Final answer:
The trend in South Asia is a significant rural-to-urban shift with growing urban populations, making the claim of less crowded cities and more people moving to rural areas false.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that the population explosion in South Asia has resulted in cities becoming less crowded and more people moving to rural areas is false. The trend in South Asia shows a significant rural-to-urban shift, with populations moving from the countryside to cities in search of better economic opportunities and improved living conditions. This movement has been attributed to factors like economic development, industrial growth, and the quest for educational prospects. Consequently, urban areas such as Mumbai are experiencing rapid population growth and significant challenges related to housing and the sustainable use of resources.
As South Asian countries progress through the index of economic development, urban areas are moving into stage 3, which is characterized by a decrease in family size and an increase in the urbanized workforce and incomes.
However, the influx of people into cities has led to the expansion of urban centers and the growth of impoverished urban populations, which includes the rise of slum areas as more individuals are attracted to urban settings for employment.
Overall, despite the increasing population in South Asia, cities have become more crowded, not less, and the rural population is migrating to urban centers rather than the other way around, further straining the available resources and infrastructure.