Mapped: Asia and Africa’s fastest-growing cities, with Ghaziabad leading the world

Annual growth leaders

Ghaziabad recorded annual population growth of 5.2 per cent, the highest rate in the ranking. Surat, in Gujarat, followed at 4.99 per cent, ahead of Kabul at 4.74 per cent and Lagos at 4.44 per cent.

Other cities with high annual rates included Kampala at 4.03 per cent, Nairobi at 4 per cent and Dhaka at 3.79 per cent. Delhi’s rate was 3 per cent. Toluca in Mexico was the only city in this group outside Asia and Africa.

The ranking combines growth rates from the City Mayors Foundation with United Nations estimates covering different periods. The figures therefore draw on more than one source and timeframe.

Five-year population increases

Measured by total growth over five years, Malappuram in Kerala led with a 44 per cent rise. Can Tho in Vietnam and Suqian in China each recorded 37 per cent growth.

Kozhikode, also in Kerala, grew by 35 per cent, followed by Abuja at 34 per cent and Suzhou at 33 per cent. Sharjah and Putian each rose by 32 per cent, while Muscat and Kollam each grew by 31 per cent.

Changing city rankings

Jakarta has passed Tokyo as the world’s most populated city, with 41.9 million people compared with Tokyo’s 33.4 million. Dhaka climbed from ninth place to second, with 36.6 million residents.

The United Nations projects Dhaka will become the largest city by 2050. It also estimates that India, China and Nigeria together will account for 35 per cent of global urban population growth from 2018 to 2050.

Growth and urban services

World Population Review estimates that around 55 per cent of people worldwide live in urban areas, a share expected to reach 68 per cent by 2050. It links urban growth to larger job markets, higher wages, and improved access to schools and services.

Rapid population gains can outpace infrastructure. In Lagos, fewer than 10 per cent of residents live in homes connected to sewers, and fewer than 20 per cent have tap water, according to World Population Review; many homes are in slums and informal settlements on the city’s edge.