Latin America is More Urbanized Than Europe
LatAm is 80% urbanized—more than Europe—with 77+ cities over 1M people.
Latin America is the world’s 2nd most urbanized region, next only to North America. In 1950, the region’s urban population was 40%, but by 1990, it had risen to 70%. Estimates say that by 2050, 90% of Latin Americans will be urban dwellers as cities keep growing and bringing in more residents.
Today’s urbanization in the region is about 80%. By comparison, the European Union is 74% urbanized, whereas the APAC region is 52%. LatAm’s largest 132 cities are home to over 300M people — almost half of the region’s population. There are over 77 cities with over one million people, including some of the world’s most populous metropolitan areas: São Paulo, Mexico City, Buenos Aires, and Lima.
In comparison, more than half of the world’s population live in cities since 2007. By 2050, that number will have risen to 70%, which is less than Latin America’s current rate. The region’s high urbanization means that policy from the cities will become increasingly influential. LatAm policymakers must continue developing innovative policies that promote equitable economic growth, effective urban services, long-term housing, and public space solutions.