Urbanisation as a Global Process (Edexcel GCSE Geography A)
Revision Note
Written by: Jacque Cartwright
Reviewed by: Bridgette Barrett
Trends in Urbanisation
According to the World Bank, 56% (4.4 billion) of the world’s population now live in towns and cities because of urbanisation
Urbanisation varies across the globe
In the last 50 years, the global population has doubled
In urban areas, that number has more than trebled
Within the last 10 years, more people live in towns and cities than in rural areas
Currently, Africa and Southeast Asia are experiencing the greatest growth in urbanisation
The trend shows that more people now live in towns and cities than in rural areas
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.
Table of Global Urban Trends
| Developed | Emerging | Developing |
|---|---|---|---|
Rate of Urban Growth | Slow or declining | Rapid | The fastest rates of urbanisation |
Examples of Countries | UK, Germany, Japan, and America | India, Russia, Brazil and China | Sub-Saharan countries such as Ghana, Rwanda and Ethiopia, and Asia such as Vietnam, Bangladesh and the Philippines |
Trend | The industrial revolution 'pulled' the population into developing urban areas at that time Nowadays, many people in HICs are being 'pushed' away from overcrowded cities to rural settlements HICs tend to have good transport and communication networks; therefore, people can live in rural areas and commute to cities or work from home | Key trade hub cities are seeing greater growth than others due to investment from the government and TNCs Cities such as Lagos in Nigeria, Shanghai in China, Mumbai in India, Sao Paulo in Brazil and St Petersburg in Russia—none of these are the country's capital Trade such as finance, electronics and manufactured goods
| Asia is expected to contribute towards 60% of global growth by 2030 Most new economic development is concentrated in the big cities through investment in low-cost manufacturing of textiles, garments and shoes Push-pull factors lead to high rates of rural-to-urban migration Cities are experiencing higher levels of natural population growth |
Graph showing global urbanisation over 50 years. Asia and Africa show the greatest growth in urbanisation
Causes of Urbanisation
The main causes and rates of urbanisation are:
Population growth through:
Natural increase occurs when the birth rate is higher than the death rate
Urban areas usually have better and easier access to healthcare facilities
Rural-urban migration: many people are 'pulled' to the possibility of better pay and jobs
Economic decline
This affects the rate of urbanisation
Downward investment means people will move out of an urban area to elsewhere in search of better opportunities
Economic development
Economic growth drives urbanisation
The faster the growth of secondary and tertiary employment sectors, the faster the growth of urbanisation
High rates of urbanisation occur in developing countries because:
Most new economic development is concentrated in the big cities
Push-pull factors lead to high rates of rural-to-urban migration
Cities are experiencing higher levels of natural increase in population
Counter urbanisation
Where people move from an urban area into the surrounding rural region
Natural increase
Accounts for roughly 60% of urban population growth
Due to decreased death rates and higher birth rates
Examiner Tips and Tricks
Natural increase does not include inward migration of people to a place, just the number of births vs. the number of deaths. E.g. On one street, there were 5 new migrants, 10 births, and 2 deaths. The natural increase is 8 people because the migrants chose to move there. If they then had children, then those children would be included in the natural increase rate.
Contrasting urbanisation
Developed countries have lower rates of urbanisation as towns and cities already exist
In 1950, there were 83 'millionaire''cities
By 2018, this had grown to 512
The term 'megacity' is used to describe cities with more than 10 million people
The number of megacities has increased in the last 50 years, with many now being located in emerging and developing countries
In 1950, there were only two megacities in the world: New York and Tokyo
In 2014, there were 28 megacities worldwide: 16 in Asia, 4 in South America, 3 each in Africa and Europe, and 2 in North America
By 2050, it is thought that more than two-thirds (7 billion) of the world population will live in urban areas
This scaling up of the urban environment is the fastest in human history
Effects of urbanisation
Investments and opportunities increase
There is increased waste production as the city grows
Pollution levels increase
The gap between the rich and poor widens
In developing countries, illegal, unplanned squatter settlements usually develops
Congestion on poorly managed or planned road systems
Worked Example
Which term is best defined by the phrase ‘the increasing percentage of the population living in towns and cities'?
(1 mark)
A | Urban regeneration |
B | Urban sprawl |
C | Migration |
D | Urbanisation |
Answer:
D: urbanisation
The others are incorrect because
A: urban regeneration is the rebuilding of urban areas
B: urban sprawl is the outward spread of urban areas
C: migration is the movement of people
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