Urbanisation is the process by which the number of people residing in towns and cities increases compared to the number living in rural areas. The process is rapidly growing in both the developed and developing world. The proportion of the World’s urban population is expected to increase about 57% by 2050 from 47% in 2000. More than 90% of projected population growth will be accounted for by the large cities in the developing countries.

In the developing world, the continent of Africa has experienced the highest urban growth during the last two decades at 3.5% per year and this rate is projected to continue to 2050. Projections also indicate that between 2010 and 2025 some African cities will account for up to 85% of the population. For example the city of Lagos which is the capital of Nigeria has surpassed Cairo in size, with a population estimated at around 21million and has been described as the centre of one of the largest urban areas in the world. The rate at which this city has grown is stupendous with a population of 1.4million in 1970.

Urbanisation is one of the world’s most critical issues. In Africa, it is raising significant challenges for the delivery of basic services such as water and sanitation, which I will be trying to investigate through the development of my blog.