Page 152 - fourth year book

URBAN DEVELOPMENT

Introduction

Egypt’s current annual urban growth rate of 2 percent means that

Egyptian cities have to accommodate almost 1 million new citizens –

every year. Cairo alone saw half a million new inhabitants in 2017,

making it the fastest growing city in the world. In the Greater Cairo

Region, almost two thirds of residents live in informal settlements, which

is currently the pre-dominant mode of urban development in the

country. Due to poor water and sewage management and increasing

droughts caused by climate change, Egypt is expected to face a critical

shortage of water by 2025. This makes Cairo one of the most threatened

cities worldwide that could soon be running out of drinking water.

By far the largest share of Egypt’s area is desert with no human

settlements, leaving only 6 per cent that are densely populated. This is

supposed to increase to 12 per cent with the national government’s plans

to build new cities in the desert

Definitions

Urban:

Geographic areas described as non-rural and having a higher

population density, more than 99 person/square mile. Cities with

population of at least 20.000 but less than 50.000.

Urbanization:

It is process begins with movement from country village to small,

medium sized town which rapidly become big city.

122