Why Is the World Moving to Cities?

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1. 01Why Is the World Moving to Cities?

   Good afternoon, everyone. My grandparents grew up in a small village in Vietnam. Today, all of their children and grandchildren live in cities, including me in Ho Chi Minh City. My family isn't unusual. Today, I'll look at why the world is moving to cities.

2. 02The Numbers

   According to the United Nations' 2018 estimates, fifty-five percent of the world's population lived in urban areas. By 2050, that share was projected to rise to sixty-eight percent.

   Source: United Nations DESA, World Urbanization Prospects: The 2018 Revision

3. 03Where the Growth Will Happen

   The UN also projected that close to ninety percent of the increase in urban population would take place in Asia and Africa. In other words, the biggest changes are happening in countries like mine.

   Source: United Nations DESA, World Urbanization Prospects: The 2018 Revision

4. 04Why People Move

   Why do people move? In my family, the reasons were simple: jobs, universities, and better hospitals. Cities offer opportunities that many villages can't.

5. 05Challenges for Cities

   But fast growth brings challenges. In my city, rents have gone up, traffic jams are part of daily life, and on some days, the air is visibly polluted.

6. 06Challenges for Villages

   Villages face problems too. When young people leave, older people are often left behind, and schools and shops may close. My grandparents' village has far fewer children than when my mother grew up.

7. 07What Could Help

   What could help? Cities need better public transport and affordable housing. At the same time, internet access and remote work could give some people the choice to stay in their villages.

8. 08Conclusion

   To conclude, the move to cities is one of the biggest changes of our time. If we plan our cities well and support villages too, more people can choose where they want to live, not just where they have to. Thank you.