The column graph illustrates the urban population growth data for five continents and globally across three different years, with projections also provided for 2030. Overall, there has been a significant increase in the proportion of city dwellers worldwide, indicating a noticeable shift towards urban living for the global population in the future.
In 1950, less than one-third of the global population lived in urban areas. The Americas and Europe had the majority of city dwellers, while only 15-17% of the population resided in cities in Asia and Africa. By 2007, around half of the global population resided in urban areas, with eight out of ten people in Europe and the Americas living in cities. During this period, over one-third of the African population and slightly more than 40% of Asians were urban residents.
Projections indicate that by 2030, six out of ten people worldwide will be living in urban areas. This trend is particularly noticeable in the Americas and Europe, where more than eight out of ten individuals will be city dwellers. Likewise, African and Asian urban populations will also experience significant growth, with over half of their respective populations residing in cities at that time.