The United Nations Human Settlements Program (UN-HABITAT) State of the World’s Cities Report 2008/9: Harmonious Cities provides an important in-depth analysis and review of the key challenges confronting cities worldwide, especially those in the developing world. Each major world region is analyzed, including Asia, Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe and North America. Case studies are also provided for certain key urbanization trends and issues, including special sections on the growth challenges facing China, India and other rapidly growing countries.
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One out of three people living in cities of the developing world lives in a slum. The highest level is in sub-Saharan Africa, where 62 percent of the region’s urban population lives in a slum.
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Already over half the world’s population lives in cities, and within in developing world, an average of three million people move in the developing world move to a city each week.
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By 2050, urbanization worldwide is expected to reach 70 percent.
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The world's coastal cities are especially vulnerable to climate change. Rising sea levels near low elevation coastal zones are threatening 3,351 cities - cities representing 10 percent of the world's population and 13 percent of urban populations.
For a detailed review of the State of the World’s Cities 2008-2009 report, please see the UN-HABITAT website