Page 60 - The World About Us

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1.1.1
2.2.4

What is the global pattern of urban growth?

In some countries one city, usually fig.165 Percentage of the popula on living in towns and ci es in 1960. (source: World Bank)
but not always the capital, has become
the focus for urban growth. However, it
is smaller ci es where most of the urban
growth is taking place.
While the number of megaci es is
expected to grow to 41 by 2030, the
number of ci es with a popula on
between 500,00 and 1 million is
expected to jump from 380 to 509 by urban
2030. The number of ci es with popula on
popula ons between 1 million and 5 as % of total
million is expected to rise from 861 in < 25%
2016 to 1,120 by 2030. 25.1 - 45%
45.1 - 60%
To date, La n America has the
highest propor on of people living a 60.1 - 75%
megaci es (12.7%) and Africa the least > 75%
(3.5%). By 2030 La n America is
expected to have 14.3% of its total fig.166 Percentage of the popula on living in towns and ci es in 2016. (source: World Bank)
popula on living in megaci es. By then,
Europe will have the fewest, with just 6%
living in 3 megaci es. Meanwhile, Africa
will have six megaci es housing 7% of
the con nent’s popula on.)
Rural vs urban

fig.164 Change in urban/rural popula ons
2016 - Urban popula on: 4,043 million urban
popula on
The global popula on as % of total
is predicted to grow
from 2016 to 2030 < 25%
by just over 25.1 - 45%
one billion to 45.1 - 60%
reach 8,425
million by 2030. 60.1 - 75%
> 75%

fig.167 Urban growth rates since 1960. Urban growth has slowed in all regions
2030 - Predicted urban popula on: except for Sub-Saharan Africa. However, the rate is s ll very high in South and East
5,058 million Asia. The biggest slow down in urban growth has been seen in South America, which
has now become the most urbanised con nent on the planet.
(source UN) 6% 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015
Annual urban growth rate 5% Selected regions

Sub-Saharan Africa
4%

South Asia
Urban: in ci es greater than 10 million 3% East Asia/Pacific
Urban: in ci es of 5-10 million 2% Middle East/North Africa
Urban: in ci es of 1-5 million La n America/Caribbean
Urban: in ci es of 500,000 - 1 million 1% Europe & central Asia
Urban: in ci es smaller than 500,000 European Union
Rural: living in the countryside 0

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The majority of the world’s population now live in urban areas.