The speed of urbanisation in Latin America in the second half of the twentieth century was spectacular, vaulting from a just over 40 percent urbanisation level to 75 percent by the end of this period which was also a period of rapid population growth and demographic transition.
As may be seen (Table 1) the focus of change is now in Asia with the urban population expected to double in the next 30 years or so. This phenomenon of such rapid urbanisation is indeed unprecedented and it has changed human geography beyond recognition. In the process the complexion of development objectives and processes has also undergone significant change.