The line chart illustrates the proportion of citizens in the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia between 1970 and 2020 residing in cities, with forecasts for 2030 and 2040. Overall, while the percentage of the population settling in cities in Malaysia and Indonesia had increased dramatically from 1970 to 2020, with expectations continuing into the next 20 years, the figures for Thailand and Indonesia either rose significantly from 1970 to 2020, and are expected to increase more in the following 20 years. In 2040, Malaysia is predicted to become the country with the largest urban population, whereas Thailand is going to stay at the lowest percentage.
From 1970 to 2020, the percentage of people living in Malaysia went up from a third to 75%, significantly exceeding the remaining countries listed in the chart. In Thailand and Indonesia, the proportion of the urban population surged from 18% to over 30%, and 15% to 60%, respectively. Increasing from 31% to half from 1970 to 1990, the rate of individuals residing in the Philippines then declined sharply to reach roughly 45% in 2010 before rising to 45% in the following 10 years.
In the next 20 years, the forecast for Malaysia is rocketing incredibly to 81%, making it the highest percentage of the population settling in cities compared to others. In contrast, Thailand is expected to increase to 1.6 times the 2020 figure of the cities’ inhabitants, hitting the lowest point. Additionally, the prediction for the Philippines and Indonesia is soaring to 50% and 60%, respectively