In 1975, much of Africa, Asia, and parts of Latin America were still predominantly rural. According to the United Nations, only about 38% of the global population lived in urban areas at the time.

Fast-forward to 2020, cities had become the most common settlement type in large parts of Europe, North America, Latin America, and East Asia. Globally, urban residents crossed the 50% mark for the first time in human history.

What this really means is that cities are no longer exceptions or hubs surrounded by countryside. They are now the default way humans organise themselves.

Why the world is moving to cities

The drivers of urbanisation are well established and backed by decades of research from institutions such as the World Bank and the OECD.

People move to cities for jobs, education, healthcare, and infrastructure. Industrialisation and the growth of service-based economies concentrate opportunities in urban centres. At the same time, mechanisation in agriculture reduces the need for large rural labour forces, pushing people toward towns and cities.

In low- and middle-income countries, this shift is happening at remarkable speed. The World Bank notes that nearly 90% of future urban population growth will occur in Africa and Asia, particularly in countries such as Nigeria , India, and Ethiopia.

2025 and beyond: cities take the lead

In 2025, the UN projected that cities will be the most common settlement type in most countries worldwide. The map shows large swathes of Africa and South Asia transitioning from rural and town-dominated settlement patterns to city-centred ones.

Looking ahead to 2050, the trend becomes even clearer. The UN estimates that nearly 70% of the world’s population will live in urban areas by mid-century. Cities will dominate not just wealthy nations, but also overwhelmingly rural regions only a few decades ago.

This shift is not uniform. Some countries will still have strong rural populations, particularly where agriculture remains central to livelihoods. But globally, the balance has tipped.

The opportunities and the risks

Urbanisation brings real advantages. Cities tend to be more productive , more innovative, and more efficient in delivering services. The UN and World Bank both highlight that cities generate more than 80% of global GDP, despite covering a tiny fraction of the Earth’s surface.

At the same time, rapid urban growth carries risks. Without careful planning, cities can become centres of inequality, congestion, pollution, and housing shortages. Informal settlements already house more than one billion people worldwide, according to UN-Habitat.

This assertion is backed by a World Bank statement which reads "Cities are engines of economic growth and development. They are the centers where most GDP is generated and most private sector jobs are created. As cities grow, they help entire regions and even countries to become more prosperous and productive. However, the rapid pace and scale of urbanization is also bringing significant challenges."

Climate change adds another layer of urgency. Cities are responsible for a large share of global emissions, yet they are also among the most vulnerable to heatwaves, flooding, and rising sea levels.

This marks one of the most significant regulatory flashpoints for a major tech platform in years. What started as an isolated action in a handful of countries has grown into a patchwork of measures that reflect deep concerns over data privacy, national security and harmful content.

A new map from Nazar and The World in Maps shows the scale that several countries have fully blocked access to X, while others are actively reviewing its operations. The trend spans continents, from Asia and Europe to the Americas and the Middle East.

Here’s a breakdown of who’s taken action, and why.

Countries that have banned X

According to the latest information, the following countries have implemented some form of ban on X:

Countries under scrutiny

Several governments are cited as reviewing or considering bans, rigorous oversight or stricter content and data regulations affecting X:

Africa covers an enormous area of around 30.3 million square kilometres , making it the second-largest continent on Earth after Asia. Greenland, by contrast, is the world’s largest island but only roughly 2.16 million square kilometres in total land area. That means Africa’s landmass is roughly 14 times larger than Greenland’s.

But when you look at x, Greenland and Africa often appear to be similar in size on many maps because most maps use the Mercator projection, a style of map developed in the 1500s that preserves direction for navigation but dramatically distorts size, especially near the poles.

On a Mercator map, areas close to the equator, like Africa, get shrunk visually, while places near the poles, like Greenland, are stretched and appear much larger than they really are.

For centuries, the Mercator projection was the go-to choice for classrooms, atlases and even digital maps. But that has consequences. Because the projection exaggerates northern landmasses, it can give viewers a misleading sense of relative size.

Africa’s real size isn’t just bigger than Greenland. It also dwarfs other large countries and regions that people commonly think rival or exceed its area:

In recent years, geographers and advocacy groups, including the African Union, have pushed for world maps that show landmasses in their real proportions . Their aim isn’t just academic. They argue that accurate maps help correct misconceptions about Africa’s economic, demographic and strategic importance on the global stage.

