Urbanisation Characteristics and causes of urbanisation
Urbanisation Characteristics and causes of
urbanisation
Urbanisation
Definition
“Urbanisation is a process of urban growth which leads to a greater proportion of people being concentrated into towns and cities”
Urbanisation• In 2008 – for the first time in history over 50% of the world’s population
lived in towns and cities.• Urbanisation – results in an increasing proportion of city dwellers in
contrast to those in the countryside• Urbanisation is a worldwide process – it began at different times in
different parts of the world and occurred at contrasting paces.
Causes of urbanisation
1. Rural to urban migration2. Natural Increase
Rural – urban migration• Rural to urban migration – result of push and pull factors
Push and pull factors
Push factors Pull factors
Difficult/harsh climate – eg. droughts Chance of a better life
Struggle to provide food for family Better housing and amenities
Very low income Chance of good jobs – higher wages
Only able to own small plots of land Children able to go to school
Can’t afford to fertilizers to increase yields Better medical/health care
Natural increase
• The people that migrate into towns and cities tend to be young resulting in high levels of natural increase
• high % of young adults = high levels of births• Falling death rates due to improved medical care means more
babies are born than people dying, further increasing the urban population
% urban population
THE WORLDS
LARGEST CITIES
TASK 1
• What are the 10 most populated cities in the World (bullet points).
TASK 2
• Devise your own key and divide the cities on the work sheet into:
• North America• South America• Europe• Africa• Asia
NUMBER 10
SHANGHAI 12.7
NUMBER 9
Jakarta 13.2
NUMBER 8
Buenos Aires 13.3
NUMBER 7
Kolkata 14.3
NUMBER 6
DELHI 15.3
NUMBER 5
Mumbai 18.0
NUMBER 4
NEW YORK 18.1
NUMBER 3
SAO PAULO 18.3
NUMBER 2
MEXICO CITY 19.0
NUMBER 1
NUMBER 1
TOKYO 35.3
Exam-Style Questions......• Answer the following questions in your exercise books:
1. Define the term “Urbanisation” . (1 )2. Suggest reasons for rural-urban migration in LEDC’s (2)3. other than rural-urban migration, give two further causes of
urbanisation. (2)4. Draw a labelled “Push & Pull” diagram for a typical urban area. (4)5. Describe & Explain the possible environmental effects of Urban
Sprawl. (6)
If you are unsure on any of the key terms mentioned, such as “Urban Sprawl”, head over to www.Geographybase.co.uk and Ask a
Geographer!
Total for Questions= (15 Marks)