming shortly after Time Out Magazine named it one of the top three African cities to watch in 2025.
