User Manual

33
Facts & fi gures
By the year 2015, there will
be 24 megacities throughout
the world each with more
than 10 million inhabitants.
Cities such as Paris, Bangkok,
Mexico City, Buenos Aires,
Seoul and Tokyo will be
generating up to 50% of
the gross domestic product
of their respective nations.
By the year 2025, there
will be some 8 billion people
living on planet Earth. That
is almost 20% more than
today.
By the year 2030, over 84%
of the population of industri-
alized nations will be living
in cities.
Since 1955, average life
expectancy has increased by
20 years worldwide.
Lower birth rates and higher
life expectancy are leading
to ageing populations.