The world population of 7 billion will increase to 9.3 billion by 2050, with most of the growth in big cities in Africa and Asia, the UN projected Thursday. The population division of the UN's Economic and Social Affairs department said the planet's urban population, now at 2.6 billion, will increase to 6.3 billion of a global total of 9.3 billion by 2050. "The urban areas of the world are expected to absorb all the population growth expected over the next four decades while at the same time drawing in some of the rural population," dpa quoted the UN as saying. The demographic projection is meant as a tool to help government decision makers draw up policies dealing with population growth. The UN said big cities face constant challenges in providing jobs, housing, energy and infrastructure. The largest increases in urban population are expected in India, China, Nigeria, Indonesia and the United States. From 2010 to 2050, cities in India will grow by 497 million people, Chinese cities by 341 million, US cities by 103 million, Nigerian cities by 200 million and Indonesian cities by 92 million, the report said.
