Home

Have you ever wondered why there are restricted modes of transportation in Africa? Or even why it is easier to travel by air from most African countries to Europe even though there are limited or non-existent interregional linkages in Africa? Also, why does traveling from one African country to another often entail transiting through a European city? This article will provide explanations for the state of Africa’s transportation.

Public transport in Africa is a broad term that refers to the various forms of transport in Africa. Public transport systems in Africa are generally underdeveloped, and many African countries have fewer than 5,000 vehicles on their roads per million people. This is compared to a global average of 173 vehicles per million people.

Many African cities lack a reliable public transport system.  Informal transport (sometimes called paratransit) has been an excellent replacement — carrying millions of people daily. The easiest way to get from A to B in many African cities is by taking informal public transportation. But how do you define ‘informal’? This blog explores the topic and shows you these different informal transportation modes in Africa.