Key trends on urbanization:
- Accelerated growth: It is estimated that by the year 2050, almost 68% of the world's population (7 out of every 10 people) will live in urban areas.
- The most urbanized regions: North America (82%) and Latin America and the Caribbean (81%) lead the percentage of population residing in cities.
- The engine of future growth: The bulk of urban population growth in the coming decades will be concentrated in just three countries: India, China and Nigeria.
Cities have become the true engines of the global economy, generating more than 80% of world Gross Domestic Product (GDP), though they also pose major challenges in terms of housing, transportation, and sustainability.