Predicted urban growth will stress infrastructure, U.N. says

UNITED NATIONS, July 10 (UPI) -- A United Nations report released Thursday says two-thirds of the global population will live in urban areas by 2050, an increase of 2.5 billion, and at least 40 megacities will have a population of at least 10 million.

The trend will pose infrastructure challenges for Africa and Asia, where 90 percent of the urban population growth is expected, the U.N.' s World Urbanization Prospects report said, noting Africa and Asia "will face numerous challenges in meeting the needs of their growing urban populations, including for housing, infrastructure, transportation, energy and employment, as well as for basic services such as education and healthcare."

Tokyo, New Delhi and Shanghai are expected to have populations of more than 30 million by 2050, and Africa is projected to see a growth of 16 percent in its urban population, putting over half its residents in urban households.

The world's rural population, now 3.4 billion people, will decline as urbanization increases, the report says.