We have a new Urbanization topic page

The article announces a significant update to the Urbanization topic page on Our World in Data, a platform that publishes research on global development. The update was led by the authors and their colleagues Hannah Ritchie and Veronika Samborska. The revised page compiles new visual data on how populations are distributed across different types of settlements, including cities, towns, and rural areas. The data comes from reputable sources such as the European Commission and the United Nations (UN), which use consistent methods to categorize settlements using satellite imagery. This ensures that comparisons between regions are reliable and standardized.

Urbanization refers to the process where an increasing proportion of a population lives in urban areas rather than rural ones. The updated page highlights that around 80% of the world’s population now lives in cities, towns, or suburbs. This figure reflects a major shift from historical patterns, where most people lived in rural areas. The page allows users to explore how urbanization varies across the globe, identify the fastest-growing cities, and examine living conditions in urban environments. It also examines how urbanization connects to broader trends in economic and social development, such as employment opportunities, infrastructure, and access to services.

The data on the updated page is categorized using a consistent framework developed by the European Commission and the UN. This framework uses satellite imagery to classify settlements into cities, towns, and rural areas based on population density and built-up areas. Cities are typically defined as large urban centers with high population densities, while towns are smaller settlements with moderate density. Rural areas have low population densities and are often characterized by agricultural or natural landscapes. This standardized approach ensures that data from different countries and regions can be compared accurately.

The updated urbanization page includes dozens of new charts and visualizations that present data in an accessible way. For desktop users, the page also features slides highlighting key charts and data highlights from the new content. These visualizations help users understand complex trends, such as how urbanization rates differ between continents or how specific cities are growing over time. The page is designed to be interactive, allowing users to explore the data at their own pace and focus on the aspects most relevant to their interests.