The data given illustrates the rates of people currently residing in worldwide cities from 1975 and 2020, with a forecast for 2050. Overall, a trend within the data shows higher urbanisation that can be seen universally across the globe, although there are obvious and visible differences in levels and rates.
From 1975 to 2020, global urbanisation increased from below 40% to 56% and is predicted to rise towards 70% by 2050. This rise has been primarily driven by Africa and Asia, which recorded the lowest urban populations of around a quarter in 1975. In 2020, the figure rose up slightly above 40%, standing at 43% and 50%. By 2050, it is expected that a further increase in rates will occur, exceeding the 50% mark from 59% and 68%, respectively. Though, these two continents will still remained the least urbanised within the globe.
In contrast, Europe, Latin America and North America exceeds Africa and Asia in this sense of urbanisation rates. These three continents started off 35% higher in urbanisation rates than Africa and Asia in 1975, standing at rates of 65%, 50% and 72% respectively. In 2020, the figure rose up over the 70% mark, having Latin America overtaking the two other continents, Europe and North America, with a 20% increase. In the forecast for 2050, the three continents are predicted to remain a steady increase up over a rate of 80%, though will not contribute as much as Africa and Asia in the global urbanisation forecast.
Oceania, however, shows minimal variation with urbanisation rates slightly declining by 2020 and expected to rise modestly by 2050, maintaining an average of around 70%.