New york: Nearly half of the global population of 8.2 billion live in cities across the world today, according to a UN report released Tuesday. The World Urbanization Prospects 2025: Summary of Results highlighted the increasing urbanization trend, with urban dwellers more than doubling to 45 percent since 1950, when only 20 percent of the world's 2.5 billion people resided in cities.

According to Namibia Press Agency, the report from the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs revealed a significant rise in the number of megacities-urban areas with 10 million or more inhabitants-from eight in 1975 to 33 in 2025, with 19 situated in Asia. Jakarta, Indonesia, is currently the world's most populous city, housing nearly 42 million residents. The number of megacities is projected to increase to 37 by 2050.

The report also noted that small and medium-sized cities are home to more people than megacities and are expanding more rapidly, particularly in Africa and Asia. Among the 12,000 cities analyzed, a striking 96 percent have populations under 1 million, and 81 percent have fewer than 250,000 residents.

The total number of cities worldwide has more than doubled from 1975 to 2025, with projections indicating that by 2050, the number of cities could surpass 15,000, most with populations below 250,000.

In contrast, the global population living in towns decreased from 40 percent in 1950 to 36 percent in 2025, while rural communities now account for just 19 percent of the population. Towns, characterized by population clusters of at least 5,000 inhabitants and a density of at least 300 people per square kilometer, are prevalent in 71 countries. However, rural areas are the dominant settlement type in only 62 countries today, down from 116 in 1975.

"As governments convene at COP30 to advance global climate commitments, the United Nations underscores the pivotal role of urbanization in driving sustainable development and climate resilience across all settlement types," said UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs Li Junhua. "Urbanization is a defining force of our time. When managed inclusively and strategically, it can unlock transformative pathways for climate action, economic growth, and social equity. To achieve balanced territorial development, countries must adopt integrated national policies that align housing, land use, mobility, and public services across urban and rural areas," Li added.