Urban population

Cities, now home to almost half the world's population, are growing rapidly in size and number, especially in developing countries.

People flock to cities for work, access to public services, and a higher standard of living. Cities can be tremendously efficient, as it is easier to provide water and sanitation services to people living closer together in urban settings than in dispersed rural communities.

But as cities grow, the cost of meeting basic needs increases, and so does the demand on the environment and natural resources.