Cities, large and small, are at the heart of a fast changing global economy--they are a cause of and response to world economic growth. Already at the beginning of the 21st century, 50% of the world�s population will be living in urban areas. As a result, cities will play an increasingly important role in the economic standing of nations. Explore the links on this web page to learn about the challenges of rapid urbanization.

 Urban in the Bank
Explore this web site to learn about the challenges of urbanization. Check out Topics. Visit the Regions section for snapshots of urban statistics, current projects, and best practices in urban issues. Explore Urban Age magazine and other publications for worldwide perspectives on urban affairs not available elsewhere.

 Social Capital and Urban Development
In urban areas, with their anonymity and fast pace, trust among people can be difficult to develop and sustain. Rich and poor live and work close to each other, but rarely develop relationships. Visit this PovertyNet web page to learn more about challenges of equality, ethnicity, safety nets, and more for people living in cities.

 Global Urbanization Trends: Implications for Food Systems and Food Security
This working paper sketches a global perspective on urbanization and draws out the implications for the global food system and food security.

 Urban Challenges to Food and Nutrition Security
Malnutrition in the poorest areas of cities often rivals that found in rural areas. Explore this International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) web page to learn about research findings that can help to reduce food insecurity and malnutrition in urban areas.

 Livable cities for the 21st century
This web page contains speeches on Urban Issues Delivered by the World Bank Officials, news releases, description of the World Bank priorities and challenges of rapid urbanization.

 News Articles on Urbanization
Read these magazine articles for an overview of the challenges of urbanization:

• Cities and Health
  This article from Environment Matters focuses on the links between urbanization and human health.
• Changing the City for Good: Developing a Focused Urban Agenda
  Check out this article from Environment Matters to learn about urban challenges including: phasing out leaded gasoline, providing safe drinking water, and reducing air pollution.
• Cities in the Developing World: Agenda for Action Following Habitat II
  Read this Finance & Development article to learn how urbanization is transforming the developing world.
• Urbanization: The Challenge for the Next Century
  Access this Finance &Development article for a one page overview and summary of urban environmental conditions. To view these pages you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you do not have it, you may download it here for free.

Data: Urbanization

  Explore these pages from World Development Indicators, 1999 to find data on urbanization for over 140 of the world's countries. To view these pages you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you do not have it, you may download it here for free.

• Urbanization
• Urban Environment
• Traffic and Congestion
• Air Pollution

 Physical Infrastructure
Visit this site for more data that show the level of urbanization in a country. Check out the data on Paved Road Density and Air City Pairs. Click on any of the indicators for its definition and a ranking of the world's countries. For other competitiveness indicators, click here.

Around the World

 China. Industrial Pollution Related Projects in China
Check out the summary documents on urban environment projects in China that discuss pollution issues related to urbanization. If you want to learn more about pollution and industrial pollution in general, go to New Ideas in Pollution Regulation home page.

 Indonesia. Enhancing the Quality of Life in Urban Indonesia
The report looks at the medium- to long-term impacts of four projects designed mainly to alleviate poverty by improving housing and basic infrastructure in low-income, densely populated areas known as kampungs.

 Improving Urban Services in Nairobi
This OED Pr�cis article describes a project in Nairobi that brought critical water and sewerage services to rapidly growing business areas and poor neighborhoods in the eastern section of Nairobi and thus helping in the economic growth of the city.

 Community Development in Colombia
Read this OED Pr�cis article to learn about an urban development project that was judged to be a failure but turned out to be a good foundation for later development.

Digging deeper

 Tackling the Issues
Urbanization is closely associated with other issues that in their turn either accelerate or slow urbanization process. Explore issues like Population, Water and Sanitation, Pollution, Sustainable Development, as well as others.

 WBI Urban
The Bank is gearing up to respond to the challenges of urban development and city management through an urban initiative. Learn more about it by visiting this web page prepared by the World Bank Institute.

 Operations Evaluations Department
Check out this web page for a list of publications on urban development. Explore these links to learn more about urbanization challenges in countries that interest you.

 Industry, Infrastructure, & Urban Development Publications
Visit this web page for a list of publications on Industry, Infrastructure, and Urban Development.

 World Bank Electronic Media Products and Services. The Film and Video Unit Library
The Film and Video Unit Library is a collection of more than 50 documentary and informational films and videos made for television or development situations. Among the films on Environment there are two specifically on urban issues: "Curitiba: A City of the Future" and "The Urban Dilemma". Find other media products on Electronic Media Products and Services site.