Urbanisation

Trends and distribution

Learning outcomes

What is urbanisation?

What are the current trends in LEDCs and

MEDCs

What is Counter-urbanisation?

What is Suburbanisation?

Urbanisation

Urbanisation is defined as the process by

which an increasing proportion of the total

population, usually that of a country, live in

towns or cities.

Urban Growth

Rapid urbanisation occurred twice in time and space

In MEDC this happened during the industrial revolution. It was a consequence of economic development. People moved from the rural areas to the town to be close to their place of work

In LEDC this happened since the 1950s. This has increase dramatically because of out- migration from rural areas and a high rate of natural increase

Current status

In 1998 the Un estimated that 75% of

people in MEDCs lived in urban areas

40% of people in LEDCs lived in urban

areas

Future predictions estimate by 2020, 77%

MEDCs and 53% LEDCs

Trends in the growth of Urban

areas

The fastest growing cites are in Latin America and in the Japan and Korea region

Most of the fastest growing cities are located in LEDCs

Although there are 70 Chinese cities with a population of over 1 million these have not grown as rapidly due to family planning policies

Continued

Cities in Western Europe and North

America are showing a decrease in overall

size (counter-urbanisation)

Causes of urbanisation- LEDCs

The increase is caused by out-migration and

natural increase of the population

In LEDCs the current trend is movement to

the urban area

Why? Push Factors and Pull factors

Push factors from the rural area

Pressure on the land

Overgrazing

Famine

Droughts

Natural disasters

Unemployment

Lack of services, education

Poor physical environment

Pull to the Urban area

Better paid jobs

Better quality housing

More services

More reliable food supply

Problems

Overpopulation in urban areas has led to

OVER-URBANISATION- when people

move to large cities but the city is unable

to cope economically, i.e. can’t provide

enough jobs, housing or services

Urbanisation in MEDCs

People moved from rural areas to urban

areas during the industrial revolution

However urbanisation has slowed down in

MEDCs

The trend now is COUNTER-

URBANISATION- the movement from

urban areas to rural

Counter-urbanisation- Why?

Push factors from the city/town:

Pollution

High crime rates

Expensive cost of living

Overcrowding

Traffic congestion

Pull factors to rural areas

More space for building

Cheaper land

Cheaper housing

Better quality housing

Healthy atmosphere

Transport systems greatly improved to

enable commuting

Suburbanisation

This is the process of people moving to the edge of the city.

3 factors encourage this:

Permissive factors- reasons which make it possible e.g. transport links improved

Encouraging factors- reasons that encouraged people to leave (overcrowded, better quality of housing in the suburbs)

Structural factors- concerned with industry. Industry moved out of the city, so to does people.