The line graph illustrates the percentage of urban residency from 1970 to 2020, with predictions for 2030 and 2040 in four Asian countries: Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia.
Overall, proportion of people living in the urban areas significantly increased across all the nations and expected to keep growing at the same phase where Malaysia dominates.
Firstly, historical data shows that 3 of the 4 nations excluding Philippines experienced stable rapid rise. Of that, about 30% Malayans and Filipinos lived in the cities in 1970 which became half of the population in twenty years in both states. At the same time, about 20% of Thai people and 15% of Indonesians were living in the urban places. The former jumped up to over 25% while the latter went up to approximately 20% relatively. That is when the changes occurred. By 2020, Philippines gave its place to Malaysia where even Indonesia surpassed and came second. At this point, almost 75% of Malaysians and half of Indonesian population were resided in the cities. Philippines were just below the Indonesia with 45%. On the other hand, 70% people were still living in the rural areas in Thailand in 2020.
According to the forecast, the upward trend with the same speed should continue till 2040 in all nations. Keeping the dominance for the rest of the time, Malaysia should hit all time high of 85% in 2040 where majority of the population will be living in the cities. Even though Indonesia had the lowest rate of people living in the cities in 1970 compared to the rest, the country showed strong rise and went up to the second place in 2010 since when it kept the rating till 2020. Interestingly, it is anticipated to go second by 2040.
Philippines and Thailand might go up to 55% and 50% simultaneously around 2040s.