Population Growth in the World’s Largest Cities
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
The charts below show the growth in the population in some of the world’s largest cities as well as the population distribution in urban and rural areas.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.
Get your personalised IELTS Essay Feedback from a former examiner
Download IELTS eBooks, get everything you need to achieve a high band score
Sample Answer 1
The bar graph illustrates the growth in the population in the world’s largest cities, examining population sizes in five prominent cities from 1970 to 2010, while the table lists the five most populated cities globally in 1950 and 2010. Additionally, the line graph tracks global population distribution between urban and rural areas from 1980 to 2010.
Overall, Tokyo held the largest population in 2010, while Bombay and Jakarta experienced the most substantial population increases. Furthermore, urban population surpassed rural population around 2005, indicating a global shift towards urban living.
According to the bar graph, Tokyo’s population was over 15 million in 1970, which was approximately three times that of Bombay and significantly higher than Jakarta’s 2.5 million. By 2010, Tokyo’s population had grown to nearly 28 million, making it the most populous city, while Bombay and Jakarta expanded rapidly, with each increasing by more than fivefold over the 40-year period.
The table highlights a transformation in the global ranking of the most populous cities. In 1950, New York led with 12.5 million people, followed by London and Tokyo. By 2010, however, Tokyo claimed the top spot, with Bombay, Lagos, Shanghai, and Jakarta also entering the list, showcasing considerable demographic shifts.
Finally, the line graph demonstrates that in 1980, the global rural population was around 3 billion, while urban residents numbered less than 2 billion. By 2010, urban population had surged to exceed 4 billion, while rural population remained steady at slightly over 3 billion, reflecting a strong trend towards urbanization.
Download IELTS eBooks, get everything you need to achieve a high band score
Sample Answer 2
The charts present data on the growth in the population in the world’s largest cities, comparing population numbers in five cities from 1970 to 2010, listing the top five most populous cities globally in 1950 and 2010, and tracking the distribution of rural and urban populations from 1980 to 2010.
Overall, Tokyo maintained the highest population count by 2010, while Bombay and Jakarta experienced significant growth rates. Additionally, urban areas began to host more people than rural regions after 2005, showing a strong global trend toward urbanization.
The bar graph shows that in 1970, Tokyo led with a population exceeding 15 million, while New York and Shanghai followed closely. Bombay and Jakarta had much smaller populations but grew substantially over time, with Jakarta’s increase being particularly prominent. By 2010, Tokyo’s population had surged to nearly 28 million, making it the largest among the cities listed.
According to the table, the rankings of the most populated cities shifted dramatically over six decades. In 1950, New York held the top spot, followed by London and Tokyo. By 2010, however, Tokyo had become the world’s largest city, while Bombay, Lagos, Shanghai, and Jakarta emerged in the top five, displacing former leaders.
Lastly, the line graph indicates that in 1980, rural population numbers were approximately 3 billion, while urban numbers were below 2 billion. Over the next 30 years, urban populations grew significantly, exceeding 4 billion by 2010, whereas rural population remained just above 3 billion, marking a substantial shift toward city living.
Sample Answer 3
The charts depict the growth in the population in the world’s largest cities, examining population sizes in five major cities from 1970 to 2010, listing the top five most populated cities in 1950 and 2010, and highlighting changes in the urban and rural population distribution from 1980 to 2010.
Overall, the data reveals that Tokyo consistently remained the most populous city by 2010, while Bombay and Jakarta showed the fastest population increases over the period. Additionally, there was a clear shift towards urban living, with the urban population overtaking the rural population after 2005.
The bar graph demonstrates that Tokyo’s population in 1970 exceeded 15 million, while New York and Shanghai had notably smaller populations. Bombay and Jakarta started with relatively modest populations but saw rapid increases by 2010, with Jakarta’s growth being particularly substantial. By 2010, Tokyo’s population rose to nearly 28 million, placing it firmly as the largest of the cities shown.
According to the table, New York was the most populated city in 1950 with over 12 million residents, followed by London. By 2010, Tokyo had claimed the top spot, with Bombay and Lagos closely following. This shift underscores significant demographic changes over six decades.
In the line graph, the global rural population remained around 3 billion from 1980 to 2010, whereas the urban population rose sharply, surpassing 4 billion in 2010, illustrating a clear trend towards urbanization worldwide.
Sample Answer 4
The charts illustrate the growth in the population in the world’s largest cities, comparing population figures in five major cities from 1970 to 2010, ranking the top five largest cities in 1950 and 2010, and showing the shift in population distribution between urban and rural areas from 1980 to 2010.
Overall, Tokyo consistently had the highest population among the cities, while Bombay and Jakarta saw the fastest growth rates. The data also reveals a dramatic shift in global population distribution, with urban areas surpassing rural areas by 2010.
In the bar graph, Tokyo's population was over 15 million in 1970, significantly higher than New York’s and Shanghai’s populations. Bombay had about one-third of Tokyo’s population, and Jakarta, with 2.5 million people, had the smallest population. By 2010, Tokyo’s population had surged to 27.6 million, making it the largest among the five cities. Notably, Bombay and Jakarta experienced the most substantial growth, each increasing over fivefold.
The data table shows that in 1950, New York was the most populous city globally, with 12.5 million people, followed by London and Tokyo. By 2010, Tokyo had risen to the top position, with a population of 27.6 million, while Bombay and Lagos followed with 26.6 million and 23.9 million residents, respectively, indicating significant demographic shifts.
According to the line graph, the global rural population was around 3 billion in 1980, while the urban population was under 2 billion. However, by 2010, the urban population exceeded 4 billion, while the rural population remained slightly above 3 billion, highlighting a clear trend towards urbanization worldwide.
Get your personalised IELTS Essay Feedback from a former examiner
Download IELTS eBooks, get everything you need to achieve a high band score