19th January 23

Business focus shift on new urban growth cities

Urbanisation is almost always an outcome of economic growth and, when properly managed, can fuel further growth, innovation and enterprise. For the poor , the move to the city can be a catalyst for increased wealth and opportunity, or can trap them into a life of poverty and insecurity; leading them to vulnerabilities. 

With urbanisation comes avenues away from agricultural jobs towards service based industries that can prove to shift the work force balance.

Here are the world’s 20 fastest growing cities, 2000 to 2020 (population growth rates):

  1. Doha Industrial Area, Qatar 13.6%
  2. Xiongan, China 11.4%
  3. Rupganj, Bangladesh 10.2%
  4. Gwagwalada, Nigeria 9.5%
  5. Miluo, China 9.4%
  6. The Woodlands, United States of America 9.4%
  7. Hosur, India 9.1%
  8. Kabinda, Democratic Republic of the Congo 8.9%
  9. Shahriyar, Iran (Islamic Republic of) 8.9%
  10. Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar 8.9%
  11. Mbouda, Cameroon 8.5%
  12. Bazhong, China 8.5%
  13. Lokoja, Nigeria 8.4%
  14. Phuket, Thailand 8.3%
  15. Uige, Angola 8.3%
  16. Ar-Rayyan, Qatar 8.3%
  17. Al-Manamah (Manama), Bahrain 8.2%
  18. Malappuram, India 8.2%
  19. Ruiru, Kenya 8.2%
  20. Begusarai, India 8.1%

Source:  UN Population Division’s database, which includes all cities that had 300,000 or more inhabitants in 2018.

However, when reviewing inter-census changes in population for all urban centres in a country, there are often small cities with very rapid population growth rates for one or two census periods. For instance, three cities in Kenya had annual average population growth rates of 13% or more between 1989 and 2009: Kiambu, Ngong and Ruiru.

How can your company leverage off these stats to tap into new urbanisation hot spots? What are you supply chain risks you have to consider when thinking about fast growth cities? If your agricultural business is based in the outskirts, will you be able to tap into experienced staff?

Source: International Institute for Environment and Development.

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