Consequences of Megacity Growth
- Not only is the world more urban, but the urban area is increasing
- Many cities are sprawling into and engulfing rural regions. This creates conurbations and adds to the growth of urban areas
- As the growth of cities continues, the term megacity is used to describe cities with more than 10 million people
- New York was the first megacity in 1950, with Tokyo 2nd
- In 1975 there were 4 - New York, Tokyo, Osaka and Mexico City
- By 2000 there were 15
- In 2018 that rose to 33 with Tokyo having close to 37.3 million people
- By 2025-2030, an estimated 630 million people will live in close to 43 megacities around the world
- Asia alone, has at least 33 megacities, including Mumbai and Delhi, India; Shanghai, China; Seoul, South Korea and Lagos in Nigeria
- This scaling up of the urban environment is the fastest in human history
- Largest growth of megacities is in Asia
Distribution of megacities in 2022
Consequences of megacity growth
- Economic development
- Megacities dominate the national and regional economies of countries
- Many companies have their headquarters in megacities
- Encourages population growth which leads to the desirability of goods and services
- All megacities act as service centres within the formal economic sector
- However, megacities in MICs are also important manufacturing centres (Mumbai in India or Dhaka in Bangladesh) with thousands working in the informal economy
- Population growth
- Young people are drawn to live in megacities with their vibrancy, fast pace and opportunities
- There is also ‘internal growth’ where people who have moved into the cities have children, so sustaining population growth (Mexico City, Mumbai, Pearl River Delta in China)
- Rapid growth, often means that peri-urban, grow more rapidly than urban centres and this can lead to the development of squatter settlements
- Economies of scale
- Cheaper to provide goods and services in one place than spread across several cities
- Financial savings for local governments in respect of infrastructure provision
- Communication and transport are centralised, making savings in time and money
- Availability of skilled and unskilled workers (higher numbers allows for choice)
- Multiplier effect
- As a city prospers, it acts as a beacon to people and businesses
- This encourages inward investment
- This leads to yet more development and growth
- Generating further need for skills and labour and job growth
- This cycle multiplies the positive effects and growth continues (San Francisco and the digital development)
Overview of Positive and Negative Impacts of Megacity Growth
| Positive | Negative | |
| Individuals |
Improved education Higher wages Better employment opportunities Young, vibrant and fast paced |
Overcrowding, expensive and inadequate housing (squatter settlements) Degraded water and sanitation Public and health services overstretched Employee protection limited or non-existent - informal employment or unemployment Fast-paced environment, noise and pollution can impact mental health |
| Society |
Cultural diversity Social cohesion Increased economic growth Increased services and infrastructure |
Increased property prices and urban sprawl Social challenges - racial animosity, rise in crime rates Congestion and pollution |
Exam Tip
Remember that HICs have had a slower development of megacities, and longer to accommodate the growth. This doesn't mean they don't have issues, they do, it just isn't as visible and is better managed. It is MICs and LICs that have the fastest growth and the largest populations, creating visible inequalities and urban planning chaos.
