Today more than half of the world's population lives in urban areas, much of it in 'megacities' of more than 10 million people. According to the United Nations, in 2045 there will be more than 6,000 million people living in urban areas. An EY study predicts that the number of inhabitants in unpleasant areas will double to 2 billion people.
In 2030, 61% of global GDP will be generated in cities. The middle class is the key, as they will modify the consumption of essential products. At present, 78 % of Central American GDP is already generated in these areas, which will bring together 70 % of the population of the Isthmus in 2050, compared to the current 59 %. Among the challenges facing 2030 is that large cities must be more sustainable.
The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) speaks of a new political order, with megacities being the new countries of the 21st century; they face many similar challenges in areas such as transport, housing, security, employment, migration or education. investment in infrastructure to make these giant cities more competitive will be key to the future.
