7 Population Trends In World Cities Report That India Must Take Note Of

The future of urban development depends on the fact at which the world population will rise. This is why government agencies make the best of their efforts to keep an error-free count of the growth in population figures. Based on population projections, future developments are planned across the world.

The World Cities Report-2016, which was recently released by the United Nations' (UN) Department of Economic And Social Affairs, makes certain projections about India's population growth and future development, too.

A look at key projections made in the report:

• By 2030, India will have seven mega cities. At present, there are five mega cities in the country — Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai. The two new cities joining the league include Ahmedabad and Hyderabad. A mega city is a city which houses a population of 10 million or more.

• By 2030, India's national capital Delhi would still be the second most populous mega city in the world. The city is projected to add a population of 9.6 million people to the world population. This highlights the need for carrying out major infrastructural developments in the national capital region.

• While 54 per cent of the world's current population lives in cities, this will go up to 60 per cent by 2030. Based on this projection, developing nations are planning their growth strategy.

• The number of mega cities across the world, which stands at 31 at present, will swell to 41 by 2030. While the 31 mega cities house a population of 500 million at present, the 41 mega cities of future will house a 730-million population. This would amount to 8.7 per cent of the total world population at that time.

• According to the report, third-world countries of Asia and Africa will have 31 of the 41 mega cities by 2030.

• The role of smaller cities in shaping the future urban developments is highlighted by that fact that they house 26 per cent of the total world population at present, which is higher than the 21 per cent share of mega cities.

• According to the report, a decline in the fertility rate and a rise in natural disastrous have led to a fall in the population of some European countries. Cities in Japan, for instance, saw a decline into their population owing to large-scale tsunami and hurricane-related deaths. The trend in these cities may continue in light of the fact that the number of possible natural calamities are expected to rise owing to ecological imbalances.