Syllabus Edition

First teaching 2024

First exams 2026

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Urbanisation (DP IB Environmental Systems & Societies (ESS))

Revision Note

Urbanisation

What is urbanisation?

  • Urbanisation is the process where a growing proportion of a country's population moves from rural areas (countryside) to urban areas (cities and towns)

    • This shift results in land becoming more built-up, with infrastructure, housing, and industrialisation dominating the urban landscape

    • As urbanisation occurs, cities:

      • Expand

      • Develop more dense populations

      • Experience more continuous human activity

  • According to the World Bank, 56% (4.4 billion) of the world’s population now live in towns and cities

Line graph showing urban and rural population trends from 1950 to 2050. Urban population surpassed rural in 2009.
The trend shows that more people now live in towns and cities than in rural areas

Rural–urban migration

  • Rural-urban migration is a major factor driving urbanisation

    • It is the movement of people from the countryside to cities in search of:

      • Better living conditions

      • Job opportunities

      • Safety

  • This migration causes the urban population to grow, often at the expense of the rural population

    • For example, in China, rural-urban migration has led to massive city growth, with people moving from farming regions to cities like Shenzhen and Beijing in search of jobs in factories or offices

  • Rural-urban migration is mostly internal migration (within a country)

Urbanisation pathway

  • Countries become more urban as they develop economically

  • This transition from LICs to HICs can be shown as a pathway over time 

  • The pace through the stages slows and flattens or will decline as counter urbanisation gains speed

Graph showing urbanization stages as urban population percentage over time, with phases: developing (1), emerged (2), emerging (3), developed (4), and counter-urbanization (5).
Urbanisation pathway showing the stages a country will pass through as economic development occurs

Examiner Tips and Tricks

Don't confuse urbanisation level with urban growth. Developed countries such as the UK, Germany, USA, etc. have high levels of urbanisation but low growth rates. Their towns and cities are already in place. But emerging and developing countries such as China, India, and Nigeria have low levels of urbanisation but high growth rates; they are building their cities.

Push and pull factors of rural–urban migration

  • Push factors are the reasons people leave rural areas

  • These include:

    • Poverty: lack of jobs and low wages in rural areas

    • Poor living conditions: limited access to services like healthcare, education, and clean water

    • Natural disasters: droughts, floods, or other environmental challenges that make farming difficult

  • Pull factors are the attractions of urban areas that draw people to move there

  • These include:

    • Job opportunities: cities often offer more and better-paying jobs, especially in industries, services, and trade

    • Improved living conditions: access to better healthcare, education, and housing in cities

    • Social and cultural opportunities: cities provide more entertainment, cultural events, and lifestyle choices

Awaiting image: Push and pull factors

Image caption: Push and pull factors of rural–urban migration

Forced and voluntary migration

  • Voluntary migration:

    • When people choose to move to cities for better opportunities or living conditions

  • Forced migration:

    • When people are pushed into cities due to circumstances like war, famine, or natural disasters

    • For example, refugees fleeing conflict in Syria and moving to urban areas in nearby countries such as Turkey and Jordan

  • Deurbanisation refers to the reverse process where people move out of cities and back to rural or suburban areas

  • This can happen due to:

    • Overcrowding: cities becoming too congested, leading to higher costs of living and poorer living conditions

    • Improved rural opportunities: development in rural areas offering better services, jobs, and living conditions

    • Technological changes: with the rise of remote working, people can live in rural areas while working for urban companies

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Alistair Marjot

Author: Alistair Marjot

Expertise: Biology & Environmental Systems and Societies

Alistair graduated from Oxford University with a degree in Biological Sciences. He has taught GCSE/IGCSE Biology, as well as Biology and Environmental Systems & Societies for the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. While teaching in Oxford, Alistair completed his MA Education as Head of Department for Environmental Systems & Societies. Alistair has continued to pursue his interests in ecology and environmental science, recently gaining an MSc in Wildlife Biology & Conservation with Edinburgh Napier University.

Bridgette Barrett

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After graduating with a degree in Geography, Bridgette completed a PGCE over 25 years ago. She later gained an MA Learning, Technology and Education from the University of Nottingham focussing on online learning. At a time when the study of geography has never been more important, Bridgette is passionate about creating content which supports students in achieving their potential in geography and builds their confidence.