These percentages are expected to rise dramatically by the year 2050 to 64 and 56% respectively ( 1). The two inhabited continents, which currently are the least urbanized, are Asia and Africa, with respectively 48 and 40% of the population living in cities. Approximately half of the world's population now live in these urban centres. The challenges for one city can be completely different for another location ( 5).Ībout a century ago, only 20% of the world's population lived in cities, and in the least developed countries the percentage was only 5% ( 6). Cities from around the world can also be very heterogeneous and the local diseases and health challenges can greatly differ. It can thus be difficult to get a global overview and get a better understanding of the burden of infectious diseases in these specific environments. Many of the studies conducted address the differences between urban and rural areas, and do not compare different urban settings. The lack of a universal definition makes it hard to compare different countries and cities in regard to public health and the burden and impact of infectious diseases ( 4). Different versions could be: living in the capital, economic activities in the region, population size, or even density. A wide variety of different interpretations can be found in various countries, and often they do not share the same understanding. However, the meaning of the word ‘urban’ does not have a universal definition. The process of urbanization refers to increased movement and settling of people in urban surroundings ( 3). The financial and political power is often concentrated in the cities, which leads to unique possibilities for action and quick response if needed. Economic growth for countries has been linked to urbanization and countries with high per capita income are among the most urbanized, whereas countries with low per capita income are the least urbanized ( 2). In 2014, the United Nations estimated that 54% of the world's population, 3.9 billion, lived in urban centres ( 1). Living in a city can provide you with several advantages, such as the possibility for higher education, a new job with higher income, the security of better health care, and the safety of social services. The industrial revolution in the 18th century led to larger cities with greater potential for growth and development both for the individual and the community.
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