Intermediary cities
Intermediary cities (intermediate cities or i-cities) are cities with a population of 50,000 to one million. They are small and medium-sized cities that perform a linking role, helping ease the transition between rural areas and larger cities, and providing useful markets and access to services. They may also connect cities within an urban area, and can help relieve pressure on larger cities and megacities.
It is estimated that 20% of the world´s population live in intermediary cities. Ref https://www.uclg.org/en/agenda/intermediary-cities
Intermediary cities can be more efficient than larger cities, with more effective government, better social cohesion and greater flexibility.
However, they can be vulnerable to change, tend to have a poorer population than larger cities and often lack resources and opportunities. They can be excluded from decision making processes and are often overlooked in policy decision making, but are considered vital to the sustainable development of the global population.
Many intermediate cities are growing rapidly, in particular those in Africa and South America.
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