2090 Megacities

By the year 2090, the world’s megacities—urban areas with populations exceeding 10 million—have evolved into sprawling, interconnected hubs that reflect both the triumphs and challenges of urbanization. Cities like Lagos, Dhaka, and Kinshasa have surged past traditional giants such as Tokyo and New York, propelled by rapid population growth and rural-to-urban migration in Africa and South Asia. While Tokyo remains a major economic and technological center, its population has stabilized or even declined due to Japan’s aging demographics, contrasting sharply with the youthful, dynamic populations of African and Asian megacities. These newer megacities have histories marked by colonial legacies and post-independence booms, and in the 21st century, they have become testaments to resilience, often grappling with infrastructure strain, climate challenges, and innovative urban planning. Meanwhile, cities in Europe and North America, like London and Los Angeles, have seen slower growth or even population decreases, reflecting broader trends of declining birth rates and suburbanization. The megacities of 2090 thus represent a dramatic shift in the urban balance of power, with the Global South at the forefront of demographic and cultural transformation.

Data from UN World Urbanization Prospects