Youth Perspectives

Here's what it would cost to move to one of the world's largest megacities

People ride on their two-wheelers past the India Gate in New Delhi, India September 1, 2017. REUTERS/Adnan Abidi - RC194CBBB280

The projected population for New Delhi, India, is 36 million in 2030. Image: REUTERS/Adnan Abidi

Tanza Loudenback
Writer, Business Insider
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Youth Perspectives

In 1975, just three of the world's urban centers — Tokyo, New York, and Mexico City — had more than 10 million residents.

Now, about 7% of people live in cities with eight-figure populations, according to the United Nations. They even have a special name: megacities.

The UN projects the global number of megacities to grow from 31 to 41 by 2030, housing some 8.7% of the global population.

Tokyo, Japan, is the largest city in the world with 38 million residents. That's about 12 million more people than New Delhi, India, the second-largest. Although Tokyo is projected to lose approximately 1 million residents by 2030, it's expected to remain the top megacity, according to the UN.

But with rapidly increasing populations, many of these urban centers face major housing shortages. By 2025, 1.6 billion people could struggle to find decent housing that doesn't eat up more than 30% of their income, the standard measure of housing affordability, according to a report by McKinsey. Ultimately, there could be 106 million more low-income households in cities by 2025.

Below is a list of the 10 largest megacities in the world. For each, we've included population in 1975, population projections for 2030, GDP per capita, and the cost of monthly rent and utilities in the city.

New York, United States: 19 million people

Population in 1975: 16 million

Projected population in 2030: 20 million

GDP per capita: $74,000

Monthly rent and utilities: $3,057

Cairo, Egypt: 19 million people

Population in 1975: 6 million

Projected population in 2030: 24 million

GDP per capita: $7,843

Monthly rent and utilities: $206

Osaka, Japan: 20 million people

Population in 1975: 10 million

Projected population in 2030: 20 million

GDP per capita: $36,335

Monthly rent and utilities: $1,174

Mexico City, Mexico: 21 million people

Population in 1975: 11 million

Projected population in 2030: 24 million

GDP per capita: $23,017

Monthly rent and utilities: $777

Beijing, China: 21 million people

Population in 1975: 6 million

Projected population in 2030: 28 million

GDP per capita: $30,335

Monthly rent and utilities: $1,421

Sao Paulo, Brazil: 21 million people

Population in 1975: 13 million

Projected population in 2030: 23 million

GDP per capita: $27,366

Monthly rent and utilities: $1,119

Mumbai, India: 21 million people

Population in 1975: 7.1 million

Projected population in 2030: 27 million

GDP per capita: $10,147

Monthly rent and utilities: $685

Shanghai, China: 24 million people

Population in 1975: 7.3 million

Projected population in 2030: 30 million

GDP per capita: $32,684

Monthly rent and utilities: $1,326

New Delhi, India: 26 million people

Population in 1975: 4.4 million

Projected population in 2030: 36 million

GDP per capita: $16,861

Monthly rent and utilities: $419

Tokyo, Japan: 38 million people

Population in 1975: 27 million

Projected population in 2030: 37 million

GDP per capita: $43,884

Monthly rent and utilities: $1,802

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Related topics:
Youth PerspectivesCities and Urbanization
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