BY Kedar Pavgi,

A picture of Sanaa, the capital of Yemen,

The world is currently undergoing a mass urbanization -- as of 2008, and for the first time in history, a majority of the global population now lives in cities. That's just the start. According to the United Nations Population Fund, the urban-dwelling population will swell to nearly five billion by 2030. But whereas it once was the alpha world cities such as New York, London, and Shanghai that were the primary magnets for young people looking to make their fortunes, now a surprising new crop of boomtowns, from the Middle East to Mali, are seeing their populations leapfrog to the top of the list.

According to independent thinktank City Mayors, which studies urban affairs to promote good governance, what follows are the world's fastest-growing cities, based on past growth and forecasts by international statistics organizations.

And no, they're not all in China.  Above, a picture of Sanaa, the capital of Yemen, at dusk.

Currently making headlines for an uprising and the resultant brutal crackdown, Yemen is likely to face additional social pressure if unemployment rates persist while the population soars.

1. Beihai, China
It comes as no surprise that China is at the top of the list, but it's not Shanghai or Beijing leading the pack. That honor belongs to this coastal city in Guangxi province. Beihai, which translates to "North of the Sea," has a population of approximately 1.3 million people, with the central urban area containing over 500,000 people. That might not sound particularly impressive, but the city is projected to grow at a blistering 10.58 percent annual rate, which would double the population in approximately seven years. The growth derives mainly from the port of Beihai, a deepwater port, and the extensive tourism industry in the area. It sits in close proximity to other cities including Hong Kong, Macau, and Hanoi. Above, ships sit in the Guantouling Bay. 

It comes as no surprise that China is at the top of the list, but it's not Shanghai or Beijing leading the pack. That honor belongs to this coastal city in Guangxi province. Beihai, which translates to "North of the Sea," has a population of approximately 1.3 million people, with the central urban area containing over 500,000 people. That might not sound particularly impressive, but the city is projected to grow at a blistering 10.58 percent annual rate, which would double the population in approximately seven years. The growth derives mainly from the port of Beihai, a deepwater port, and the extensive tourism industry in the area. It sits in close proximity to other cities including Hong Kong, Macau, and Hanoi. Above, ships sit in the Guantouling Bay. 

2. Ghaziabad, India
Blowing through the one billion person barrier in 2000, forecasters now predict that India will pass China in population as soon as 2030. Ghaziabad, the country's newest booming urban center, is helping drive that milestone. Located on the edge of New Delhi, the city sits in an area known as the National Capital Region, encompassing several states in Northern India. Ghaziabad's growth has been the result of land shortages and infrastructure weaknesses within Delhi, with a flood of people attracted to the booming IT sector located in the capital and neighboring Noida. The current population is over 4.6 million, and is slated to grow at 5.2 percent per year. In 2006, Newsweek  dubbed Ghaziabad as one of the top 10 most dynamic cities, and plans to build an international airport nearby will only increase its popularity. 

3. Sanaa, Yemen
With daily shelling and constant protests, the ancient Yemeni capital city might not be the most peaceful place to live right about now. But its gain is largely due to the reality that most everwhere else in Yemen, it's even worse. Poor education and taboos against birth control continue to fuel the spiralling growth rate, now at 5 percent annually. The population boom in Sanaa (now 1.7 million) is also due to a resource crunch elsewhere in the country, with officials from the U.N. Development Program categorizing the dwindling water supply as a severe problem. A rapidly growing population plus one of the highest unemployment rates in the world is likely to lead to continued unrest in the future.

4. Surat, India
Known as the "textile hub" of India, Surat was once the country's primary outgoing port during the British occupation. It's become an export engine once more, and now features a diverse economy of textiles, manufacturing, and jewelry. Currently, 4.2 million people inhabit this coastal city, and Surat is set to add 5 percent more each year. Though the city -- along with nearby Mumbai, of course -- is among India's most globalized urban area, Surat braved the headwinds from the global financial crisis by tapping to the strong domestic demand of India's burgeoning middle class.

5. Kabul, Afghanistan 
Above, the Kabul skyline and the peaks of the Hindu Kush. One of the oldest cities in the world, it is growing rapidly despite -- or perhaps because of -- the security concerns that plague Afghanistan. The city has 6 million inhabitants, and continues to expand at 4.74 percent a year. But the city faces serious resource shortages. By 2050, the city will need six times the amount of water it currently uses in order to quench the thirst of its inhabitants. This, coupled with severely limited infrastructure, will hinder the city's convalescence from years of war and conflict.

6. Bamako, Mali 
A busy street in the middle of Bamako, Mali. Africa's fastest growing city is located on the banks of the Niger River floodplains. Bamako, meaning "village of crocodiles," is one of the most vibrant trade hubs in West Africa. The Malian capital has 1.3 million people, and is growing at 4.45 percent annually, thanks in part to a strong economy and desertification, as the Sahara incessantly expands southward. The city's ports power the country's exports of agricultural products and gold.

7. Lagos, Nigeria 
Above, a congested street in Lagos sprawls to the horizon. Lagos may slightly trail Bamako in the rate of its urban population growth, but the Nigerian economic capital dwarfs its West African rival in size and vitality. The city proper had nearly 10 million people in 2010, and is projected to reach 15 million by 2015, with a growth rate of 4.44 percent. Within a couple years, it will eclipse Cairo as the largest city in Africa.

SOURCE: www.foreignpolicy.com