Band 6+: The graph below gives information about the percentage of the population in four Asian countries living in cities from 1970 to 2020, with predictions for 2030 and 2040. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

The line graph illustrates the changes in the percentage of the population in four Asian countries residing in cities between 1970 and 2020, and takes into account assumptions about the future from 2030 to 2040. The measurement is in percentage of total population.

Overall, Malaysia and Indonesia show the highest results in the percentage of total population, while the Philippines and Thailand show only gradual increases.

Firstly, the first three decades in Malaysia and Indonesia saw a steady increase from 30-40 and 15-25 percent of the total population over the period. After that, both countries started to increase dramatically over the entire period. Malaysia reached a high percentage of the total population, around 80%.

Secondly, there are two other Asian countries in which the percentage of total population did not rise too much. In the Philippines, the first three decades also saw a steady increase from 30-50 percent of the total population, but after that, it just fluctuated around 50-60%. Thailand also increased gradually during the first three decades and fluctuated from 30-35% over the period between 1990 and 2020, but then the country started to increase dramatically from 35-45% over the period.