Population (thousands, decade intervals)
FIGURE 1.3: Projected AFRICAN Relative Total and Urban Population Growth Rates (per cent, thousands, decade intervals) 350,000 300,000 250,000 200,000 150,000 100,000 50,000 0
2010-2020*
2020-2030*
2030-2040*
2040-2050*
100 90 80 70 60 50 % 40 30 20 10 0
Total Population Growth Rate (%) Urban Population Growth Rate (%) Total Population Growth (Thousands) Urban Population Growth (Thousands)
Source: Calculated on the basis of World Urbanization Prospects: The 2011 Revision, UNDESA, New York, 2012 * Projections.
FIGURE 1.4: Urban Population by Major Region 2010-2050 (in thousands)
Urban Population (thousands)
3,500,000 3,000,000 2,500,000
Africa Asia + Oceania Europe South America North America
2,000,000 1,500,000 1,000,000 500,000 0
2010
2020*
2030*
2040*
2050*
Source: World Urbanization Prospects: The 2011 Revision, UNDESA, New York, 2012. * Projections.
FIGURE 1.5: Urbanization Level by Major Region 2010-2050 (percentage of total population)
Urbanization Level (%)
100 80
Africa Asia Europe South America North America Oceania
60 40 20 0
2010
2020*
2030*
2040*
2050*
CHAPTER ONE
Source: World Urbanization Prospects: The 2011 Revision, UNDESA, New York, 2012 * Projections.
24
metropolitan region (EMR): a large to very large regional urban system comprising multiple towns and other settlements, centred on a single metropolitan core and which functions as a de facto single urban entity. In recent years, EMR-formation has become increasingly evident in many African capitals and other large cities. Moreover, the deliberate creation of EMRs is now being pursued by some nations - especially for their capitals - through the establishment of satellite towns at distance from the metropolitan area. Aiming at reducing the housing, services and traffic congestion pressures on the metropolitan area,
satellite cities can indeed serve that purpose. They play a role in relieving population pressures and, if simultaneously creating local employment opportunities rather than establishing mere “dormitory towns”, they can offer real solutions towards the dispersal of economic opportunities away from the primate city. Promotional campaigns for such satellite cities increasingly mention “escaping the urban informality of the metropolitan core” as among their attractions. However, even though at a distance from the metropolis and while recognized as administratively separate entities, these satellite cities become inevitably an integral and functional part of the