Graph Writing # 114 - Percentage of the population living in urban areas in the world
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- Written by IELTS Mentor
IELTS Academic Writing Task 1/ Graph Writing - Column Graph:
» You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
The bar chart below gives information about the percentage of the population living in urban areas in the world and in different continents.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
» Write at least 150 words.
Sample Answer 1:
The column graph gives data on the growth of urban population in five different continents as well as in the world as a whole in three different years including the projection for the year 2030. Overall, percentages of global city-dwellers increased remarkably and a great ratio of the world population would live in cities in the future.
As is obvious from the illustration, less than one-third global population lived in urban areas in 1950. The majority of this city-dwellers were in American and European continents while only 15-17% Asian and African were in municipalities. After 57 years, around half of the global population lived in cities and in Europe and America, this ratio went as high as eight out of ten. More than one-third African lived in urban areas in this year while it was slightly over 40% in Asia.
It is projected that six out of ten persons in the world will live in urban areas in 2030. In this year more than 8 persons in every ten in America would be city living population while almost a same ratio would prevail for the European city-dwellers. In Africa and Asia, more than half of the population will start living in different cities.
Sample Answer 2:
The given bar graph gives data on the number of people living in urban areas in different continents of the world. The data are given for three different years, i.e. 1950, 2007 and projected for the year 2030.
As is presented from the given data, initially in 1950, on an average 29% people of the world lived in the urban area. In this year, the highest percentage of the population lived in urban areas were in North America which was 64%. In Africa and Asia, these percentages were lowest (15 and 17 percentage respectively). Half of the Europeans lived in urban areas while this percentage was 42% in Latin America. After 57 years in 2007, the percentage of urban area population reached to 49% in the world. North America again had the highest percentage of the population who lived in urban areas. The lowest percentage was in Africa (37%) and in other continents, the percentages were around 40 to 70. The percentage of the population lived in urban areas increased significantly in 2007 compared to the percentages of 1950.
It is projected that 60% of the world population would live in urban areas in the year 2030. This percentage would be more than 80 in both of the American continents. In Europe, this would increase to 78 and both in Asia and Africa around half of their population would live in urban areas.
In summary, the percentage of people lived in urban areas increased over time and more and more people would be living in urban areas over time.
At first glance, we can notice that the highest percentage of urban population will be in 2030 in North America (87%) while the lowest proportion in cities was recorded in 1950 in Africa (15%).
In details, the population in urban areas in the world have an increasing trend. For instance, only 29% of citizens in the world lived in cities in 1950 and it jumped to almost 50% in 2007. Furthermore, in 2030, the city-living population in the world will rise to exactly 60%. Likewise, the patterns in different continents of the world are similar. It is noticeable that the biggest population in cities was in North America. In fact, since 1950, more than half of its population have been residing on its urban lands and it rose to close to 80% in 2007 and it will climb to precisely 87% in 2030. It was followed by Europeans with concisely 51% and Latin America/Caribbean in 1950. However, in the next 17 years (2007), Latin America/Caribbean rose to the second rank with 76% and it will remain to the second place in 20130 with 84% while Europe will remain at the 3rd rank with 78% of citizens lived in cities. At the lowest ranks are Asia and Africa.
At first glance, we can notice that the highest percentage of urban population will be in 2030 in North America while the lowest proportion in cities was in Africa in 1950.
In details, the population in urban areas in the world has an increasing trend. For instance, only 29% of citizens in the world live in cities in 1950 and it jumped to almost 50% in 2007. Furthermore, in 2030, the number of people living in cities in the world will rise to exactly 60%.
Likewise, patterns in the 5 different continents of the world are similar. All of them have an upward trend. However, transitions from rural areas to urban places are enormous in some regions of the world. For example, in Africa, only 15% of their people lived in cities in 1950 and it dramatically rose to 37% in 2007 and it will rise to more than 50% in 2030. The largest change happened in Latin America/ Caribbean from only 42% it skyrocketed to almost 80% in 2007 and it will grow to precisely 84 % in 2030. In contrast, the tiniest gap was in North America with 64% of citizens already living in cities since 1950 and it slightly increased to approximately 80% in 2007 and will close to 90% in 2030.
Generally speaking, the population in cities was remarkably higher in American continents than Africa and Asia and this trend will remain unchanged in the future, in fact, widen the gap.
During the year 1950, only 29% of the world population lived in cities and just below half of the world populace by the year 2007. This percentage will keep on increasing and six out of ten people will be living in city areas in 2030. Besides, the proportion of the urban population was higher in America and Europe than that of Asia and Africa. While more than 64% of people in North America lived in cities in 1950, this percentage was less than 20 in Asia and Africa. It is predicted that about 80% population in the American and European continents will live in urban places in 2030 while the world average at that time would be 60%. However, more than half of the Asian and African population in 2030 will be living in city areas.
Overall, people in the urban area noticeably upsurged as the year advanced and a striking percentage of the world population will be living in the city areas in the future.
As is observed from the given illustration, in 1950 less than one-third of the world population lived in cities whereas this number increased to nearly 50% in 2007. The city population is expected to reach 60% in 2030. Among the five continents, the highly populated urban areas were North America, Latin America and Europe. In 1950 the city dwellers ratio in American continents were 42 – 64% and in 2030 it is expected to exceed 84%. Besides, Asian and African city-dwellers' percentages were fewer, only 15-17% lingered in the city areas in 1950. These percentages will gradually increase to around 50% by the year 2030.
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