Final answer:
Africa is less urbanized with only about 40% of its population living in urban areas, while South America has a significantly higher urban population with around 80% residing in urban settlements. The difference highlights the varying levels of development and challenges associated with urbanization.
Step-by-step explanation:
The percentage of population living in urban settlements in Africa compared to South America reflects notable differences. According to available data, Africa is only 40 percent urbanized which suggests that a larger proportion of its population resides in rural areas. On the other hand, South America has a higher level of urbanization, with around 80 percent of its population living in urban areas. This indicates a substantial difference in where people live on the two continents, with South America being more urbanized than Africa.
The presence of large cities and the continued trend towards urbanization globally make this topic particularly relevant for considerations of sustainable development, especially in less developed countries where the management of urban growth presents significant challenges.