FIGURE 3.25 Photo Essay: Urbanization in Middle and South America Urbanization is at the heart of many transformations in this region. The last several decades have seen cities grow extremely fast, and 77 percent of the region now lives in cities. New opportunities have opened up for migrants from rural areas, but new stresses have emerged as well. The low-skilled jobs they can get often don’t pay well, and many people are forced to live in unplanned neighborhoods on the outskirts of huge cities. 3.25a Courtesy Jeremy Edwards/Jumper/Photodisc/Getty Images, 3.25b Courtesy Mathias T Oppersdorff/Photo Researchers/Getty Images, 3.25c Courtesy Ernesto Benavides/AFP/Getty Images