Daily, hundreds of thousands of people are migrating from rural to urban areas. While cities in developed countries have the economy and infrastructure to handle the influx, developing countries are flooded with people and drowning in problems.
The United Nations has estimated that sometime next year, the global population in urban areas will surpass that of rural areas for the first time in the history of humanity. The tipping point will not be seen in developed countries, however, as urban populations are basically stable in regions like the United States and Western Europe. The mass rural exodus is seen in developing countries where agricultural performance is low and opportunities in both rural and urban areas are even lower. Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, and much of Asia are facing this struggle and will push the urban population to a record high.
"The agricultural sector is not flourishing and urban areas are not generating economic growth but failing crops, natural disasters and conflicts are forcing people to flood into towns and cities."
"Because the urban areas are economically stagnant or in recession, local authorities do not have the money or expertise to provide services such as access to water, housing, education and healthcare."
"As a result, 70% of Africa's urban population find themselves living in slums."
FULL STORY: The challenges facing an urban world
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