Africa and Asia are latecomers to urbanization. In these two continents, less than half live in urban centers, while elsewhere, more than 70% of people do. But Africa and Asia are now rapidly urbanizing, with Asian cities growing at an average of 1.5% per year and Africa’s at 1.1% per year.

While the world’s largest megacities of 10 million people or more are in Asia, Africa’s urban populations have been catching up. Incoming residents are competing for new financial and social opportunities but are placing increasing demands on city resources and services.

Increasingly, the importance of the transferability of Asian experiences to other regions is being recognized for more efficient development paths.

Read the transcript

http://bit.ly/2uXYTrb

Read the blog post

https://www.asiapathways-adbi.org/2017/07/pointers-from-asia-for-urbanization-in-africa/

Authors

Naoyuki Yoshino, ADBI dean

https://www.adb.org/adbi/about/dean

Matthias Helble, ADBI senior research economist and Research Department co-chair

https://www.adb.org/adbi/about/staff-profiles/matthias-helble

Grant B. Stillman, ADBI legal adviser

https://www.adb.org/adbi/about/staff-profiles/grant-stillman