Trends in Urbanisation (Edexcel IGCSE Geography)

Growth of urbanisation over time & space

• Urbanisation is the process by which an increasing percentage of a country's population comes to live in towns and cities

• Urban settlements differ from rural ones in terms of:

  • Way of life: faster-paced

  • Size: larger

  • Density of buildings and people: compact and high

  • Economy and employment: finance, service, and manufacturing 

Levels of development and urbanisation

• Urbanisation varies across the globe and between countries at different levels of development

• Developed countries show the highest levels of urbanisation

• The lowest levels of urbanisation are in mainly in developing countries within Africa and Southeast Asia

• Globally more people now live in towns and cities than in rural areas

  • According to the UN 55% of the world's population lives in urban areas

  • This is predicted to increase to 68% by 2050

• The world population doubled between 1950 and 2015, but the urban population more than trebled

Emerging countries and urbanisation

• In emerging countries this is mainly the result of:

  • The decline of industry in developed countries

  • Industries moved overseas to emerging countries (cheaper workforce, incentives, tax breaks, etc)

  • This led to industrial growth in emerging countries

  • The industries 'pulled' people from rural regions to urban areas with the hope of a better life and employment

Developing countries and 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

Developed countries and urbanisation

• Rates of urbanisation are lower in developed countries as a high percentage of the population already live in towns and cities

• In some developed countries rates of urbanisation may start to decrease as counter-urbanisation occurs

Millionaire and megacities

• In 1900, there were just 2 'millionaire'' cities (London and Paris), by 2018 this had grown to 512

• 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

  • In 2018, that rose to 33, with the Greater Tokyo metropolitan area having close to 37.3 million people

• Due to modern transport and communication, urban areas are spreading into rural regions in what is termed rural dilution

Causes of rapid urban growth

• Natural increase

  • Accounts for roughly 60% of urban population growth

  • Due to decreased death rates and higher birth rates

• Urban pull factors

  • Higher wages

  • Pace and excitement

  • Improved education and healthcare

  • Better job opportunities

  • Public utilities: water, gas, electricity, etc.

  • Government support

• Rural-urban migration

  • Accounts for 40% of urban growth

  • Due to rural push factors along with urban pull factors

• Rural push factors

  • Limited healthcare and education

  • Mechanisation of farming

  • Lack of opportunities

  • Lack of government support or investment 

  • Harsh and monotonous lifestyle 

Urbanisation pathway

• The differences between developed and developing countries can be shown as a pathway over time 

• Countries become more urban as they develop economically

• As they move through the stages, the pace begins to slow and begins to flatten out or decline as counter-urbanisation gains speed

Urban process timeline

• Urban settlements first appear as a result of agglomeration:

  • People gather together in one area to sell goods and live

  • Small trading posts and villages begin to develop

• As towns grow, they expand outwards through a process known as suburbanisation:

  • This adds to the built-up area, but the building densities are generally lower than in the older parts of the town

  • The new suburbs are made up of mostly houses but also include places of employment and services

• Urban settlements continue to prosper and grow, and people move out of the town or city altogether and commute to work:

  • These are called dormitory settlements because many residents only sleep there. 

  • They continue to have links with the town or city they have left

  • They still make use of urban services, shops, education, and healthcare

Counter-urbanisation

• This is the movement of people from an urban area into the surrounding rural region

• Causes of counter-urbanisation include:

  • mobility and improved accessibility due to:

    • higher personal car ownership

    • increase in public transport

    • road development

  • increased wealth

    • Making housing and travel more affordable

  • agricultural decline (mechanisation and merger of farms)

    • More land becomes available for housing and agricultural workers leave the area

  • green belt

    • People need to go further out to get the rural life they are looking for

  • second homes and early retirement

    • Increases the movement of people from the city to the countryside

Urban regeneration and re-imagining

• Urban regeneration and urban re-imaging are different

Urban regeneration

• Urban regeneration is the investment of capital in the revival of old urban areas by either improving what is there or clearing it away and rebuilding

• The process occurs in the following stages:

  • Over time, older parts of urban areas begin to suffer a decline

  • Factories move elsewhere, resulting in job loss

  • Quality of life and housing become poorer, people move away

  • Urban blight sets in

  • The area needs to be 'brought back to life' leading to urban regeneration

Urban re-imaging

• Urban re-imaging is changing the image and reputation of an urban area and the way people view it

• The process involves:

  • Focusing on a new identity or function

  • Changing the quality and appearance of the built-up area

  • It is a good opportunity for brownfield site development

• London Docklands was completely redeveloped and regenerated

  • The area had:

    • new industries

    • more executive services

    • homes

    • entertainment, and leisure

• Together, urban regeneration and urban re-imaging = rebranding