Urbanization and Urban Growth
Population distribution: Urbanization and Urban growth
An urban area is defined as a town or city plus its adjacent suburban fringes with a population of between10,000-50,000. A rural area usually is defined as an area with a population of less than 2,500 people.
Urbanization is the process in which people increasingly move from rural areas to densely populated cities; also involves the transformation of rural areas into urban areas. A country’s degree of urbanization is the percentage of its population living in an urban area.
Urban growth is the rate of increase of urban populations. Urban areas grow in two ways: by natural increase (more births than deaths) and by immigration (mostly from rural areas).
Migration is influenced by ‘push factor’ and ‘pull factor’. People can be pushed from rural areas into urban areas by factors such as poverty, lack of land to grow food, declining agricultural jobs, famine, and war.
Rural people are pulled to urban areas in search of jobs, food, housing, health care, a better life, entertainment, and freedom from religious, racial, and political conflicts. Developing countries-fueled by government politics distribute most income and social services to urban dwellers.
Trends Important in Understanding the problems and Challenges of Urban Growth
Several trends are important in understanding the problems and challenges of urban growth.
First, the proportion of the global population living in urban areas increased from 2% to 47%. According to UN projections, by 2050 about 63% of the world’s people will be living in urban areas, with 90% of this urban growth occurring in developing countries.
Second, the number of large cities is mushrooming. In 1900, only 19 cities had a million or more people, and more than 95% of humanity lived in rural communities. In 2003, more than 400 cities had a million or more people (projected to increase to 564 by 2015). The world’s fiver largest cities are 1) Tokyo, Japan, 2) Mexico city, Mexico,
An urban area is defined as a town or city plus its adjacent suburban fringes with a population of between10,000-50,000. A rural area usually is defined as an area with a population of less than 2,500 people.
Urbanization is the process in which people increasingly move from rural areas to densely populated cities; also involves the transformation of rural areas into urban areas. A country’s degree of urbanization is the percentage of its population living in an urban area.
Urban growth is the rate of increase of urban populations. Urban areas grow in two ways: by natural increase (more births than deaths) and by immigration (mostly from rural areas).
Migration is influenced by ‘push factor’ and ‘pull factor’. People can be pushed from rural areas into urban areas by factors such as poverty, lack of land to grow food, declining agricultural jobs, famine, and war.
Rural people are pulled to urban areas in search of jobs, food, housing, health care, a better life, entertainment, and freedom from religious, racial, and political conflicts. Developing countries-fueled by government politics distribute most income and social services to urban dwellers.
Trends Important in Understanding the problems and Challenges of Urban Growth
Several trends are important in understanding the problems and challenges of urban growth.
First, the proportion of the global population living in urban areas increased from 2% to 47%. According to UN projections, by 2050 about 63% of the world’s people will be living in urban areas, with 90% of this urban growth occurring in developing countries.
Second, the number of large cities is mushrooming. In 1900, only 19 cities had a million or more people, and more than 95% of humanity lived in rural communities. In 2003, more than 400 cities had a million or more people (projected to increase to 564 by 2015). The world’s fiver largest cities are 1) Tokyo, Japan, 2) Mexico city, Mexico,