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| Tokyo, Japan |
Today in class we read about megacities, and analyzed population statistics. Later on we were asked to write an article explaining what the statistics showed us.
Megacities:
In 2006 there were ten megacities in the world, where Tokyo took the lead with 33.4 million, New York as second with 24.1 million, and Mexico City as third with 21.7 million. In ten years time there will probably be 26 megacities worldwide, and 22 of them will be in developing countries. According to the UN, city population growth will take place in the megacities of developing countries.
Urban and rural population statistics:
Since 1800 the percentage of world population living in urban areas have increased. Back then the percentage was only 2 %, in 1950 the percentage was 30 %, while in 2000 the percentage had increased to 47. UB-habitat and BBC have estimated that in 2015 the percentage of world population living in urban areas will be 52 %, and in 2030 it will have increased to 60 %. UB-habitat and BBC have also given us some statistics for urban- and rural population in regions of the world (millions) in 1995, as well as they have estimated how many millions there will be in urban and rural areas within the year 2015.
Since 1800 the percentage of world population living in urban areas have increased. Back then the percentage was only 2 %, in 1950 the percentage was 30 %, while in 2000 the percentage had increased to 47. UB-habitat and BBC have estimated that in 2015 the percentage of world population living in urban areas will be 52 %, and in 2030 it will have increased to 60 %. UB-habitat and BBC have also given us some statistics for urban- and rural population in regions of the world (millions) in 1995, as well as they have estimated how many millions there will be in urban and rural areas within the year 2015.
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| Urban population |
Rural population refers to people living in rural (churlish) areas, while urban population refers to people living in cities, towns, and metropolitan- and suburban areas as well. According to statistics, the rural population in North America was 67 million in 1995, while the urban population the same year was 231 million. UB-habitat and BBC have estimated that in 2015 the urban population in North America will have increased by 70 million, ergo 301 million will be living in an urban area. They have also estimated that the rural population will have decreased with 8 million within 2015. In South America the urban population was 353 million in 1995, while the rural population was 129 million. Here it is estimated to be 510 million living in an urban area in 2015, while 123 million will live in a rural area. In Europe there were 518 million living in an urban area in 1995, while 209 million lived in a rural area. It has been estimated that within 2015 the urban population will have increased to 532 million, while the rural population will have decreased to 188 million. However, in Africa and Asia, both urban- and rural population will have increased within 2015.
The statistics shows us that the world population keeps increasing, and this might be a global challenge now, but it's little compared to what's coming, considering the population statistics keeps growing. Will we ever have room for all these people?
