Nairobi has been ranked the 10th most climate-resilient large city in the world, placing it ahead of several major global cities despite its recurring flooding and drainage problems.
The Kenyan capital was also ranked the second most climate-resilient city in Africa, behind Addis Ababa, which took second place globally.
The ranking assessed 72 major cities based on their exposure to climate hazards such as floods, drought, extreme heat, wildfires and strong winds, as well as their ability to adapt to these risks.
Chicago in the United States topped the global ranking, followed by Addis Ababa. Melbourne, Barcelona, Ankara, Buenos Aires, Paris, Istanbul, Bogotá and Nairobi completed the top 10.
Cairo in Egypt and Johannesburg in South Africa also featured among the 20 most climate-resilient cities, ranking 19th and 20th respectively.
The findings were published by AlphaGeo, a geospatial artificial intelligence firm, in its 2026 Climate Risk and Resilience Index.
AlphaGeo attributed the strong performance of Nairobi and Addis Ababa partly to their high elevation and favourable geographical conditions.
Their location far above sea level reduces exposure to some major climate threats, including coastal flooding, hurricane-force winds and extreme coastal heat.
The index uses a measure known as the resilience-adjusted risk (RAJ) score, which estimates the amount of climate risk remaining after adaptation measures are taken into account. A lower score indicates lower residual risk.
Chicago recorded the lowest score at eight, while Addis Ababa scored 10 and Nairobi 13, placing both African capitals among the cities with the lowest residual climate risk in the study.
The ranking has sparked debate online, with some questioning how Nairobi could place among the world’s most resilient cities given its frequent flooding and drainage challenges.
However, the assessment takes a broader view, focusing on geographical exposure and overall urban resilience rather than isolated flooding incidents in specific parts of the city.
The report also highlights Nairobi’s wetlands, soil, vegetation and river corridors, which it says can function as a “giant sponge” by absorbing water and helping reduce some flood risks.
The ranking does not mean Nairobi is immune to climate change or severe flooding.