One alternative gaining traction is the Equal Earth projection, which preserves area more accurately than the traditional Mercator map. Maps like these make it clearer why a continent like Africa, with more than a billion people and an area of over 30 million square kilometres, dominates in scale compared to islands like Greenland.

That sharp contrast defines the region’s fertility landscape in 2026. Data compiled by UNESCAP reveals a widening demographic divide, with profound implications for economies, healthcare systems and future generations.

At the top of the scale is Afghanistan, where women have an average of 4.7 births. Pakistan follows at 3.5, while Papua New Guinea sits at 3.0. These higher fertility rates are closely linked to limited access to reproductive health services, early marriage, and social norms that continue to favour larger families.

UNESCAP’s regional assessments consistently show that fertility tends to remain high where girls’ education levels are lower, and family planning options are restricted or unevenly available.

A significant number of Asia-Pacific nations are now hovering around the replacement level of 2.1 births per woman, the point at which a population can sustain itself without migration.

Mongolia and Timor-Leste record approximately 2.6 births, followed by Cambodia at 2.5 and Laos at 2.4. Bangladesh, Indonesia and Myanmar sit right on the replacement line. These figures reflect societies in transition, where economic growth and urbanisation are changing family expectations, but traditional patterns still hold influence.

According to UNESCAP, this stage often marks a turning point, after which fertility tends to fall more rapidly.

India , Nepal, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Vietnam now average 1.9 births per woman. North Korea is close behind at 1.8, while Brunei sits at 1.7.

Fertility continues to fall in wealthier and more urbanised economies: Australia and New Zealand record 1.6, Malaysia and the Maldives 1.5, and Bhutan 1.4. At the lower end, Japan and Thailand have fallen to around 1.2, China and Singapore to 1.0, and Hong Kong, Macau and South Korea to just 0.7.

You may ask why, and the short answer is the calendar.

Many Orthodox Christian churches still follow the Julian calendar for religious feasts. The Julian calendar currently runs 13 days behind the widely used Gregorian calendar. As a result, Christmas Day, marked as 25 December in the Julian system, falls on 7 January in the Gregorian one.

This practice remains especially strong in countries where Eastern Orthodoxy or Oriental Orthodoxy plays a central role in religious life.

What this really means is that Christmas is not “late” in these places. It is right on time according to a different clock.

Based on the map, Christmas on January 7 is commonly observed in:

Eastern Europe and the Balkans

Caucasus and Central Asia

Africa and the Middle East

In some of these countries, January 7 is a public holiday. In others, it is primarily a religious observance, with communities celebrating alongside the wider population that follows the 25 December date.

How Christmas looks different on January 7

The traditions are often distinct from Western Christmas customs.

In Russia and Serbia, celebrations focus more on church services, fasting periods, and symbolic meals rather than gift-giving.In Ethiopia and Eritrea, Christmas, known as Genna, is marked by early-morning liturgies, white traditional clothing, and communal meals after a long fast.

In Egypt, Coptic Christians attend midnight Mass on 6 January, followed by a festive meal that breaks the Nativity fast.

Trees, Santa hats, and commercial displays are far less central. The emphasis is spiritual, communal, and rooted in centuries-old practice.

Data updated in November 2025 shows Google attracting an estimated 99.4 billion visits, almost double that of second-placed YouTube, which recorded 48.5 billion visits. The figures offer a snapshot of how people worldwide spend time online and how search, video and social platforms continue to shape daily digital habits.

Google’s dominance reflects its central role as the default gateway to the web. From news and shopping to maps and email, the search engine remains deeply embedded in how users navigate the internet .

YouTube’s position in second place highlights the growing importance of video, particularly among younger audiences. The platform has become a primary source of entertainment, education and news, with creators increasingly competing with traditional broadcasters.

Facebook ranks third with 9 billion visits, underscoring its continued relevance despite years of criticism over privacy , misinformation and declining use among younger users.

