UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 12 (Xinhua) -- The urban population in Africa will more than double by 2030, says the latest report from the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT).

    There will be about 759 million urban residents throughout Africa by 2030, compared to an estimated 373 million in 2007, says the report, according to a press release posted on the UN website Wednesday.

    The continent is undergoing a broader demographic change, as the number of urban dwellers rises steadily, the report adds.

    It indicates that the greatest growth would occur not in Africa's largest urban agglomerations, but in the so-called "intermediate cities," which have fewer than 500,000 inhabitants each.

    UN-HABITAT believes that policymakers should be aware of the implications of this swift urban growth within intermediate cities.

    "African governments should start strengthening the governance capacities of their intermediate and smaller cities so that these fast-growing towns will be prepared for a rapid increase in new and additional demand for urban spatial planning, urban housing, urban services and urban livelihoods," the agency said.