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MEGA CITY

It is a metropolitan area with a total population in excess of 10 million people. Some also set additional minimum level of population density of at least 2,000 persons per square Kilometre.

Mega cities can be distinguished by their

■ rapid growth,

■ soaring crime,  

■ high level of social fragmentation.

In 1800, only 3% of the world population lived in cities, at the end of the 20^th century it has increased to 47%.

In 1950 only 83 cities have population exceeding one million, in 2007 the number has soared to 468.

According to UN estimation two-third of the world population would live in cities by 2030. Presently one-sixth of the world population live in shanty towns which are usually situated at the outskirts of cities. They become the breeding grounds for social problems such as

■ Crime,

■ Drug addiction,

■ Alcoholism,

■ Poverty,

■ Unemployment.

In the developing countries, overpopulated slums exhibit high rate of diseases due to

■ Unsanitary condition,

■ Malnutrition,

■ Lack of basic health care.

For instance, already 90% of the urban population of Ethiopia, Malawi and Uganda live in slums.

In 2000, there were only 10 mega cities in the world. By 2025, Asia alone would boast of 10 mega cities. In Africa, Lagos, Nigeria had only 300,000 inhabitants in 1950. But today the figure is around 15 million and by 2015 the Nigeria Government forecasts that the number could rise to 25 million.