Too many reports about cities start with a sentence that goes more or less like "By 2050, over 68% of the earth's population will live in cities." But what does this actually mean? Is living in Lagos, Nigeria the same as living in Lincoln, Nebraska? If not, but they are both "cities", what does "living in a city" actually mean?
Turns out, defining a city is quite hard.
The Urban World is an atlas of this complexity. It uses foundational datasets and academic methodologies, but framed through meaning — what makes one city different from another? How does it feel to live in Budapest, and how is that different from Bangkok?
Data is the starting point, not the destination. The goal is understanding — the kind you get from comparing, exploring, and sitting with the numbers long enough that they start to tell stories.
This is meant to be a resource, and a collaborative one. A place that groups together the lovers of cities around the world. Over time, it will grow to collect the best writing about cities — books, essays, and much more. If you love cities too, get in touch.