Global Pattern of Urbanisation (OCR GCSE Geography B)
Revision Note
Written by: Jacque Cartwright
Reviewed by: Bridgette Barrett
Urban Growth
Urbanisation is:
The process by which an increasing percentage of a country's population live in towns and cities
More people now live in towns and cities than in rural areas
Urbanisation varies across the globe
Advanced countries (ACs) show the highest levels of urbanisation, with the lowest levels being in Africa and SE Asia
However, urbanisation growth rate differs between and within countries globally
Table of Global Urban Trends
| Advanced | Emerging | Developing |
|---|---|---|---|
Rate of urban growth: | Slow or declining | Rapid | Fastest rates of urbanisation |
Examples: | UK, Germany, Japan, and America | India, Russia, Brazil and China | Sub-Saharan countries such as Rwanda and Ethiopia and Asia such as Vietnam, Bangladesh and the Philippines |
Causes: | Because the industrial revolution 'pulled' the population into developing urban areas at that time Nowadays, many people in ACs are being 'pushed' away from overcrowded cities to rural settlements ACs 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 increase in population |
ACs have lower rates of urbanisation as towns and cities already exist
In 1900 there were just 2 'millionaire'' cities (London and Paris), by 2018 this had grown to 512
Due to modern transport and communication, urban areas are sprawling into rural regions to create conurbations, further adding to the growth of urban areas
World Cities & Megacities
As the growth of cities continues, the term 'megacity' is used to describe cities with more than 10 million people
In 1970 there were only 4
By 2000 there were 15
2007 saw more people living in an urban environment than a rural one
In 2018 that rose to 33
Largest growth of megacities is seen in Asia - Tokyo has close to 37.3 million people
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
Reasons for growth
Four main factors:
Economic development
Encourages population growth, which leads to the desirability of goods and services
All megacities act as service centres within the formal economic sector
However, megacities in LEDCs are also important manufacturing centres (Mumbai in India or Dhaka in Bangladesh), with thousands working in the informal economy
Population growth
Young people are drawn to live in megacities with their vibrancy, fast pace and opportunities
There is also ‘internal growth’ where people who have moved into the cities have children, so sustaining population growth (Mexico City, Mumbai, Pearl River Delta in China)
Economies of scale
It is cheaper to provide goods and services in one place than spread across several cities
Financial savings for local governments in respect of infrastructure provision
Communication and transport are centralised, making savings in time and money
Multiplier effect
As a city prospers, it acts as a beacon to people and businesses
This encourages inward investment
This leads to yet more development and growth
Generating further need for skills and labour and job growth
This cycle multiplies the positive effects, and growth continues (San Francisco and the digital development)
World cities
Megacities have a powerful attraction for people and businesses
They are influential cores with large peripheries
World or global cities can be any size but exert particular influences around the globe
They are considered prestigious, with status and power
They are critical hubs in the global economy
The three top (alpha) world cities are London, New York, and Tokyo
These are the financial centres of the world, each with smaller networks of world cities feeding into them
There are only four world cities in the southern hemisphere:
Sydney
Rio de Janeiro
Sao Paulo
Buenos Aires
Urban primacy
Some countries have what is called urban primacy and they exert dominance over the rest of the country
They are usually cities with the largest concentration of urban population
e.g. London is larger than Greater Manchester, Mexico City is larger than Guadalajara, Lagos is larger than Kano
These primate cities do not have to be the country's capital
The main issue with urban primacy, is that all economic growth is concentrated in the city to the cost of the city's rural fringe
Political power also becomes focused in the city and decision-making that affects the whole country takes place in the primate city
The decisions tend to be to the benefit of the primate city rather than the country's needs
Primate cities are a bigger draw for migrants
Small cities miss out on new business and investments
Rapid primate growth concentrates urban problems such as pollution, poverty, crime and traffic congestion
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 [1]
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