Band 7+: ▪️The charts below show the growth in the population in some of the world's largest cities over three time periods. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words.

The bar charts illustrate the population growth in five major cosmopolitan areas, namely New York, Tokyo, Shanghai, Bombay, and Jakarta, over a 40-year period starting in 1970.

Overall, the number of residents increased in all five cities during the period, with Tokyo remaining the most densely populated city throughout.

In detail, the populations of Tokyo, New York, and Shanghai grew steadily. In 1970, Tokyo had approximately 16 million inhabitants, and this figure grew rapidly to nearly 30 million by 2010. Likewise, Shanghai, starting at around 12 million people, experienced a sharp increase and surpassed 20 million by the end of the period. New York underwent the most stable growth among the three cities, rising from around 14 million in 1970 to around 16 million in 2010.

Conversely, Bombay and Jakarta experienced more dramatic increases. Jakarta’s population underwent a fivefold increase, from around 4 million to under 20 million. Bombay’s population soared from around 5 million in 1970 to over 25 million by 2010, making it the second most populated city by the end of the period.