DISCOVERING MEGACITIES By 2050 it is Currently expected that more than half 70% of the world of the world’s population will population live live in urban inside this circle. areas. Urban dwellers 10 The percentage 9 World of people living in cities has 8 increased 20% 7 1900 6 Asia 5 30% Billions 4 3 2050? 70% 40% 1955 2 Africa 1 Europe 53% 1990 2013 Growth of populations in the developing world had risen rapidly. Urbanisation occurs globally In every continent the percentage of MEGACITIES urban city dwellers is rising. >10 million people In 2010: urban population percentages: THE RESULT MILLION CITIES IS AN >1 million people URBAN CITIES WORLD TOWNS Africa: 41% Asia: 41% “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, North America: 80% Europe: 78% 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) South America: 76% Australasia: 75% MEGACITY GROWTH Moscow London Rhine-Ruhr Beijing Paris Tianjin New York City Istanbul Tehran Seoul Toyko Los Angeles Karachi Cairo Shanghai Osaka Delhi Mexico City Guangzhou Dhaka Shenzen Mum- Kolkata Manila Bangkok Lagos 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 MIGRATION TO THE CITY poorly skilled workers Limited access Low farming to education income for children Cities grow outwards and upwards HIGH RISE As more people 3 GROWTH IN THE move to the city it CITY CENTRE expands upwards SUBURBAN and outwards. 2 GROWTH RIBBON GROWTH 1 CITY BEGINS 4 ALONG ROADS 5 PLANNED NEW TOWNS 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 Huizhou Zhaoqing Dongguan Foshan Tokyo 13,500km2 Shenzen Zhongshan Jiangmen New York 20,192km2 Zuhai Pearl River Delta The Pearl River Delta in China is an area with several 241,440km2 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. 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 HIGHER WAGES City life brings opportunities …. HIGH DENSITY ….but challenges too. HEALTHCARE LIVING SMOG AND POLLUTION Sustainability for cities is a LAW & ORDER balancing act ensuring that CONGESTION it’s inhabitants are provided SCHOOLS for while not doing too much WASTE PROBLEMS damage to the environment. www.geographyinthenews.rgs.org Members only access to over 300 case studies and articles .