Content categorized as 'Global' is unlimited in scope. It can include cross-industry topics that affect multiple industries or topic areas in one or more countries outside the United States.
Today, 55% of the world’s population lives in urban areas, a proportion that is expected to increase to 68% by 2050. Projections show that urbanization, the gradual shift in residence of the human population from rural to urban areas, combined with the overall growth of the world’s population could add another 2.5 billion people to urban areas by 2050, with close to 90% of this increase taking place in Asia and Africa, according to a new United Nations data set launched today.
The population of 26 countries, nearly all in Africa, will at least double. Niger in West Africa will see its population nearly triple.
A total of 38 countries will have smaller populations in 2050 than in 2018. China will register the largest numerical population decrease―about 50 million―followed by Japan at 25 million and Russia at 9.4 million. Romania will see the largest percentage decline in population (23 percent).
The population of the United States will reach 390 million, up from 328 million in 2018.
