Megacities in AsiaFrauke Kraas

ASIEN – Nr. 103 (2007) pp. 7–8

This year, in 2007, according to the United Nations, more than half of the world’s population live in cities – an increase from 30% in 1950 to 47% in 2000 – and the increase will probably reach 60% in 2030. Particularly in developing countries of Asia and Africa urbanization is proceeding rapidly. Megacities, i.e. cities with more than 5 million inhabitants, are most significant in this world-wide process of urbanisation. Almost 60 of them, with together more than 600 million people, are expected to exist by 2015. They are characterized by new scales, new dynamics, new complexities, i.e. the largest population figures and densities and highest development dynamics, as well as intense and complex interaction of different demographic, social, political, economic and ecological processes. Moreover, highly dynamic processes take place simultaneously, thereby often reinforcing themselves. In economically booming megacities, strong opportunities exist as well as strong pressures for change. What does the situation look like in Asia? What are the predominant challenges and chances for mega-urban developments, and to what extent are development paths different in the various megacities? This issue of ASIEN intends to take a closer look at selected mega-urban questions and case studies, by addressing important topics of recent development dynamics of this globally relevant issue…