Ho Chi Minh City is the largest city in Vietnam with a population of 8.4 million. It is located in the south of Vietnam and is at the core centre of Ho Chi Minh City Metropolitan Area, which has a population that exceeds 20 million, 16 million of whom live in urban areas. The city is currently undergoing a period of strong economic and population growth; as it is the economic and financial hub of Vietnam, it continues to attract migrants from other provinces.

Bangkok is Thailand’s capital city and biggest urban centre, and one of the world’s megacities. It is part of the Bangkok Metropolitan Region (BMR),which is further composed of the Bangkok Metropolitan Area (BMA) and its five adjacent provinces, covering an area of 7,758 km2. The rapid urban expansion of Bangkok, matched with its population growth over the past few decades, has left many issues unresolved. With the city struggling in maintaining pace with urbanisation trends and match it with the provision of the necessary public infrastructure.

Johannesburg is the capital of Gauteng, which is the South African province with the biggest population comprising approximately the 24 percent of the overall population. As of 2016 Johannesburg had an estimated population of 4.4 million, and according to the census, the city has grown at an extremely high rate: an average of 4.1 percent between 1996 and 2001 and by 3.2 percent between 2001 and 2011. Although this urbanisation boom is projected to slow down, Johannesburg is expected to reach 7 million inhabitants by 2040.

Cape Town is the legislative capital of South Africa, hosting the Parliament, with a population currently estimated at 4,430,367, and an average annual population growth of 2.4 per cent. Like many South African cities, Cape Town is characterised by low urban densities of 1,629 people per square kilometre, and a net density of 17 dwelling units per hectare.

Lagos is the largest urban agglomeration in Nigeria and one of the biggest and fastest growing megacities in the world, with population estimates ranging from 12 to over 20 million people. The built-up area is situated along the banks of the western portion of Lake Lagoon and expands to the north, following the expressway to Abeokuta and Ibadan. Although the urban extension is mainly contained within the administrative boundaries of Lagos State, the city has begun to stretch beyond its borders, expanding in the direction of the main transport routes into Ogun State.

Abeokuta is the largest urban centre and capital of Ogun State, located in the South West Geopolitical Zone of Nigeria. Ogun State lies to the north of Lagos State, to the west of Ondo State, and to the south of Oyo State and Osun State. Abeokuta is built in the centre of the Lagos-Ibadan extended urban region or conurbation, and forms part of the larger metropolitan economic area. This strategic location, matched with the presence of diverse local resources, rapid population growth and enhanced political status has generated dynamic economic activities.

Designated as a catalyst development corridor, Iskandar Malaysia is one of Malaysia’s fastest growing areas in terms of population and economic activity. By 2025, the population is expected to have doubled from 1.6 million in 2006 to 3 million, whilst the GDP is expected to grow at an annual rate of change of 6 per cent. Established in 2006, Iskandar Malaysia was largely funded by the federal government’s investment arm, Kazanah Nasional Berhad.

Melaka State is strategically located on the southwestern coast of the Malaysian peninsula, facing the Straight of Melaka. It lies between the capital, Kuala Lumpur and Johor Bahru, which connects to Singapore. Melaka State has a population of 910,000 and an average annual population growth rate of 1.3%.