Urbanisation

According to the official forecasts by the United Nations, cities are booming and are expected to have 6.3 billion inhabitants by 2050.This would be 2.5 billion more than today, an increase of 65 percent.

In contrast, the population in rural regions is expected to decline by 150 million people worldwide by 2050 (UN DESA, 2014).

Africa and Asia are urbanizing faster than the other regions of the world and are projected to become 56 and 64 percent urban, respectively, by 2050.

• Incessant population growth and urbanization are projected to add 2.5 billion people to the world’s urban population by 2050, with nearly 90 per cent of the increase concentrated in Asia and Africa.
• India, China, and Nigeria— together are expected to account for 37 per cent of the projected growth of the world’s urban population between 2014 and 2050. India is estimated to add 404 million urban dwellers, China 292 million, and Nigeria 212 million. (UN DESA, 2014)

India’s urban population is expected to grow from 410 million in 2014 to 814 million by 2050

• In India, as per the 2011 census, 31% people live in urban areas.
• By 2025, 46% of Indians will live in cities with more than 1 million people.
• By 2030, the number of cities with populations of more than 1 million will grow from 42 to 68. (McKinsey, 2010)
• Four of India’s cities namely Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chennai, and Hyderabad with currently 5 to 10 million inhabitants are projected to become megacities in the coming years, for a total of seven megacities projected in the country by 2030. (UN DESA, 2014)