Changing Towns and Cities » Rapid Urban Growth in LICs

What you'll learn this session

Study time: 30 minutes

Causes of rapid urbanisation in Low Income Countries (LICs)
Challenges faced by cities experiencing rapid urban growth
Informal settlements and their characteristics
Case studies of rapidly growing cities in LICs
Strategies to manage urban growth sustainably

Rapid Urban Growth in Low Income Countries

Cities in Low Income Countries (LICs) are growing at an incredible rate. Many are doubling in size every 15-20 years! This rapid urban growth is changing landscapes, communities and creating both opportunities and challenges for millions of people.

Key Definitions:

Urbanisation: The increase in the proportion of people living in towns and cities.
Rural-urban migration: The movement of people from rural areas to urban areas.
Natural increase: The difference between birth rates and death rates in a population.
Informal settlements: Areas where houses have been built on land that the occupants have no legal claim to (also called slums or squatter settlements).

🏠 Urban Growth Patterns

While cities in High Income Countries (HICs) grew gradually over 100+ years, cities in LICs are experiencing explosive growth in just decades. For example, Lagos in Nigeria has grown from 300,000 people in 1950 to over 15 million today!

🗺 Global Urban Shift

In 2007, for the first time in human history, more people lived in urban areas than rural areas worldwide. By 2050, nearly 70% of the world's population will live in cities, with most growth happening in LICs in Africa and Asia.

Why Are Cities in LICs Growing So Rapidly?

There are two main factors driving rapid urban growth in LICs: rural-urban migration and natural increase.

🚶 Rural-Urban Migration

Push factors (driving people away from rural areas):

Limited job opportunities in farming
Low pay and seasonal work
Poor access to education and healthcare
Natural disasters and climate change impacts
Land shortages as populations grow

🎢 Rural-Urban Migration

Pull factors (attracting people to cities):

More job opportunities (formal and informal)
Higher wages and regular income
Better schools and hospitals
Improved services (electricity, water)
More entertainment options

Natural Increase in Urban Areas

Natural increase (births minus deaths) is actually the biggest factor in urban growth in many LICs. This happens because:

Birth rates remain relatively high in LIC cities
Death rates have fallen due to improved healthcare
Young people make up a large proportion of migrants to cities

In some rapidly growing cities, natural increase accounts for up to 60% of population growth!

Challenges of Rapid Urban Growth

When cities grow too quickly, governments struggle to provide basic services and infrastructure. This creates numerous challenges:

🏡 Housing

Not enough affordable housing leads to informal settlements where people build their own homes using whatever materials they can find.

🚰 Services

Limited access to clean water, sanitation, electricity and waste collection creates health hazards and poor living conditions.

🚗 Transport

Inadequate roads and public transport cause severe congestion, long commutes and air pollution.

🏥 Jobs

Not enough formal jobs leads to high unemployment and growth of informal work with low pay and no security.

🏫 Education

Overcrowded schools or lack of schools means many children miss out on quality education.

🆖 Environment

Pollution, lack of green spaces and building on hazardous land like steep slopes or flood plains.

Informal Settlements

One of the most visible signs of rapid urban growth is the development of informal settlements. These areas go by different names around the world:

Favelas in Brazil
Bustees in India
Kampungs in Indonesia
Bidonvilles in French-speaking Africa

Characteristics of Informal Settlements

While every informal settlement is unique, they often share these features:

Self-built housing using salvaged materials like corrugated iron, plastic sheets and wood
High density with homes packed closely together
Lack of planning with narrow, winding streets
Limited services like water, electricity and sewage
Insecure land tenure - residents don't own the land and risk eviction
Hazardous locations like steep hillsides, floodplains, or near industrial areas
Strong communities with social networks that help residents survive

Case Study Focus: Dharavi, Mumbai, India

Dharavi is one of Asia's largest informal settlements, home to approximately 1 million people in just 2.1 square kilometres. That's about 76 times more crowded than London!

Key facts:

Located in the heart of Mumbai, India's financial capital
Started in the 1880s when factories pushed poor workers to the city's edge
Now surrounded by expensive real estate as the city expanded
Contains thriving businesses with an estimated annual output of $1 billion
Has recycling, pottery, textile and leather industries
Most homes double as workplaces
Faces challenges: limited toilets (1 per 1,440 people), open sewers and water available only 2 hours per day

Despite these challenges, Dharavi has a strong sense of community and entrepreneurship. Many residents have gradually improved their homes over time, adding second floors or concrete walls.

Managing Rapid Urban Growth

Governments and organisations are trying different approaches to manage rapid urban growth and improve conditions in cities:

🛠 Upgrading Informal Settlements

Instead of demolishing informal settlements, some cities are improving them by:

Installing water pipes and electricity
Building proper roads and drainage
Providing community toilets and waste collection
Giving residents legal rights to their land
Supporting community-led improvements

This approach is often cheaper and more successful than forcing people to relocate.

🏗 Self-help Schemes

These schemes provide basic materials and support while residents contribute their labour:

Site and service schemes provide a plot with basic utilities
Residents build their own homes gradually
Microfinance loans help fund improvements
Community organisations coordinate efforts
Skills training helps residents find better jobs

Planning for Sustainable Urban Growth

Long-term solutions require better planning and investment:

Affordable housing programmes to prevent new informal settlements
Improved public transport to connect housing with jobs
Investment in smaller cities to reduce pressure on the largest cities
Rural development to reduce the push factors causing migration
Green infrastructure like parks and sustainable drainage systems

Case Study Focus: Medellín, Colombia

Once known as the world's most dangerous city, Medellín has transformed through innovative urban planning that focuses on connecting informal settlements to the city centre.

Key initiatives:

Cable cars connect hillside communities to the metro system
Outdoor escalators help residents navigate steep hillsides
Library parks provide education and community spaces
Participatory budgeting lets communities decide on local improvements
Integrated urban projects combine physical improvements with social programmes

These changes have reduced crime, improved quality of life and created a sense of inclusion for residents of formerly marginalised areas.

Conclusion: The Future of Cities in LICs

Rapid urban growth in LICs presents both enormous challenges and opportunities. With thoughtful planning, community involvement and adequate investment, growing cities can become engines of economic growth and improved quality of life. The decisions made today about how to manage urban growth will shape these cities for generations to come.

💡 Key Takeaways

Rapid urban growth in LICs is driven by both rural-urban migration and natural increase
Informal settlements develop when formal housing can't keep up with population growth
Despite challenges, informal settlements often have strong communities and economic activity
Upgrading existing settlements is often more effective than relocation
Successful urban management requires both top-down planning and bottom-up community involvement

🧠 Test Your Knowledge!