The Biggest Migration in the World

Mobility, Urbanisation and Informal HousingMichael Collyer

Global population growth will be concentrated in poor cities

Megacities account for smaller but fastest growing proportion of total urban population

Fewer t

han 500,000

500,000 to 1 m

illion

1 to 5 m

illion

5 to 10 m

illion

more than

10 milli

on0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

1970199020112025

Tota

l Pop

ulati

on (m

illio

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2011-2050 urban growth will vastly outpace population change as driver of urbanisation

83% of governments reported concerns about patterns of population distribution. 72% developing countries have policies to

reduce migration to large cities

New awareness of impact of natural hazards on cities

People living in urban coastal flood zones in 2060

Vulnerability of new urban residents varies widely

What contribution can academic research make?

Colombo beautification: financialisation of development

Migrating out of Poverty RPC: New research in informal settlements in Accra: 87% migrants

positive about migration

RGS Field Research Programme: ‘Migrants on the Margins’

Focus on ‘marginalised urban areas’

Plans for student involvement in research

Plans for continuous outreach

Thankyou.

http://migratingoutofpoverty.dfid.gov.ukhttp://www.rgs.org/OurWork/Field+Research+Programmes/Field+Research+Programme.htm

M.Collyer@sussex.ac.uk@CollyerMC