What life is like in Manila, the most crowded city in the world

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John Javellana/Reuters

Manila, the capital city of the Philippines, has liabilities lined up like dominoes.

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Not only is the city the densest in the world — at 46,000 people per square mile, twice the density of New York City — but it's located on the Ring of Fire, a series of volcanoes in the Pacific Ocean that inundates Manila with earthquakes and typhoons.

On top of the environmental concerns are economic and demographic ones. Manila's fertility rate is a soaring 3.1 children per woman, and residents face rampant disparity in living conditions. High-rises are going up, as are makeshift communities to house those who've been displaced by natural disaster or financial ruin.

Here's what life is like in the most crowded city in the world.

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Manila is located on the northwestern coast of the Philippines. Its population of 1.6 million is divided between a booming business district in Makati City and destitute communities on the fringes.

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In the poorest regions, multiple families live in close quarters in makeshift communities. Homes are built on stilts, clothes strung between the rickety roofs.

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Floods are constant in Manila. As a result, garbage swims freely through the polluted waters, leading to risks of bacterial disease.

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Source: The Daily Mail

In times of crisis, such as the series of flash floods that struck in 2009, gyms have been repurposed as shelters. But the density doesn't get relieved, just relocated.

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Daily city life is equally jam-packed. To get around, people must choose between driving on busy highways or standing on crowded buses and trains.

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A growing number of people are opting for motorcycles, which grant extra freedom, but make driving riskier for everyone as they try to avoid collisions.

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At the height of Manila's economic recession in 2008, fuel costs got so bad that most people avoided driving, leading to situations in which people were crammed together as they climbed stairs to board already overstuffed trains.

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John Javellana/Reuters

Outside of work, Manila's malls — which are even more a staple of local culture than in the US — are also extremely crowded.

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Erik de Castro/Reuters

Source: The Guardian

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Not all of the congestion is due to shopping. When the economy falters in the Philippines, the country converts Manila's malls into bustling job fairs.

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Thousands of people line up just for a chance to make a better life for themselves and their families.

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Most days, the density is manageable. For example, kids find ways to play even if they have limited options.

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And the city still gives families ways to relax, away from the poverty and daily grind.

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But fertility rates are undeniably high. Experts predict the population will double by 2025, but the infrastructure is ill-equipped to handle another 1.6 million bodies.

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Erik de Castro/Reuters

Source: World Population Review

 

Though many citizens live in poverty, given the city's rising business influence, the most crowded city on Earth could also grant its millions of citizens a brighter future than ever.

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