One factor that's often ignored is that the space per person has steadily increased over time. For example, in Germany the average floor space per resident has

One factor that's often ignored is that the space per person has steadily increased over time. For example, in Germany the average floor space per resident has doubled from the 60s to now, so the same city now requires twice the living space, even with zero population growth! It seems to be similar in other countries. This is mostly due to fewer people living in the same space, not necessarily because housing units are growing.