One of the most notable shifts in the latest ranking is the rise of ChatGPT, which places fourth globally with 5.6 billion visits. The AI-powered platform now sits ahead of Instagram and Reddit, reflecting a sharp increase in interest in generative artificial intelligence.

Analysts say ChatGPT’s growth signals a change in how users search for information, write content and solve problems online, potentially challenging traditional search engines in the long term.

Instagram follows closely behind with 5.5 billion visits, while Reddit and Wikipedia round out the top seven, highlighting the enduring appeal of community-driven discussion and open-access knowledge.

The list also shows the continued popularity of adult websites, with Pornhub ranked eighth at 3.8 billion visits, tied with Elon Musk-owned X, formerly Twitter.

Amazon completes the top ten with 2.6 billion visits, reflecting its role as a global shopping platform, even as competition from regional e-commerce firms continues to grow.

President Nicolás Maduro and his wife were removed and captured in the process. Washington transported them to New York to face federal narcotics and terrorism-related charges.

The U.S. government insists the action was part of a broader effort to dismantle drug-trafficking networks tied to the Venezuelan regime.

The world ’s reaction has, however, been sharply divided as some capitals have backed Washington’s move. Others have condemned it as a violation of international law and a dangerous precedent.

In the Americas, support for the U.S. action is mixed. Argentina’s president, Javier Milei, publicly welcomed the removal of Maduro, framing it as a victory for "freedom."

“Freedom moves forward. Long live freedom, damn it!”, Milei wrote in a post on X.

But several Latin American governments have fiercely criticised the strikes as aggression. Bolivia, Mexico and Cuba have all called on the U.S. to withdraw and respect Venezuelan sovereignty.

Across Europe, the response has also split. Germany and other EU members expressed concern and called for a return to diplomatic channels, emphasising that any transition in Venezuela must respect democratic will and international law.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer also said on Saturday that it is up to the U.S. to uphold international law.

"I want to speak to President Trump, I want to speak to allies. I can be absolutely clear that we were not involved in that. And as you know, I always say and believe we should all uphold international law," Starmer said hours after the attack.

Inside the United States, the decision has reignited debate over executive power and foreign policy. Some Republican figures have supported the mission as a necessary confrontation with criminal networks.

Others, including senior Democrats and high-profile former officials, have called the operation “unlawful and unwise," warning it could destabilise Latin America and strain U.S. alliances.

“Trump’s illegal and unprovoked bombing of Venezuela and kidnapping of its president are grave violations of international law and the U.S. Constitution. These are the actions of a rogue state. The American people do not want another regime change war abroad,” Democratic Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib wrote.

What this really means is that the conflict has opened a new chapter in US–Latin American relations and raised fundamental questions about how the international community balances the fight against organised crime with respect for sovereign governance.

Dots of varying sizes and colours spread across the globe indicate where people now live, revealing a powerful shift that the fastest-growing cities are no longer concentrated in Europe or North America, but in Asia and Africa, where megacities and rapidly expanding secondary cities are redefining global development.

According to the UN Population Division , more than 56% of the world’s population now lives in urban areas, a figure expected to rise to nearly 70% by 2050. The 2025 city map visually captures this acceleration, with dense clusters across South Asia, East Asia, Southeast Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa, regions that together account for the majority of new urban residents.

The largest circles on the map, representing megacities with over 10 million people, are increasingly concentrated in Asia. Cities such as Tokyo, Delhi, Shanghai, Dhaka, and Mumbai dominate the urban hierarchy, reflecting decades of population growth, rural-to-urban migration, and industrial expansion. India alone is now home to several of the world’s fastest-growing megacities, a trend linked to its expanding workforce and digital economy.

Yet the map also tells a subtler story. While megacities attract attention, the most rapid growth is occurring in medium-sized and smaller cities, particularly across Africa. Nigeria , Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Tanzania are dotted with cities in the 250,000 to 5 million population range, urban centres that are absorbing millions of new residents each year.

The UN notes that Africa ’s urban population is projected to triple by 2050, making it the world’s fastest-urbanising region.

This urban surge is now tightly linked to current global news. In 2024 and 2025, international headlines have focused on housing shortages, infrastructure strain, youth unemployment, and climate vulnerability in cities.

