Global urban population to teach 63% by 2050, Gabonese researcher says at WUF13

The world"s population is expected to reach 9.8 billion by 2050, with 63% of people living in urban areas, according to United Nations forecasts, Gabonese political science researcher Mpiga Ivala Angelique Desire said during discussions held as part of the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) in Baku.

Report quotes him as saying by 2050 nearly 90% of the world"s population will be concentrated in countries of the Global South.

Mpiga Ivala Angelique Desire noted that urban populations remain unevenly distributed across different countries.

"We are discussing the challenges of growth and sustainable development in each of our cities, as well as the role of young people in addressing these issues in order to make our cities more resilient, sustainable, and above all inclusive," she said.

It was also noted that the current share of the global urban population stands at 55%.