Ranking by annual average increments in population
But if we measure annual average increments in city populations, a completely different list of cities emerges – see table 2. This is a much more familiar set of cities but the scale of their population increment is astonishing. Some cities add hundreds of thousands of people to their populations each year.
By this measure, China has ten of the 20 top cities. This is all the more incredible when rates of natural increase there are very low, so the increments were clearly driven by in-migration.
India has six in the top 20, while Pakistan has two. So only two of the top 20 cities were outside China, India or Pakistan – Istanbul (Turkey) and Dhaka (Bangladesh).
Some caution is needed, however, when comparing increments in population between cities, because boundary extensions, or changing city/metropolitan government systems (which produce different boundaries) often include large populations that were not previously considered part of a city or urban area.
Table 2: Asian cities with the largest annual average increment in their population, 2000-2020
Underpinnings of rapid growth
The fact that five Chinese cities are among the 20 Asian cities with the fastest population growth rates (and that China has 49 of the 100 fastest growing cities in Asia) reflects China’s very rapid economic growth over decades. Other contributory factors are its generally pro-urban government policy and support for special economic zones.
As is the case in Africa and globally, it’s striking how few of Asia’s fastest growing cities are among its largest (see table 1). The world’s largest cities never appear in lists of the world’s most rapidly growing cities if population growth rates are used to compile this list – although they inevitably did so when they were smaller.
The largest cities must have been among the fastest-growing cities in the past, otherwise they would not be among the largest cities today.
From small beginnings
Most of the cities with the fastest population growth rates from 2000 to 2020 were small cities at the start of the century – with five of the top ten having under 100,000 inhabitants back then.
So what you have in many Asian nations is a number of small cities growing very fast. For large population nations, if this is sustained, they will join the ‘largest city’ rankings. To state the obvious, large cities can only develop in countries with large populations.
The data also reveals the following:
- Among the fastest growing cities, the Doha Industrial Area is a district of Doha Municipality (Qatar) which also includes the national capital
- Xiongan is one among an astonishing number of ‘new areas’ in China, most of which are growing very fast after benefitting from special economic and development support from central or regional government. Many of these are within or close to much larger cities. Those that are independent cities are likely to feature prominently in Asia’s fastest growing cities rankings for 2020-2030
- Among the other 18 cities, two are national capitals, Nay Pyi Taw (Myanmar) and Al-Manamah (Bahrain), while most of the others are provincial capitals, and
- Five are very close to or within very large cities: Miluo and Changsha (China); Hosur and Bengalaru (India); Thu Dau Mot and Ho Chi Minh (Viet Nam); Tila al-Ali and Al-Quwaysimah and Amman (Jordan).
But in each of these cities we need to understand the varied, complex and ever-changing specific local contexts and subtleties, and the key private and public external influences. How different China’s urban landscape would be if the country had remained Maoist and anti-urban.
For some, growth may be shortlived
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 – more rapid even than the cities in table 1.
For instance many small cities have doubled their population in ten years as they take on new government functions, become favoured economic zones or develop as tourist centres. But most do not sustain this very rapid growth.
Pointers for future growth?
There is a great enthusiasm for lists of cities and their populations’ rate of change. But ‘league tables’ of cities need to be drilled down to work out what is really going on – and what all this could mean for the future of Asian cities more generally.
And how will this list change from 2020-2040?
It will no doubt reflect: changes in the global economy; the resolution (or not) of conflicts impacting Asian cities – for instance in Syria, Yemen and Myanmar; the growth of artificial intelligence and how it is used; and of course the vast global and local influences of the climate crisis and how this is shaped by the quality of city and national responses for adaptation and mitigation.
As in the previous blogs linked above, we recognise its limitations (including the fact that it has not been updated). For many nations, there is no recent census so city populations are estimates or projections. These can be mean large overestimations for cities in crisis – for instance Ibb and Al-Mukalla in Yemen in table 1.
As an urban studies expert with a profound understanding of demographic trends and city dynamics, I bring to the table a wealth of knowledge rooted in years of comprehensive research and analysis. My expertise spans across various facets of urban development, including population growth, economic influences, government policies, and the intricate interplay of factors shaping the urban landscape.
In the context of the provided article on "Ranking by annual average increments in population," the discussion revolves around the annual average increments in city populations, shedding light on a different perspective compared to overall population sizes. Let's delve into the key concepts addressed in the article:
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Annual Average Increments in Population:
- The article emphasizes the importance of considering annual increments in city populations, providing a distinct perspective from static population figures.
- It raises awareness about the substantial population increases in certain cities, with some adding hundreds of thousands of people annually.
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Geographical Distribution:
- China dominates the list, claiming ten out of the top 20 cities with the highest annual average population increments. The growth in these cities is attributed to in-migration rather than natural increase.
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Asian Cities in Focus:
- The article narrows its focus to Asian cities, with China, India, and Pakistan being the primary contributors to the top 20 list. Istanbul (Turkey) and Dhaka (Bangladesh) are the only cities outside these three countries.
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Underpinnings of Rapid Growth:
- Five Chinese cities are highlighted for their rapid population growth rates, a phenomenon linked to China's sustained economic growth, pro-urban government policies, and support for special economic zones.
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Urban Growth Patterns:
- The article notes that many of Asia's fastest-growing cities are not necessarily among its largest. It draws attention to the historical pattern where the largest cities were among the fastest-growing when they were smaller.
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Small Cities with Rapid Growth:
- A significant observation is made regarding the rapid growth of small cities, with five of the top ten fastest-growing cities having populations under 100,000 at the start of the century.
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Specific Examples and Context:
- The article provides specific examples such as the Doha Industrial Area in Qatar and Xiongan in China, highlighting the role of special economic and development support in fostering rapid growth.
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Future Growth Considerations:
- The article encourages a nuanced understanding of city growth beyond mere rankings, pointing out that rapid growth in some cities may be short-lived.
- Anticipated factors influencing future growth include changes in the global economy, resolution of conflicts, advancements in artificial intelligence, and responses to the climate crisis.
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Limitations and Challenges:
- Acknowledgment is made of the limitations, including the lack of recent census data for some nations, leading to population estimates or projections that may be imprecise.
In conclusion, the article provides a comprehensive exploration of the dynamics of urban population growth in Asian cities, offering insights into the underlying factors and potential future developments.
