DISCOVERING MEGACITIES
By 2050 it is
expected that
70% of the world
population will
live in urban
areas.
Currently
more than half
of the world’s
population live
inside this
circle.
Urban dwellers
10
The percentage
of people living
in cities has
increased
rld
Wo
9
8
Billions
7
20%
1900
6
Asia
5
30%
4
3
a
2
ic
Afr
1
Europe
70%
2050?
40%
1955
53%
1990
2013
Growth of populations in the developing world had risen rapidly.
Urbanisation occurs globally
In every continent the percentage of
urban city dwellers is rising.
MEGACITIES
>10 million people
In 2010: urban population percentages:
THE RESULT
IS AN
MILLION CITIES
>1 million people
URBAN
WORLD
CITIES
Africa: 41%
Asia: 41%
North America: 80%
Europe: 78%
South America: 76%
Australasia: 75%
TOWNS
“As the world moves into the
urban age, the dynamism, and
intense vitality of cities
become even more prominent.
A fresh future is taking shape,
with urban areas around the
world becoming not just the
dominant form of habitat for
humankind, but also for the
engine-rooms of human
development as a whole” .
(UN Habitat)
MEGACITY GROWTH
Moscow
London
Rhine-Ruhr
Paris
New York City
Tehran
Karachi
Cairo
Istanbul
Los Angeles
Mexico City
MumLagos
Beijing
Tianjin
Seoul
Toyko
Shanghai
Osaka
Delhi
Guangzhou
Dhaka Shenzen
Kolkata
Manila
Bangkok
Jakarta
Rio de Janeiro
São Paulo
Buenos Aires
Tokyo 34.8 million
Tianjin 10.6 million
In 2013 there were 30 megacities worldwide. In 1970 there were just 3: Tokyo, London and New York. By 2025,
there will be 37 megacities, but neither London or New York will be in the ‘Top Ten’.
Migration Feeds Megacities
Around 1 million people move from rural to urban areas every week worldwide. It h as
slowed slightly from a peak of 1.2 million per week in 2005, due to falling birth rates in rural
areas across the globe.
Children may
grow into
poorly skilled
workers
MIGRATION TO THE CITY
Limited access
to education
for children
Low farming
income
Cities grow outwards and upwards
HIGH RISE
GROWTH IN THE
CITY CENTRE
3
2
SUBURBAN
GROWTH
1
4
CITY BEGINS
As more people
move to the city it
expands upwards
and outwards.
RIBBON GROWTH
ALONG ROADS
PLANNED NEW
TOWNS
5
1 billion urban dwellers live in poverty. This is linked to a range of economic and social problems. A lack of proper
employment pushes people into poor housing and unsafe kinds of work.
Cities join to form a mega-region
The mega-region makes major
cities look tiny in comparison.
London
2,265km2
Guangzhou
Zhaoqing
Foshan
Dongguan
Zhongshan
Jiangmen
Huizhou
Tokyo
13,500km2
Shenzen
New York
20,192km2
Zuhai
The Pearl River Delta in China is an area with several
major cities. These cities are beginning to join and it
is thought that these could join to form one large
metropolitan area or mega-region.
Pearl River
Delta
241,440km2
The population of Tokyo, the world’s largest megacity is just over 37 million. Tokyo has held the top position for
nearly 60 years. In China, this mega-region holds 120 million people.
Challenges and Opportunities
City life brings opportunities ….
….but challenges too.
Sustainability for cities is a
balancing act ensuring that
it’s inhabitants are provided
for while not doing too much
damage to the environment.
www.geographyinthenews.rgs.org
HIGHER WAGES
HEAL
THCA
RE
LAW & ORDER
ENSITY
HIGH D G
LIVIN
SMOG AND
POLLUTION
CONGESTION
SCHOOL
S
WASTE
PROBLE
MS
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