There are now more than seven billion people on the planet, a figure that continues to grow every year. In 1950, the population was just 2.5 billion, which means a whopping growth rate of 180%.

A rising population brings about a number of challenges for governments and people alike, such as climate change, food supplies, infrastructure and much more. There is also a wealth of opportunities to be yielded from the growth in human resources.

Every year, to raise awareness of rapid population growth across the world, the United Nations (UN) marks World Population Day on 11 July. And for 2015, the theme is "vulnerable populations in emergencies".

"With nearly 60 million individuals having fled conflict or disaster, women and adolescent girls are particularly vulnerable," UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon said.

"Violent extremists and armed groups are committing terrible abuses that result in trauma, unintended pregnancy and infection with HIV and other diseases."

In recognition of UN World Population Day 2015, IBTimes UK looks at the world's 10 most densely populated cities (people per square mile) with populations of over 500,000.

Dhaka, Bangladesh

Pop: 15,669,000 // Density: 112,700

Hyderabad, Pakistan

Pop: 2,920,000 // Density: 104,300

Mumbai, India

Pop: 17,712,000 // Density: 83,900

Kalyan, India

Pop: 2,841,000 // Density: 78,900

Vijayawada, India

Pop: 1,715,000 // Density: 78,000

Chittagong, Bangladesh

Pop: 3,176,000 // Density: 73,900

Malegaon, India

Pop: 653,000 // Density: 72,600

Hong Kong, China

Pop: 7,246,000 // Density: 68,400

Macao, China

Pop: 589,000 // Density: 65,400

Aligarh, India

Pop: 1,020,000 // Density: 63,800

Source: Demographia (PDF)