Africa’s major cities are changing rapidly, and several now have skylines dominated by high-rise offices, hotels, residential towers and mixed-use developments.

The continent’s tallest buildings are concentrated in a handful of major urban centres, but modern skylines are not limited to the cities with the very tallest towers.

Here are 10 African cities where modern high-rise architecture is a major part of the urban landscape.

1. Cairo, Egypt

Cairo has one of Africa’s most rapidly changing high-rise profiles.

The city’s Iconic Tower rises approximately 394 metres, making it the tallest completed building listed by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat’s Skyscraper Center in Africa.

Cairo also has several other buildings above 200 metres, including multiple towers within the New Administrative Capital.

2. Johannesburg, South Africa

Johannesburg has one of Africa’s longest histories of skyscraper construction.

The Carlton Centre was completed in 1973 and reaches about 201 metres. Today, the Leonardo is the city's tallest building at approximately 228 metres.

The Skyscraper Center lists five completed Johannesburg buildings above 150 metres.

3. Nairobi, Kenya

Nairobi’s skyline has changed significantly over the past decade.

Britam Tower reaches about 200 metres, while the Global Trade Center Office Tower reaches approximately 184 metres. Old Mutual Tower stands at around 163 metres.

The city currently has multiple completed buildings at or above 150 metres.

4. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Addis Ababa is another African capital where high-rise construction has reshaped parts of the city.

The Commercial Bank of Ethiopia building reaches about 209 metres, according to the Skyscraper Center.

The city is also seeing additional major high-rise projects, including a planned Ethiopian Electric Power headquarters reaching more than 300 metres.

5. Lagos, Nigeria

Lagos has one of West Africa’s most recognisable modern skylines.

NECOM House, completed in 1979, remains an important part of the city's architectural history and reaches about 160 metres.

The city also has newer towers including Eko Tower II and Eko Champagne Pearl Tower.

6. Casablanca, Morocco

Casablanca combines historic architecture with an increasingly modern business district.

The Casablanca Finance City Tower reaches 136 metres and is currently the tallest completed building listed for the city by the Skyscraper Center.

The Twin Center towers, each approximately 115 metres, remain prominent parts of Casablanca's skyline.

7. Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Dar es Salaam has developed a distinctive collection of high-rise commercial and residential buildings.

The Skyscraper Center currently lists Tanzania with four completed buildings of at least 150 metres, with Dar es Salaam as the country's principal high-rise city.

The skyline reflects the city's role as Tanzania's major commercial centre and Indian Ocean port.

8. Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire

Abidjan has one of West Africa's most recognisable concentrations of modern towers.

The Plateau district is dominated by office buildings, hotels and financial institutions, giving the city a skyline that is very different from many other West African urban centres.

The city is also associated with the striking La Pyramide building, completed in the 1970s.

9. Kigali, Rwanda

Kigali is not dominated by skyscrapers in the same way as Cairo or Johannesburg, but its central business district has a noticeably modern architectural character.

Kigali City Tower reaches about 90 metres and remains one of the city's most recognisable high-rise buildings.

Modern office complexes and mixed-use developments have added further density to the capital's central districts.

10. Luanda, Angola

Luanda's skyline has expanded alongside major investment in commercial, residential and government developments.

The city combines Portuguese colonial-era architecture with modern towers and large contemporary developments along its central and waterfront areas.

Its changing skyline reflects Luanda's position as Angola's principal commercial and administrative centre.

The numbers show that African skyscraper development is not concentrated in one region. Cairo, Johannesburg, Nairobi and Addis Ababa have buildings reaching roughly 200 metres or more, while Lagos, Casablanca, Dar es Salaam, Abidjan, Kigali and Luanda have developed distinctive modern high-rise districts of their own.