World’s Fastest Growing Megacities

Forbes.com4th August, 2013

Growing CityArtist: De Es Schwetberger - Oil Painting

Facts: In the decade of 1950-1960, 60% of the growth of megacities was in the developing

world. Between 2000 and 2010, the developing world accounted for 90%. Out of the 28 biggest cities on Earth, only 6 are in the developed world.

Note:The list of The Fastest-Growing Megacities, used population data from the 2013 edition of ‘Demographia World Urban Areas’; the only regularly published survey of urban area populations. The population estimates are for areas of continuous urbanization which includes central cities and their satellite communities, but excludes adjacent rural territory.

Adapted from: Forbes.com

“The large urban agglomerates we call megacities are increasingly a developing world phenomenon that will affect the future prosperity and stability of the entire world.”

George BugliarelloMegacities and the Developing World

“Cities, particularly emerging megacities in developing and newly industrialising countries, play a significant role in climate change. They are both massive contributors of greenhouse gases as well as sensitive victims to its consequences.”

Future Megacities 2013

Karachi, PAKISTANPopulation (Est.): 20.88 million peoplePopulation Growth from 2000-10: 80.5%The Capital City of Pakistan is: Islamabad

1.

Karachi, PAKISTANPopulation (Est.): 20.88 million peoplePopulation Growth from 2000-10: 80.5%The Capital City of Pakistan is: Islamabad

Coordinates:Latitude: 24° 51’ NorthLongitude: 67° 02’ East

Shenzhen, CHINAPopulation (Est.): 12.51 million peoplePopulation Growth from 2000-10: 56.1%The Capital City of China is: Beijing

2.

Shenzhen, CHINAPopulation (Est.): 12.51 million peoplePopulation Growth from 2000-10: 56.1%The Capital City of China is: Beijing

Coordinates:Latitude: 22° 39’ NorthLongitude: 114° 13’ East

Lagos, NIGERIAPopulation (Est.): 12.09 million peoplePopulation Growth from 2000-10: 48.2%The Capital City of Nigeria is: Abuja

3.

Lagos, NIGERIAPopulation (Est.): 12.09 million peoplePopulation Growth from 2000-10: 48.2%The Capital City of Nigeria is: Abuja

Coordinates:Latitude: 06° 27’ NorthLongitude: 03° 21’ East

Beijing, CHINAPopulation (Est.): 18.24 million peoplePopulation Growth from 2000-10: 47.6%The Capital City of China is: Beijing

4.

Beijing, CHINAPopulation (Est.): 18.24 million peoplePopulation Growth from 2000-10: 47.6%The Capital City of China is: Beijing

Coordinates:Latitude: 39° 55’ NorthLongitude: 116° 23’ East

Bangkok, THAILANDPopulation (Est.): 14.54 million peoplePopulation Growth from 2000-10: 45.2%The Capital City of Thailand: Bangkok

5.

Bangkok, THAILANDPopulation (Est.): 14.54 million peoplePopulation Growth from 2000-10: 45.2%The Capital City of Thailand: Bangkok

Coordinates:Latitude: 13° 44’ NorthLongitude: 100° 30’ East

Dhaka, BANGLADESHPopulation (Est.): 14.34 million peoplePopulation Growth from 2000-10: 45.2%The Capital City of Bangladesh: Dhaka

5.

Dhaka, BANGLADESHPopulation (Est.): 14.34 million peoplePopulation Growth from 2000-10: 45.2%The Capital City of Bangladesh: Dhaka

Coordinates:Latitude: 23° 43’ NorthLongitude: 90° 25’ East

Guangzhou-Foshan, CHINAPopulation (Est.): 17.69 million peoplePopulation Growth from 2000-10: 43%The Capital City of China is: Beijing

6.

Guangzhou-Foshan, CHINAPopulation (Est.): 17.69 million peoplePopulation Growth from 2000-10: 43%The Capital City of China is: Beijing

Coordinates:Latitude: 23° 08’ NorthLongitude: 113° 16’ East

Shanghai, CHINAPopulation (Est.): 21.77 million peoplePopulation Growth from 2000-10: 40.1%The Capital City of China is: Beijing

7.

