MEPX
Chapter 6 of 10All chapters

Chapter 6 of 10

Where people live

Density and cities.

Distribution

Population clusters on coasts, river valleys and temperate plains. Half the world lives in a relatively small share of the land area, and most of it is now urban.

  • More than half of humanity lives in cities, a share still rising.
  • Several megacities hold more people than mid-sized countries.

Movement

Migration follows work, conflict and climate. Cities grow more from internal migration than from births in most fast-urbanising countries.