People often say that the population of cities big and small is increasing all over the world. Some cities are growing much faster than others. A UN report has shared surprising information about this. According to the UN World Urbanization Prospects 2025, by August 2025, 81% of the world’s population will be living in cities, and only 19% will remain in villages. In 2018, 55% of people lived in cities, but now it has jumped to 81%. The report says that cities are becoming overcrowded, and villages are disappearing. If we talk about India, the situation is also worrying. People from villages in Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan are moving to cities, which is increasing the urban population. Also, even villages are becoming more like towns as new facilities reach them. This means that the traditional village way of life is fading. This is truly surprising.
The UN report says that better education and job opportunities are the main reasons for rising urbanization. People are attracted to cities and leaving villages. Urban development is good, but rural development should grow at the same pace so that a balance is maintained. Experts say that in countries like India, most jobs and educational institutions are found in cities. This is why migration from states like Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh is increasing, and villages are slowly turning into towns. Many villages in North India especially around Delhi now look like crowded city areas. For example, many villages in Punjab and Haryana have become modern, and old villages near Delhi such as Najafgarh, Narela, and Alipur no longer look like villages. They are now full of city-like buildings and facilities. The traditional look of small towns and villages has changed. Earlier, villages did not have modern schools, colleges, big markets, or malls.
Today, highways are lined with tall buildings and malls. Fields and farms that once stretched for miles are disappearing and being replaced by concrete structures. Development is important, and people should have good facilities, but balance is necessary. The UN report says only 19% of the world’s population now lives in villages. The number may be slightly higher in India, but still low. If we compare village and city life, both should have proper amenities, but villages should keep their rural character and cities their urban identity. Buying cheap land in villages and turning it into hotels, malls, restaurants, and banquet halls harms rural life. People need to think before migrating, and the government should work to maintain balance between villages and cities. The goal should be to make villages so good that villagers are happy to stay there, and make cities so well-planned that city residents love living there.
