ASEAN’s megacities in danger
As megacities emerge across the globe, the ones in Asia remain among the fastest growing and cheapest places to build. These cities will continue to grow in size and affluence, due to ever-increasing urban populations. The United Nations (UN) describe megacities as urban areas with a population of 10 million or more. If urban populations continue to swell at their current rate, the number of megacities in the world could increase to 43 by 2030. By 2050, 75 percent of humanity will be living in cities.
A report published in the International Construction Costs 2019, by Arcadis shows that cities in Southeast Asia, such as Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta and Bangkok are among the world’s cheapest cities for new construction. Factors contributing to this are reduced costs including lower wages, accessibility to construction materials and availability of land at lower costs. The growth of ASEAN’s megacities parallels the growth of its populations, creating a concentration of economic activities and increased connectivity, leading to more development and therefore more people.
Liyana Hasnan
