13 The Global Pattern of Urban Change

Question 1

How many of the population live in cities, and what is it predicted to be in the future?

Answer 1

now: 50%
2030: 60%
2050: 70%

Question 2

What is a megacity?

Answer 2

A city with > 10 million in population

Question 3

Out of LIC + HIC, which has the faster urbanisation rate and why?

Answer 3

LIC: highest rate (majority live in rural areas)
Population of cities are younger - natural increase is fast

HIC: lowest rate (majority live in cities)
Population is ageing - natural increase is slow

Question 4

What factors lead to urbanisation?

Answer 4

Migration: the young move (pull factors)
Natural Increase: birth rate + health care
Location: good for trade
Economic Development: good trade > strong economy > jobs

Question 5

Where are the megacities going to be in the future?

Answer 5

Megacities of 2050 probably don’t exist now:
e.g. HK: Shenzhen + Guangzhou merge

Most new megacities probably in Asia (especially China + India)