Urbanization by country

This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

In 1990, 43 percent (2.3 billion) of the world’s population lived in urban areas; by 2015, this had grown to 54 percent (4 billion).

The increase in urban population has not been evenly spread throughout the world. For example, the urban growth rate of Africa is almost 11 times more rapid than the growth rate in
Europe

Key facts:
– Urban areas around the world are facing enormous challenges and changes than they did 20 years ago.
– Cities are operating in economic, social, and cultural ecologies that are radically different from the outmoded urban model of the 20th century.
– Persistent urban issues over the last 20 years include urban growth, changes in family patterns, a growing number of urban residents living in slums and informal settlements, and the challenge of providing urban services.
– Connected to these persistent urban issues are newer trends in urban governance and finance: emerging urban issues include climate change, exclusion, and rising inequality, rising insecurity, and an upsurge in international migration.
– Cities are responsible for more than 70% of global carbon dioxide emissions.
– 80% of global GDP is accounted by cities (Paris: is 16% of the population of France, but accounts for 27% of GDP; Kinshasa: is 13% of the population of DRC but accounts for 85% of GDP; Metro Manila: is 12% of the population of the Philippines but contributes 47% of the GDP)
– Housing accounts for more than 70% of land use in most cities and determines urban form and densities, also providing employment and contributing to growth.
– One billion new homes are needed worldwide by 2025, costing an estimated $650 billion per year, or US$9-11 trillion overall.
– 75% of the world’s cities have higher levels of income inequalities than two decades ago.
– Today, many cities in the world still rely on outdated modes of planning notwithstanding that planning is central to achieving sustainable urban development.
– Cities across the world are sprawling, and as such, densities are dramatically declining. In developing countries, a one percent decline in densities per year between 2000 and 2050 would quadruple the urban land area.
– Planning capacity is grossly inadequate in much of the developing world. In the UK, there are 38 planners per 100,000 population, while in Nigeria and India the figure is 1.44 and 0.23
– In various cities in developing countries, the informal economy is the main area of production, employment and income generation. It ranges from 25-40% of GDP in developing economies in Asia and Africa, with the share in nonagricultural employment between 20-80%.