Megacities

Megacities

1. defined by population, have at least 10 million inhabitants

   • "an urban agglomeration of 10 million people or more"

2. Megacities in developing world have grown rapidly

   • They now face crises of infastructure, poverty and unemployment

3. Number of megacities has grown rapidly in the past 60 years

   • In 1950 there were only two megacities
     • Tokyo
     • New York
   • In 2010, there were 21 megacities
     • 15 of these megacities were in the developing world
   • By 2025, it is expected that there will be 26 megacities

4. Urbanisation in the developing world has spawned the rapid growth of megacities

   • This has happened particularly since 1970
   • Driving force behind urbanisation has been massive rural - urban migration
   • Also rates of natural increase which are higher in urban than in rural areas

5. Today, half the world's population live in towns and cities

6. By 2030, the proportion will be 80% of people living in towns and cities

   • 95% of this increase will be in the developing world

7. Problems with Megacities

   • Inadequate infastructure
     • Housing
     • Sewage
     • Water Supply
   • Lack of Unemployment
   • The large growth of megacities has meant that it outstrips the ability of urban authorities to meet even the most basic needs of millions of citizens

8. Lagos, Nigeria

   • Experienced a staggering 32 fold increase in population between 1950 and 2010
   • By 2050, its population could reach 25 million
     • It would make Lagos the 3rd largest city in the world
   • Housing is grossly inadequate
     • Shortage of 5 million homes
     • Households with shelter often live in appalling conditions
   • Densities exceed 20,000 persons/km2
   • Poor sanitation, contaminated drinking water and air pollution
     • Lead to high mortality in slums
   • Shortage of jobs
     • Megacities support large informal sectors of small business enterprises which are unregulated by the government
       • In Laos, this sector absorbs 80% of workers
       • The presence of this sector highlights a lack of investment