Urban density and quality of life - statistical study on the NUMBEO index Alda Paulina Santos, Lauro Luiz Francisco Filho

Abstract

According to the United Nations, 54% of the world's population lives in cities. For 2050, there will be a worldwide population increase of approximately 9.6 billion, of which 70% will live in urban areas of cities. Cities with the possibility of being sustainable are an attraction for migration in search of “quality of life”, a relevant factor for the strong density of large cities. There are quality of life indicators for cities, from respected companies used worldwide. It was noted that dense cities in these rankings are not well-positioned. In view of the real and growing exposure, in order to better understand the realities of world cities in an accelerated urbanization process, it is necessary to know if there is a correlation between population density and quality of life, as well as what are the factors that generate their loss. In this research, through statistical analysis, it was possible to verify the correlation between population density and quality of life, and which factors cause its loss as cities become denser. As a result, it was shown that there is a correlation between population density and quality of life, however, lower than the correlation of the variables already contained in the model used. Two more variables were included in the ranking of Numbeo's platform, Urban Planning and Technology, generating a new classification. With the inclusion of the two variables in the model, it was possible to verify the significant impact of the new classification, establishing a new ranking of quality of life in cities.