United Nations: India and six other countries are projected to drive more than half of global urban growth by 2050, with Indian cities alone expected to add over 500 million residents, according to a new UN report.
The World Urbanisation Prospects 2025: Summary of Results, released by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), highlights the accelerating shift towards city life. It estimates that 45 per cent of the world’s 8.2 billion people now live in cities, with future growth concentrated in India, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Bangladesh and Ethiopia. Together, these countries will account for more than 500 million of the 986 million increase in city dwellers between 2025 and 2050.
“The success or failure of urbanisation in these key countries will shape global development outcomes,” the report warned, stressing that sustainable city management will be critical for achieving climate and development goals.
India and China dominate town populations
India and China, the world’s two most populous nations, already host more than 1.2 billion town residents, over 40 per cent of the global total. In 2025, 44 per cent of India’s population and 40 per cent of China’s lives in towns. Both countries also have substantial city populations, with nearly 1.2 billion combined.
Megacities on the rise
The number of megacities worldwide has surged from eight in 1975 to 33 in 2025, including 19 in Asia. India has five megacities, while China has four. By 2050, the total is expected to reach 37, with Addis Ababa, Dar es Salaam, Hajipur and Kuala Lumpur crossing the 10 million mark.
Cities shrinking despite global growth
Despite the overall urban expansion, more than 3,000 cities saw population decline between 2015 and 2025, mostly smaller centres under 250,000 residents. China accounted for one third of these shrinking cities, while India represented 17 per cent.
Few countries drove half of city growth since 2000
From 2000 to 2025, the global city population grew by 1.25 billion, with India, China, Nigeria, Pakistan and the US contributing over 500 million. Another five countries, Indonesia, Egypt, Bangladesh, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Brazil, added 187 million. In contrast, several Eastern European nations and Japan experienced significant declines.
UN calls for integrated urban policies
UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs Li Junhua said urbanisation must be managed inclusively to support climate resilience and sustainable development.
“Urbanisation is a defining force of our time. When managed inclusively and strategically, it can unlock transformative pathways for climate action, economic growth, and social equity,” he said, urging governments to align housing, land use, mobility and public services across urban and rural areas.
(Inputs from PTI)