UN: Delhi to be world's most populous city by 2028
What's the story
A recently-released UN report on urban population estimates that around 68% of the world's population will be living in cities by 2050, and a bulk of that will be concentrated in three countries - India, China, and Nigeria. What's more, the report added that Delhi would overtake Tokyo as the world's most populous city by 2028. Here are more details.
Data
The world's most populous cities
Currently, the world's most populous city is Tokyo, with a population of 37 million, followed by Delhi at 29 million, Shanghai at 26 million, and Mexico City and Sao Paulo with 22 million each. Cairo, Mumbai, Beijing, and Dhaka have around 20 million inhabitants.
Details
India's population to overtake China's by 2050
The aforementioned figures are provided by a report on urbanization by the Population Division of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA). Addressing the issue of rural population, the report estimates rural populations to peak in a few years before declining by 2050. Meanwhile, India is also set to overtake China as the world's most populous country by 2050.
General growth trends
90% of urban population growth will be in Asia, Africa
The UN predicted that there would be an additional 2.5 billion people living in cities by 2050, and that 90% of that growth would be centred in Asia and Africa. The report added that 35% of urban population growth in the world will be concentrated in the cities of India, China, and Nigeria.
Data
India, China, Nigeria's urban population growth in numbers
Between 2018 and 2050, the cities of India, China, and Nigeria will see population additions of 416 million, 255 million, and 189 million respectively, said the report.
Megacity growth
UN estimates the world will have 43 megacities by 2030
The world's urban population has risen rapidly from around 751 million in 1950 to a massive 4.3 billion in 2018. Notably, the report pointed out that, around 1990, the world had 10 megacities with populations of above 10 million. Going by current growth trends, the UN predicts that the world will have 43 such megacities by 2030.