Shanghai, CHINAPopulation (Est.): 21.77 million peoplePopulation Growth from 2000-10: 40.1%The Capital City of China is: Beijing

Coordinates:Latitude: 31° 14’ NorthLongitude: 121° 27’ East

Delhi, INDIAPopulation (Est.): 22.83 million peoplePopulation Growth from 2000-10: 39.2%The Capital City of India is: New Delhi

8.

Delhi, INDIAPopulation (Est.): 22.83 million peoplePopulation Growth from 2000-10: 39.2%The Capital City of India is: New Delhi

Coordinates:Latitude: 28° 40’ NorthLongitude: 77° 14’ East

Jakarta, INDONESIAPopulation (Est.): 26.75 million peoplePopulation Growth from 2000-10: 34.6%The Capital City of Indonesia: Jakarta

9.

Jakarta, INDONESIAPopulation (Est.): 26.75 million peoplePopulation Growth from 2000-10: 34.6%The Capital City of Indonesia: Jakarta

Coordinates:Latitude: 06° 09’ SouthLongitude: 106° 49’ East

Istanbul, TURKEYPopulation (Est.): 12.92 million peoplePopulation Growth from 2000-10: 25.3%The Capital City of Turkey: Ankara

10.

Istanbul, TURKEYPopulation (Est.): 12.92 million peoplePopulation Growth from 2000-10: 25.3%The Capital City of Turkey: Ankara

Coordinates:Latitude: 41° 01’ NorthLongitude: 28° 58’ East

Vocabulary:[Remember: as cities grow and merge, new urban configurations are formed.]

City RegionAn urban development on a massive scale: a major city that expands beyond administrative boundaries to engulf small cities, towns and semi-urban and rural hinterlands, sometimes expanding sufficiently to merge with other cities, forming large conurbations that eventually become city regions.

City ProperThe population living within the administrative boundaries of a city, e.g., Washington, D.C.

ConurbationAn extended urban area, typically consisting of several towns merging with the suburbs of one or more cities.

Hinterland• Land lying behind something, esp. a coast or the shore of a river• Remote or undeveloped areas of a country• An area located near and dependent on a large city, esp. a port

MegacityAn urban agglomeration with a population of 10 million people and no more than 20 million.

MetacityA major conurbation – a megacity of more than 20 million people.

Vocabulary [continued]:

MegaregionA rapidly growing urban cluster surrounded by low density hinterland, formed as a result of expansion, growth and geographical convergence of more than one metropolitan area and other agglomerations (the action or process of collecting in a mass).

Metropolitan Area/RegionA formal local government area comprising the urban area as a whole and its primary commuter areas, typically formed around a city with a large concentration of people (i.e., a population of at least 100,000).

Peri-Urban AreaAn area between consolidated urban and rural regions.

Rural AreaRelating to the country and the people who live there instead of the city (urban area).

Urban AreaThe definition of ‘urban’ varies from country to country and with periodic reclassification, can also vary within one country overtime, making direct comparisons difficult.

An ‘Urban Area’ can be defined by one or more of the following:• Administrative criteria or political boundaries

o e.g. area within the jurisdiction of a municipality or town committee.

Vocabulary [continued]:

• A threshold population sizeo i.e. where the minimum for an urban settlement is typically in the region of 2,000 people,

although this varies globally between 200 and 50,000 people.• Population density• Economic function

o e.g. where a significant majority of the population is not primarily engaged in agriculture or where there is surplus employment

• The presence of ‘urban’ characteristicso e.g. paved streets, electric lighting, sewerage.

In 2010, 3.5 billion people lived in areas classified as ‘urban’.

Urban AgglomerationThe population of a built-up or densely populated area containing the city proper, suburbs and continuously settled commuter areas or adjoining territory inhabited at urban levels of residential density.

Urban CorridorsA linear ‘ribbon’ system of urban organization; cities of various sizes linked through transportation and economic axes, often running between major cities. Urban corridors spark business and change the nature and function of individual town and cities, promoting regional economic growth but also often reinforcing urban primacy and unbalanced regional development.

Definitions: Merriam-Webster Dictionary and from the report on The State of the World's Children 2012

Webography & Resources

Assembled: A. Ballas

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