Stephen Rowedder 11WP

Urbanisation
What is Urbanisation?
Urbanisation is the increase in the proportion of people living in towns and cities.

What causes urbanisation?

Urbanisation occurs because people move from rural areas (countryside) to urban areas
(towns and cities). This usually occurs when a country is still developing.

Levels of urbanisation in 1950 and 1990:

1950 1990
World 30% 51%
MEDC’s 53% 74%
LEDC’s 17% 34%

Prior to 1950 the majority of urbanisation occurred in MEDCs (more economically developed
countries). Rapid urbanisation took place during the period of industrialisation that took
place in Europe and North America in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Many
people moved from rural to urban areas to get jobs in the rapidly expanding industries in
many large towns and cities. Since 1950 urbanisation has slowed in most MEDCs, and now
some of the biggest cities are losing population as people move away from the city to rural
environments. This is known as counter-urbanisation. You can read more about this process
here.

Since 1950 the most rapid growth in urbanisation has occurred in LEDCs (Less Economically
Developed Countries) in South America, Africa and Asia. Between 1950 and 1990 the urban
population living in LEDCs doubled. In developed countries the increase was less than half.

The three main causes of urbanisation in LEDCs since 1950 are:

1. Rural to urban migration is happening on a massive scale due to population pressure and
lack of resources in rural areas. These are 'push' factors.
2. People living in rural areas are 'pulled' to the city. Often they believe that the standard of
living in urban areas will be much better than in rural areas. They are usually wrong. People
also hope for well paid jobs, the greater opportunities to find casual or 'informal' work,
better health care and education.
3. Natural increase caused by a decrease in death rates while birth rates remain high.
Stephen Rowedder 11WP

The UN predicts that by 2030 60% of the world's population will live in urban environments.

Million Cities:

A million city is a city with one million (or more) inhabitants. These are the largest cities on
the planet:

1. Tokyo (Japan) 27.2 million

2. Seoul (South Korea) 20.5 million
3. Mexico City (Mexico), 20.45 million
4. New York (USA) 19.75 million
5. Mumbai, India, 19.2 million

Urban Problems in MEDCs:

Urban areas in MEDCs have experienced a range of problems in recent years. These include:

• Traffic problems. Car ownership and commuting means an increase in congestion and
pollution.

• Decline in industry. As older manufacturing industries have closed they have left
empty, derelict buildings towards the centre of the city. Modern industries need more
space so tend to locate on the edge of the city.

• High unemployment in inner city areas (where the old industries were once located)
leads to social problems.

• Changes in shopping have also caused problems. City centre locations are no longer
favoured. There has been a recent growth in out of town shopping centres, which has
led to the decline of many CBDs (central business districts).