Nearly half of the world’s population now lives in cities, and that share is expected to keep climbing sharply in the coming decades, according to a new report from the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA). The study, “World Urbanization Prospects 2025: Summary of Results”, was released on Tuesday as countries gather in Belém, Brazil, for COP30, where urban growth is a key topic in global climate negotiations.
In 1950, only one in five people lived in cities. Today, that figure has more than doubled, and by 2050, two-thirds of the world’s population growth is expected to take place in urban areas. Meanwhile, rural populations continue to decline, except in sub-Saharan Africa, where demographic expansion remains strong.
“Urbanization is a defining force of our time,” said Li Junhua, head of UNDESA. “When managed inclusively, it can drive climate action, economic growth, and social equity.” He urged governments to align national housing, land use, and mobility policies to balance growth between urban and rural areas.
The report documents explosive growth in so-called megacities—urban areas with at least ten million inhabitants. Their number has jumped from eight in 1975 to 33 today, with 19 located in Asia. Jakarta, with nearly 42 million residents, now tops the list, followed by Dhaka, Tokyo, and Cairo, the only non-Asian city in the global top ten. By 2050, new megacities are expected to emerge in Addis Ababa, Dar es Salaam, Hajipur, and Kuala Lumpur.
Still, most of the world’s urban dwellers live in smaller cities, which are expanding faster than larger ones—especially in Africa and Asia. The number of cities has more than doubled since 1975, and could exceed 15,000 by mid-century, with the vast majority home to fewer than 250,000 people. While some cities are booming, others are shrinking; more than one-third of declining cities are in China, and 17 percent are in India. Even major hubs such as Mexico City and Chengdu have recently seen population drops.
The report also finds that towns—with at least 5,000 residents—remain the most common settlement type in more than 70 countries, including India, Uganda, Germany, and the United States. Rural areas, meanwhile, continue to lose population and dominance globally, except in sub-Saharan Africa, which is expected to account for almost all of the world’s rural population growth in the coming decades.
