Larger cities are generally richer but more unequal than smaller cities. Economically, inequality is generally greater in urban than in rural areas: the Gini coefficient of income inequality is higher in urban areas than in rural areas in 36 out of 42 countries with data. Inequality within cities has economic, spatial and social dimensions. But when poorly planned, urbanization can lead to congestion, higher crime rates, pollution, increased levels of inequality and social exclusion. When properly planned and managed, urbanization can reduce poverty and inequality by improving employment opportunities and quality of life, including through better education and health. Like some other megatrends, urbanization has the potential to become a positive transformative force for every aspect of sustainable development, including the reduction of inequality. The total number of people living in cities is expected to grow from approximately 4.4 billion today to 6.7 billion in 2050. And over the next three decades, global population growth is expected to take place almost exclusively in the world’s cities and towns. For the first time in history, more people now live in urban than in rural areas. Whether the process of urbanization is harnessed and managed, or allowed to fuel growing divides, will largely determine the future of inequality, says UN DESA’s World Social Report 2020. Urbanization: expanding opportunities, but deeper divides 21 February 2020
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