Four-Fifths of the Population Now Live in Urban Areas
12 hours ago
- #population-growth
- #urbanization
- #sustainability
- Over 80% of the global population now lives in urban areas, a figure expected to rise further.
- The UN's World Urbanisation Prospects report used a standardized definition for urban areas for the first time, classifying them as cities with at least 50,000 people and a density of 1500 per km² or towns with 5000 people and 300 per km².
- By 2050, 83% of the world's population is projected to live in urban regions, with rural populations peaking in the 2040s before declining.
- Urban population growth is driven by internal migration in Asia, international migration in Europe and North America, and higher birth rates in sub-Saharan Africa.
- Urbanization impacts the environment and health, with potential for both harm (e.g., urban sprawl, air pollution) and benefits (e.g., efficient public transport, better healthcare access).
- The UN's sustainable development goal aims to make cities inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable by 2030, with urbanization data aiding climate change policies.