Asia, Africa: Future Urban Growth Leaders (REPORT)

(GRAPH: Expected growth of urban areas worldwide between 2011-2025/UN)(HN, 4/30/12) - New UN estimates say Africa & Asia are expected to make up 86% of the growth in urban populations worldwide in the decades leading up to 2050. Newly released data shows urban development in Africa is expected to roughly triple, exceeding 1.2 billion; urbanites in Asia will soar from 1.9 billion to 3.3 billion. Samut Prakan is the fastest growing urban area when it comes to volume of people, growing the most between 2010 & 2015; its citizenry anticipated to surge by 9%. The Thai province located south of Bangkok is known for its fishing & boasts that it has the world’s largest crocodile farm.  Close behind are the booming metropolises of Can Tho (Vietnam), Mogadishu (Somalia), Yamoussoukro (Ivory Coast), Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates) & Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso). Even with big growth smaller burgs like Mogadishu & Yamoussoukro they aren’t going to catch up to Tokyo, Delhi or Los Angeles anytime soon.  Countries will have to scramble to provide enough urban jobs, housing, energy & infrastructure to avoid an explosion of slums, the U.N. says.  (Read more at the UN website)