What is Urbanisation?

Summary

The video discusses the global trend of urbanisation, where the proportion of people living in urban areas has overtaken those in rural areas for the first time in history. It highlights the varying urbanisation rates across different continents, particularly the contrast between high-income and low-income countries. Key factors driving this change include rural-urban migration due to push and pull factors, and natural increase in urban areas. The emergence of megacities with populations over 10 million is also explored, with a focus on their distribution, particularly in Asia, and the anticipation of future megacity growth.

Takeaways

• 😀 The global urban population has now overtaken the rural population for the first time in history.
• 😀 Urbanization refers to the growing proportion of people living in towns and cities, not necessarily the total population increase.
• 😀 There are varying levels of urbanization across different continents and countries, with higher rates in high-income countries.
• 😀 In high-income countries, over 60% of the population lives in cities, while in some low-income countries, it can be as low as 20%.
• 😀 The trend of urbanization is expected to continue, especially in low-income countries, while it may slow in high-income countries.
• 😀 The rate of urbanization is influenced by two main factors: migration and natural increase.
• 😀 Rural-urban migration is driven by push factors (e.g., lack of jobs in the countryside) and pull factors (e.g., higher standard of living in cities).
• 😀 Natural increase in urban areas is supported by better medical care, lower death rates, and a higher number of young adults who may have children.
• 😀 Megacities, defined as cities with populations over 10 million, are becoming more prevalent, especially in Asia.
• 😀 The distribution of megacities is concentrated in Asia, but the specific locations may vary depending on how city boundaries are determined.
• 😀 Future megacities are expected to emerge in regions with rapid urbanization, particularly in low-income countries.

Q & A

What is urbanisation and how is it defined?

Urbanisation is the growing proportion of people living in towns and cities. It refers to the increase in the percentage of the total population living in urban areas, rather than in rural areas.

How does urbanisation differ across different parts of the world?

Urbanisation is not uniform across the globe. High Income Countries typically have over 60% of their population living in cities, while Low Income Countries, especially in Africa and Asia, have much lower urban populations, often around 20%, though the average for Africa and Asia is over 40% and nearly 50% respectively.

What are the two main factors affecting the rate of urbanisation?

The two main factors affecting urbanisation are migration and natural increase. Migration refers to the movement of people from rural to urban areas, while natural increase is the growth in the urban population due to lower death rates and higher birth rates in cities.

What is rural-urban migration, and what are its main causes?

Rural-urban migration is the movement of people from the countryside to towns and cities. It is driven by push factors, such as lack of job opportunities in rural areas, and pull factors, such as the potential for a higher standard of living in cities.

Can you give an example of a push factor and a pull factor related to rural-urban migration?

A push factor could be the lack of farming jobs due to mechanisation in the countryside, while a pull factor could be the higher standard of living that is often available in cities.

What role does natural increase play in urbanisation?

Natural increase contributes to urbanisation as cities tend to have lower death rates and better medical care. Additionally, cities attract younger populations who may choose to have children, further increasing the urban population.

What are megacities, and what criteria define them?

Megacities are cities with populations of over 10 million people. These cities are significant due to their size and impact on global trends.

What is the distribution of megacities worldwide?

Megacities are concentrated in Asia, which has a high number of these large cities. The distribution is affected by factors such as urbanisation trends, migration, and population growth patterns.

How are the locations of megacities determined, and why might their list change over time?

The locations of megacities are determined by their population size exceeding 10 million people. The list of megacities may change over time due to varying methods of defining city boundaries and population growth in different regions.

Where are future megacities likely to develop, according to urbanisation trends?

Future megacities are likely to develop in Low Income Countries, particularly in Africa and Asia, as these regions are experiencing rapid urbanisation and population growth.