Settlement » Urban growth and urbanization processes

What you'll learn this session

Study time: 30 minutes

The processes of urban growth and urbanisation
Causes of rapid urbanisation in different parts of the world
Push and pull factors influencing rural-urban migration
Challenges and opportunities of urban growth
Case studies of urbanisation in HICs and LICs
Sustainable urban development approaches

Understanding Urban Growth and Urbanisation

Cities around the world are growing at an incredible pace. In 1950, only 30% of the world's population lived in urban areas. Today, it's over 55% and by 2050, it's expected to reach 68%. But what exactly is driving this massive shift in where people live?

Key Definitions:

Urbanisation: The increasing proportion of people living in towns and cities.
Urban growth: The increase in the absolute size or population of urban areas.
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.
Megacity: A city with a population of over 10 million people.

📈 Global Urbanisation Trends

Urbanisation is happening at different rates around the world:

HICs (High Income Countries): Already highly urbanised (75-85%)
LICs/NEEs (Low Income/Newly Emerging Economies): Rapid urbanisation happening now
Africa and Asia: Expected to account for 90% of urban growth by 2050

🕑 Historical Perspective

Urbanisation has accelerated dramatically:

1800: Only 3% of the world's population lived in urban areas
1950: 30% lived in urban areas
2020: Over 55% lived in urban areas
2050 (projected): 68% will live in urban areas

Causes of Urbanisation

Urbanisation is driven by two main processes: rural-urban migration and natural population increase within cities. The balance between these factors varies between regions and development stages.

🛫 Push Factors

Reasons why people leave rural areas:

Limited job opportunities in farming and traditional industries
Mechanisation of agriculture reducing need for farm workers
Land shortages due to population growth or land ownership patterns
Climate change and environmental degradation affecting farming
Conflict and insecurity in rural regions
Limited access to education and healthcare in rural areas

🛬 Pull Factors

Reasons why people are attracted to urban areas:

More diverse job opportunities in manufacturing and services
Higher wages compared to rural employment
Better education and healthcare facilities
Improved infrastructure (electricity, water, internet)
Cultural and recreational opportunities
Family connections with people already in cities

Urbanisation in Different Contexts

The process of urbanisation varies significantly between HICs and LICs, reflecting different stages of economic development and historical contexts.

🏢 Urbanisation in HICs

In developed countries like the UK, USA and Japan:

Urbanisation largely occurred during the Industrial Revolution (19th century)
Driven initially by manufacturing jobs
More gradual process allowing for planned urban development
Now experiencing counter-urbanisation in some areas
Focus on urban regeneration and sustainable development

🏗 Urbanisation in LICs/NEEs

In developing countries like Nigeria, India and Brazil:

Rapid, recent urbanisation (post-1950s)
Often outpaces infrastructure development
Higher rates of informal employment
Development of informal settlements/slums
Significant challenges with service provision
Megacities emerging rapidly

Case Study Focus: Lagos, Nigeria

Lagos exemplifies rapid urbanisation in an LIC context:

Population grew from 300,000 in 1950 to over 14 million today
Projected to become the world's largest city by 2100
Over 60% of residents live in informal settlements
Challenges include traffic congestion, flooding, waste management and housing shortages
Economic opportunities in both formal and informal sectors attract migrants
Makoko floating slum houses over 100,000 people on stilts over Lagos Lagoon

Challenges of Rapid Urban Growth

While urbanisation creates opportunities, it also presents significant challenges, particularly when growth outpaces planning and infrastructure development.

🏠 Housing

Housing shortages lead to:

Informal settlements/slums
Overcrowding
High rent costs
Land tenure insecurity

🚲 Infrastructure

Infrastructure challenges include:

Traffic congestion
Inadequate public transport
Limited water supply
Poor sanitation systems

♨ Environment

Environmental issues include:

Air and water pollution
Waste management problems
Urban heat island effect
Loss of green space

Opportunities from Urbanisation

Despite the challenges, urbanisation also creates significant opportunities for development and improved quality of life.

💰 Economic

Economic benefits include:

Higher productivity
More diverse job markets
Innovation hubs
Economies of scale

🎓 Social

Social advantages include:

Better access to education
Improved healthcare
Cultural diversity
Social mobility

💡 Technological

Technological benefits include:

Digital connectivity
Smart city solutions
Efficient resource use
Sustainable technologies

Sustainable Urban Development

As urbanisation continues, the focus is increasingly on creating sustainable cities that balance economic growth, social inclusion and environmental protection.

🌱 Sustainable Urban Planning

Key approaches include:

Compact city design to reduce sprawl and transport needs
Mixed-use development combining residential, commercial and leisure spaces
Green infrastructure like parks, green roofs and urban forests
Public transport investment to reduce car dependency
Affordable housing policies to prevent exclusion

🌎 Global Urban Sustainability Goals

International frameworks guiding urban development:

UN Sustainable Development Goal 11: Make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
New Urban Agenda: UN framework for sustainable urban development
C40 Cities: Network of megacities committed to addressing climate change
100 Resilient Cities: Initiative to help cities become more resilient to physical, social and economic challenges

Case Study Focus: Curitiba, Brazil

Curitiba is often cited as a model for sustainable urban planning in a rapidly urbanising country:

Innovative Bus Rapid Transit system moving 2 million passengers daily
Transit-oriented development with high-density corridors along bus routes
Extensive parks and green spaces (52m² per resident compared to WHO recommendation of 9m²)
"Garbage that's not garbage" recycling program with 70% participation rate
Flood prevention through converting flood-prone areas into parks
Demonstrates how planning can manage rapid urban growth sustainably even with limited resources

Conclusion: The Future of Urbanisation

Urbanisation is one of the defining trends of our time. How we manage urban growth will significantly impact global sustainability, economic development and quality of life for billions of people. The challenge is to harness the opportunities of urbanisation while addressing its challenges through innovative planning, inclusive policies and sustainable technologies.

As you continue your geography studies, consider how urbanisation processes connect to other key themes like development, globalisation, resource management and climate change. These interconnections make urban geography a fascinating lens through which to understand our changing world.