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 Latin America and the Caribbean is the most urbanized region in the developing world. With 75 percent, or 391 million, of its people living in cities, it has an urban-rural ratio similar to that of the highly industrialized countries. However, unlike highly industrialized countries, urban areas are not geographically scattered in terms of physical size or populations. Urbanization patterns in the region, with the exception of Brazil, typically involves one very large city that accounts for much of the country's urban population. The urban population in the region will approach 539 million, or 81 percent of its projected total population of 665 million, by 2020. On average municipalities capture less than US$90 per capita in revenue per year.
 The biggest challenge facing the region is the growing urbanization of poverty. Despite general economic growth, the number of poor people in the region rose from 44 million to 220 million between 1970 and 2000, as did the number of women living in poverty. More than one-third of the poor households are headed by women. Much poverty is concentrated in urban areas; a massive 40 percent of the population of Mexico City, for instance, and a third of São Paulo's population is at or below the poverty line. |