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Thousands of US Cities Could Become Ghost Towns by 2100, Study Says. ScienceAlert reports that Earth will look drastically different in 2100, either reshaped by climate change or humans trying to prevent it. According to a new study, by the end of the century, nearly 30,000 cities in the United States could be facing population decline. The analysis foresees future cities as fractured, sprawling communities, unless governments can respond and adapt to the needs of residents. "The implications of this massive decline in population will bring unprecedented challenges, possibly leading to disruptions in basic services like transit, clean water, electricity and internet access." Researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago, via ScienceAlert. Declining populations may lead to food deserts as grocery stores shut down, while neglected infrastructure could leave communities without access to clean water. "Most studies have focused on big cities, but that doesn't give us an estimation of the scale of the problem." 43% of cities in the U.S. are already facing population decline, even as experts predict those figures to rise as the century continues. According to the researchers from the University of Illinois at Chicago, as many as 64% of cities could be in decline by the year 2100. "What is certain is that an important cultural shift in planning and engineering communities is needed, away from conventional, growth-based planning, to accommodate a dramatic demographic shift." Uttara Sutradhar, graduate student in civil engineering at the University of Illinois at Chicago, via ScienceAlert. ScienceAlert reports that an estimated 183 out of 195 recognized countries may already be experiencing population decline, as fertility rates drop below replacement rates. THIS VIDEO MUST NOT BE EDITED FOR LENGTH TO COMBINE WITH OTHER CONTENT