New York: Europe and the Arab World

The United Nations reports that cities are now home to 45% of the world's 8.2 billion people, and confirms that urban areas will experience further growth in the future.

According to a new report on global urbanization prospects, the organization predicts that two-thirds of global population growth by 2050 will occur in cities, while most of the remaining third will be in towns. The report, as cited in the UN Daily News, confirms that the global share of the population living in cities has doubled from 20% since 1950. It also notes that the number of megacities—urban areas with a population of 10 million or more—has quadrupled from eight in 1975 to 33 in 2025. The report identifies Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, as the most populous city in the world, with nearly 42 million inhabitants, while Cairo, the capital of Egypt, is the only city in the top ten by population located outside of Asia.

The report also highlights that urban areas will continue to grow in urban areas in the future. However, the report found that small and medium-sized cities are home to more people than large cities and are growing at a faster pace, particularly in Africa and Asia. It showed that the total number of cities worldwide more than doubled between 1975 and 2025, reaching 12,000. Projections indicate that by 2050, the number of cities worldwide could exceed 15,000, most with populations under 250,000.

Divergent Growth Patterns
The report emphasized that more than half of the projected increase in the global urban population of 986 million by 2050 will be concentrated in just seven countries, including India, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Bangladesh, and Ethiopia.

The report also highlighted the divergent growth patterns of cities. It stated that while most cities are growing, more than 3,000 experienced population declines between 2015 and 2025, and most of these already had populations under 250,000. This underscores the need for differentiated policies that serve more people in expanding cities and adapt the economies of shrinking ones.

The Importance of Towns and the Decline of Rural Areas
The report found that towns are home to more than a third of humanity—and remain the most common type of settlement in 71 countries—and are therefore crucial for sustainable development. The report stated that towns often serve as vital links between rural and urban areas, adding that proactive planning for them can promote balanced regional development and reduce pressure on large cities.

Meanwhile, rural areas remain the most common type of settlement in 62 countries today, down from 116 in 1975. By 2050, this number is projected to decline further to 44 countries.

The report found that sub-Saharan Africa is the only region where the rural population has continued to grow significantly, and the region is expected to account for almost all future rural population growth. Urbanization and Climate Action

As governments gather in Brazil for the UN Climate Conference, Lee Junhua, UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, emphasized the pivotal role of urbanization. He stated, “Urbanization is a defining force of our time. When managed comprehensively and strategically, it can unlock new possibilities for climate action, economic growth, and social justice.”

It is worth noting that the “Global Urbanization Outlook 2025: Summary of Findings” report, published by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, provides a key evidence base for policymakers, planners, and researchers working to shape a sustainable, inclusive, and resilient urban future.