The chart illustrates the population proportion of people in four countries in Asia who lived in cities between 1970 and 2020, with data forcasts of the next two decades.
Overall, the Philippines and Thailand experienced a slight uptick in urban population between 1970 and 2020. On the other hand, Malaysia and Indonesia saw more accelerated growth during that period. All four countries are expected to observe more people moving to the cities in the next 20 years, with more than half of the population in the Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia expected to be living in urban areas by 2040.
Between 1970 and 2020, the Philippines and Thailand observed a small growth in city population with under 20% of the Thai population and just over 30% of the Philippines living in the cities during 1970. However, by the end of 2020, these numbers increased to approximately 30% for Thailand and about 45% for the Philippines.
At that time, the other two countries, Malaysia and Indonesia, saw a more rapid growth. In 1970, there were just over 10% of Indonesians and 30% of Malaysians located in the cities. In the next 50 years, however, these numbers grew to over 50% and 70% respectively.
In the next two decades, all countries are expected to continue growing their urban population. Malaysia will have up to 80% of its population living in cities by 2040, followed by under 60% of Indonesian, about half of the Philippines, and just under 50% of Thailand.