How fast is the world urbanizing and what does it mean for culture?

The answer

In 1950, 30% of the world's population lived in urban areas. By 2024, that figure exceeded 57%, and the UN projects 68% by 2050 - meaning 2.5 billion more urban residents in just 25 years. Africa and Asia are urbanizing fastest: Lagos grew from 1.4 million in 1970 to over 16 million in 2024. Delhi, the world's second-largest city, houses 33 million people. Urbanization drives profound cultural changes: traditional extended family structures give way to nuclear families, indigenous languages are abandoned for dominant urban languages, and traditional diets shift to processed foods. The concept of megacities (over 10 million people) barely existed in 1950 with just two (New York and Tokyo); there are now 37. Urbanization has positive cultural effects too - cities concentrate creative talent, driving 80% of global GDP and fostering innovation, art movements, and cultural cross-pollination.