Key Drivers Behind Urbanization

Economic development also drives urbanization through infrastructure investment. Governments and private investors concentrate spending on transportation networks, communication systems, power grids, and water systems in urban areas, where these investments serve the largest number of people.

Explore how urbanization shapes infrastructure development , the challenges of rapid city growth , and strategies for building sustainable, resilient cities.
Urbanization and Infrastructure

Urbanization and Infrastructure The world is rapidly urbanizing, with 70 percent of the global population expected to live in cities by 2050. Cities in low-income and lower-middle-income countries have had the highest urban population growth in recent decades.
Specifically, it investigates how urbanization drives environmental degradation, the role of infrastructure investment in exacerbating or mitigating these effects, and the potential moderating influence of infrastructure development on the urbanization -environment nexus.

Rising infrastructure inequalities accompany urbanization and economic ...
This study examines infrastructure inequalities across countries and over time using satellite data. It highlights rising inequalities linked to urbanization and economic development , with greater ...
To scrutinize this context, in this article, we advocate for a shift from infrastructure -led development to infrastructure -led urbanization , emphasizing the urban as the key analytical terrain.

Urbanisation, infrastructure and development
Fast-growing cities are transforming the economic, social and political landscapes. This is especially evident in Africa where urbanisation offer significant opportunities to accelerate progress towards the 2030 and 2063 development agendas. The OECD provides vital data and policy analysis to assist decision makers in comprehending the impacts of urban growth .
However, rapid urbanization is also bringing significant challenges. Cities must meet the growing demand for jobs, efficient infrastructure , and affordable housing, especially for those in informal settlements. This pressure is intensified by rising rates of global conflict, with over half of forcibly displaced people now living in urban areas.

Understanding Urban Growth
Understanding how cities expand, what drives that expansion, and whether it happens through careful planning or organic evolution is essential for anyone studying urban environments. Let's break down the key patterns, drivers, and typologies of urban growth .








The Atlas of Global Development presents interactive storytelling and data visualizations on key global trends related to people, prosperity, our planet, infrastructure , and digital transformations.