The graph below gives information about the percentage of the population in four countries living in cities from 1970 to 2020, with predictions for 2030 and 2040. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant.  Write at least 150 words.

The line graph illustrates the changes in the proportion of city inhabitants in four countries (Argentina, Brazil,

Uruguay

and

Ecuador

) over a 50-year period ending in 2020,

along with

projections for the next two decades. 

Overall

,

it is clear that

urban populations have grown significantly, albeit at different rates in each country, resulting in remarkably similar percentages. The forecast predicts a slower rise in the coming years. At the beginning of the period, the two countries with the smallest urban populations were

Uruguay

and

Ecuador

, where around one-fifth lived in

cities

. Half a century of steady growth meant that by 2020 the proportions had risen to around 95% in

Uruguay

, making it the most urbanised country on the chart, and to just under 70% in

Ecuador

. In Brazil,

while

half lived in

cities

in 1970, in 2020 the number stood at a little under 90%, despite falling by around 8% during the 1990s. Of the four nations, Argentina maintained the highest percentage of urban population until it was surpassed by

Uruguay

shortly before 2020. At the outset of the period, around 70% of Argentinians lived in

cities

, more than three times the proportion seen in both

Uruguay

and

Ecuador

. Since

then

, growth has been more gradual, eventually topping 90% in 2020. Over the next twenty years, growth is expected to slow in the countries where

cities

are currently home to nine out of every ten individuals, rising by no more than 3%.

Ecuador

,

however

, should expect its percentage to reach 80% by 2040.