As of 2020, the UN reported that 56.2% of the world’s population lives in cities. In recent decades, people have been migrating to urban areas in search of a better life. Cities account for most of all the world’s economic activity, and it is no wonder why people flock to these areas in the millions. As a result, the number of city dwellers is booming, and it is predicted that 7 in 10 of the world’s population will be living in megacities – cities with more than 10 million inhabitants.
With such huge populations, access to amenities like shopping, food and entertainment spots in megacities is usually a hassle, especially during holiday seasons. You’ll find that many people prefer to shop online rather than scramble in shopping aisles in malls. Instead of going to land-based casinos that are often overcrowded during the holidays, a lot of people these days find it better to gamble online on platforms like Wulkan Wegas.
As recently as the 1950s, only Tokyo and New York were classified as megacities, but this number has interestingly grown with rapid urbanization to include more than 35, with Asia hosting about half. Read on for some interesting facts about the top 5 megacities in the world:
1. The Greater Tokyo Area, Japan
Population: 38 million
Known as ‘Earth’s model megacity,’ Tokyo has overcome wars and natural disasters to emerge as one of the most populous developed megacities in the world. Tokyo can be categorized as a ‘model’ in more ways than you can count. For starters, it boasts the highest number of Michelin star restaurants in the world, with about 14 having 3 Michelin stars.
Another thing you will be fascinated by is the considerate nature of the residents. Even before the Coronavirus pandemic, you would have been able to spot many people wearing masks – not to protect themselves from dust but to protect others from catching the flu or some communicable disease they suspect themselves of having.
Then there is Tokyo’s spectacle of the Shibuya Scramble Crossing, where over 1,000 pedestrians from all sides cross each time the traffic lights turn red for the cars to stop.
2. Delhi, India
Population: 31.18 million
Delhi has one of the world’s busiest airports, ranked among the top in the Airport Service Quality Program polls yearly. The megacity is also famous for having 3 UNESCO World Heritage sites, pointing to its careful preservation of ancient culture despite accelerated urbanization.
The city’s awareness of high pollution levels has incentivized stakeholders to come up with innovative solutions. For example, CNG (compressed natural gas) is used in public transport vehicles around the city, reducing emissions, cutting smell and noise pollution. In fact, Delhi has the largest fleet of CNG buses in the world.
To add to the transport solutions, Delhi Metro considered the pride of Delhi is a network length of 348 Kilometers and was the first railway project to get carbon credits for reducing greenhouse gasses. The problem-solving skills in this city give hope to the future of megacities.
3. Jakarta, Indonesia
Population: 31.3 million
Buzzing with life, Jakarta is a port city with vast cultural diversity and home to the largest Muslim population globally, with over 10,000 mosques found around the city. Yet, despite the dense population, Jakarta has interestingly managed to preserve its green spaces, attracting a large number of tourists annually.
To ease the residents’ busy week, which is usually characterized by hours of traffic jams, the government has set aside ‘carefree days’ on Sundays, where the streets are closed to traffic between 6 and 11 AM for pedestrians to enjoy morning strolls and fun activities. Jakarta is such a fun city to explore, especially when it comes to its diverse cuisine.
4. Pearl River Delta, China
Population: approx. 50 million
By combining multiple cities into one metropolitan space, China’s take on megacities has led to the development of city clusters like the PRD megacity. PRD covers several cities called prefectures around the South China Sea. There is an ongoing debate about whether it has overtaken Tokyo, but the estimated population is also still under consideration.
The PRD is a manufacturing hub with towering skyscrapers and famous electronic brands like Apple products being made there. This lays some groundwork for a thriving economic center that will see the country’s GDP improve tremendously. One interesting fact is that this megacity comprises three major regions of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau, all of which have different jurisdictions with different laws and currencies.
5. São Paulo, Brazil
Population: 22.4 million
Sao Paulo is South America’s megacity that started as a village in the 1550s. Over the centuries, it has developed to become one of the most iconic megacities in the world. Sao Paulo boasts of having the world’s largest helicopter fleet, thanks to wealthy Paulistanos who are tired of waiting in traffic jams.
The city also prides itself in a rich food culture because of the heavy influence of other key communities that have made a home in this Brazilian megacity. Italian, Lebanese, Bolivian and Korean communities are known to offer the best cuisine in the city. It is even said that there are more Italians in Sao Paulo than there are in Rome!
6. Final Thoughts
Given the current rate of urbanization, the world is going to be crammed with megacities. From crowding to hours-long traffic jams to lack of access to potable water to pollution, the challenges associated with megacities seem to be constantly growing. However, with technological advancements, there is still some good to be seen. We can only hope that the benefits will far outweigh the risks, especially given that the bulk of the GDP of different countries comes from megacities.