China is expected to add 255 million to its urban population between 2018 and 2050, according to a report by the UN's Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA).
The report, released on Wednesday and entitled ‘The 2018 Revision of World Urbanization Prospects’, points out that the world will continue to urbanise in the future, with around 2.5 billion people added to built up areas by the middle of the century.
It is projected that 68 percent of the world's population will live in urban environments by 2050, compared to 55 percent in 2018.
Three countries - India, China and Nigeria - will account for 35 percent of the projected growth, with the former adding 416 million urban inhabitants and the latter 189 million.
The report also estimates that the number of 'megacities' - those which boast more than 10 million inhabitants - will increase from 31 to 43 in 2030, with most appearing in developing countries.
Currently, Tokyo, the capital of Japan, is the world’s largest city with an agglomeration of 37 million inhabitants, followed by New Delhi in India with 29 million. The Chinese city of Shanghai is third with 26 million, while São Paulo in Brazil and Mexico City, which each have around 22 million people living in them, are fourth.
Based on the report, Tokyo’s population is predicted to begin declining by 2020, while the Indian capital of New Delhi will become the most populous city on the planet by 2028.
Sustainable development, or the successful management of urban growth, is crucial for countries that may face challenges associated with rapid urbanisation, the report suggests. This is especially true when it comes to low-income and lower-middle-income countries.