From flooding in South Asian megacities to heat stress in African urban centres, climate change is amplifying the risks of rapid, unplanned growth. The World Bank estimates that cities generate over 70% of global carbon emissions, while also being the most exposed to climate-related disasters.

At the same time, cities are emerging as engines of opportunity. Urban areas account for more than 80% of global GDP, and governments are increasingly positioning cities as hubs for green jobs, digital services , and innovation.

Wang said the system is aimed at communities that lack reliable access to tap water or natural freshwater sources, arguing that even the driest environments still contain usable moisture. According to him, one cubic metre of air can hold between 10 and 30 grams of water, while desert air contains about three to five grams.

Developed jointly by Shanghai Jiao Tong University and technology company Atmoswell, the project combines multiple existing technologies into three climate-specific solutions rather than a single, one-size-fits-all machine.

For hot and humid regions, the system relies on condensation-based air-to-water technology. Semi-arid areas use a hybrid approach that pairs energy-conversion dehumidification with condensation. In extremely dry regions, advanced adsorption materials are combined with heat-pump technology to extract moisture that would otherwise be lost.

Wang pointed to coastal and island regions such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, and parts of the South China Sea , where humidity remains high despite limited freshwater supplies. He said harvesting atmospheric moisture in such areas could offer a cheaper and greener alternative to desalination.

For inland deserts far from the coast, the technology uses low-cost adsorbent materials to trap water vapour, which is then released through heating powered by solar energy or electricity before being condensed into liquid water.

Energy efficiency remains the system’s biggest hurdle. Wang said that in cold, humid climates, one kilowatt-hour of electricity can produce about four litres of water, while in dry conditions the same energy may generate just one litre.

Despite the challenges, Wang said the project focuses on reducing costs by integrating materials, components and energy management into a single optimised design. He added that commercial success would depend on whether the cost per litre can compete with — and ultimately undercut — bottled water.

Wang, a leading figure in sustainable energy research, was awarded the Global Energy Prize in 2023 for his contributions to clean and innovative energy solutions.

From the streets of Caracas, Venezuela, to the highlands of Ethiopia, communities mark the season with traditions that blend faith, culture, and local identity that have endured for centuries.

Venezuela: Roller skating to Christmas Mass

In Venezuela, particularly in the capital Caracas, Christmas celebrations transform city streets into festive pathways. One of the country’s most famous traditions involves roller skating to early morning church services in the days leading up to Christmas.

Historically, some neighbourhoods even tied strings to children’s toes before bedtime, believing that angels skating through the streets would tug them awake for Mass. While the custom has evolved, streets are still occasionally closed to allow safe skating. This highlights the communal nature of the celebration.

The tradition highlights how faith and festivity merge in Venezuelan culture, even as the country continues to navigate economic and political challenges that have reshaped daily life in recent years.

Peru: Children take the nativity to the streets

In Peru , Christmas is marked by strong public participation, particularly among children. In some cities and towns, children dress as pastors or biblical figures and parade through the streets, reenacting scenes associated with the birth of Jesus Christ.

These processions reflect Peru’s deeply rooted Catholic traditions, introduced during the colonial period but reshaped through local customs and communal storytelling.

According to Peru Travel , Christmas celebrations often emphasise family gatherings, public performances, and religious devotion, making the holiday a visible part of urban and rural life alike.

Ghana - Feasting and large gatherings

Just like other parts of the world, Christians in Ghana start their Christmas celebrations from the 20th of December with Carol Services that are mostly conducted in the evenings.

The week before the 25th also marks a moment of vigorous shopping for the celebration ahead.

On the 25th, many visit the church in the morning with their best outfits to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ.

After the morning service, families gather to share meals with friends and neighbours.

Ethiopia: Christmas marked by faith and a traditional game

In Ethiopia, Christmas, known as Ganna or Genna , is celebrated on January 7, following the Julian calendar observed by the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. The holiday is deeply spiritual, beginning with an overnight church service and fasting that reflects the country’s ancient Christian heritage.

One of the most distinctive traditions associated with Ethiopian Christmas is a hockey-style team game also called Ganna. Played in open fields after morning worship, the game symbolises joy and communal unity following the religious observance.

The tradition is reported to be linked to shepherds celebrating the birth of Christ, echoing the biblical nativity story.