Urban population by region

There has always been a tendency for people to gather in towns and cities. Some of the factors that pull the population from rural areas to the cities are:

• Good medical care
• Available housing and services
• Good educational facilities
• A good transport network
• Job opportunities

Since the 1960s the world’s urban population has been steadily growing, especially in developing countries. The world population is currently slightly more urban than rural.

The population living in urban areas is projected to gain 2.9 billion, passing from 3.4 billion in 2009 to 6.3 billion 2050. Most of the population growth expected in urban areas will be concentrated in the cities and towns of the less developed regions.

Asia, in particular, is projected to see its urban population increase by 1.7 billion, Africa by 0.8 billion, and Latin America and the Caribbean by 0.2 billion by 2050.