, with an increasing number of cities reaching the ten million inhabitant mark, thus securing their megacity title. Depending on the source, a megacity can be defined as an urban agglomeration or a metropolitan area. Naturally, many American and South American cities have crossed the ten million threshold, likely due to their strong economies. However, the Asia-Pacific region is in fact home to the highest number of megacities globally, with China and India leading the region with the highest number megacities.
Cost of living in megacities
As well as higher birth rates, increasing levels of migration have caused the emergence of megacities. Many people have opted to relocate to urbanized areas which can offer more opportunities as opposed to rural surroundings. However, astronomical populations also cause concerns with environment and affordability. Japan has experienced difficulties in providing affordable housing in the well-developed metropolitan area of Tokyo, reflected by the
growth of the average land price. Tokyo and Nagoya were also among the leading three megacities which had the highest
cost of living index score in APAC. Numerous Chinese megacities are climbing up the ranking of the most expensive cities to live in in terms of rent. Namely, Beijing and Shanghai were among the megacities with the highest
average monthly rent in the Asia-Pacific region.
Environmental issues
High population densities in megacities can often lead to environmental problems. A dense population, and thus heavier reliance on road network infrastructures, causes increased traffic. This in turn can create significant burdens on the environment. The
most populated cities in the Asia-Pacific region are located in Japan, India, and China. And it appears that many of the cities in India and China are faced with pollution issues. The capital cities of Bangladesh, Vietnam, and India lead the ranking of the
most polluted megacities in APAC. The
urbanization rate of the Asia-Pacific region is still relatively low, indicating that the emergence of megacities across Asia will continue. This requires continuous efforts to address and counter the strains which megacities are having on their environments. However, measures within sustainable city development through technological innovations and the rising environmental awareness in society could help in managing the challenges of megacities.
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Due to varying update cycles, statistics can display more up-to-date
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