Half of World’s People Will Be in Urban Areas by 2006, Report Says
More than half the world’s people will be living in urban areas in 10 years, underlining the prospect of ever more crowded, violent and unhealthy cities, the United Nations Population Fund said in a new report. Of a global population of 6.6 billion in 2006, 3.3 billion will inhabit towns and cities, and the biggest increase in urban populations will be in developing countries, where the pressure on resources will be greatest, the fund said.
The report, published ahead of a United Nations population summit in Istanbul next month, said programs designed to give women control over reproduction are essential to ensure that growth of cities remains manageable.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
