An Analysis of Urban and SSC Indicators for Enhancing Balanced Urban Growth in Megacities

Megacities are experiencing rapid urban growth accompanied by increasingly uneven spatial patterns and complex sustainability challenges. This study examines the relationship between urban and Smart Sustainable City (SSC) indicators and balanced urban growth in megacities. Using data from 27 megacities, 27 variables were grouped into five composite dimensions as explanatory indicators. The Balanced Urban Growth Index (BUGI) was constructed as a composite of three sub-indices: Spatial Balance (SBI), Social Balance (SOBI), and Environmental Balance (EBI). Pearson and Spearman correlation analyses were conducted to examine the associations between these dimensions and the Balanced Urban Growth Index (BUGI). The results indicate that Livability and Well-Being had the strongest positive association with the BUGI (Pearson r = 0.7), while Urban Expansion showed a negative association (r = −0.516). Accessibility–Connectivity was positively associated with the BUGI (r = 0.421), and Compactness–Density showed a positive Pearson association (r = 0.467). In contrast, Sustainable Mobility exhibited a weak association with the BUGI (r = 0.282). London, Paris, Tokyo, Los Angeles, and New York recorded the highest BUGI scores, whereas Karachi, Lagos, and Cairo recorded the lowest. Overall, the findings suggest that balanced urban growth is closely associated with multiple spatial, social, environmental, and mobility dimensions, with livability and well-being emerging as particularly influential. However, the findings should be interpreted in light of the relatively small sample of 27 megacities and the exploratory nature of the analysis.