Urbanisation Flashcards
How many people in 1950 lived in urban areas?
30%
How many people in 2014 lived in urban areas?
50%
Why has the urban population only increased slightly since 1945 in the developed world?
This is because urbanisation began much earlier in the developed world than in the developing world - during the Industrial Revolution, many people moved to cities in search of work in mills and factories. Although people are still moving to cities such as London and New York, similar numbers are leaving the cities.
What is happening in many developing countries and emerging economies?
Most people currently live in the rural areas but this is changing fast. Old cities are growing in size and new cities are forming.
What was the population in Beijing in 1970 and what is it now?
4.4 million in 1970 to 20.4 million in 2015.
Define urbanisation?
This is the growth in the proportion of people living in urban areas as opposed to rural areas.
What type of people usually move to the cities?
Many migrants are young adults, in their fertile years and if they have children, the population increases further.
What can urbanisation cause in developing countries?
In developing countries, urbanisation can result in shanty towns - unplanned and often illegal settlements made out of any material available.
Define Suburbanisation?
This is the migration of people from city centres to the outskirts of a cities.
Why do people move to the suburbs?
As urbanisation increases, city centres become overcrowded and people desire more space, improvements to transport links mean people can live further away and commute to work.
What’s a problem with suburbanisation?
A complex pattern of wealthy and poorer areas develops. Wealthier middle class people may move to the suburbs where there is better quality of life. Those that are left behind are poorer.
Define Counter Urbanisation?
This is the movement of people out of the city into surrounding villages and rural areas.
Why might transport increase counter urbanisation?
Improvements in transport mean people can commute to work and better communications allow people to work from home.
What may counter urbanisation lead to?
Counter urbanisation may lead to new housing estates being built in rural areas. House prices may increase, meaning that some local people can’t afford to live there anymore.
What is urban resurgence?
This is the movement of people back to the city centre.
Why might people move back to city centres?
People may move back to city centres because of the lack of jobs in rural areas. People are also attracted to new developments.
Define Megacity?
A megacity is an urban area with over 10 million people living there. In 1950 there were only two megacities - Tokyo and New York. By 2014 there were 28 and this is predicted to rise to 21 by 2030.
How many Megacities are developing nations?
More than two thirds of megacities are in developing nations.
How do Megacities develop?
Megacities develop because of rural-urban migration and natural increase. Migrants tend to move to large cities and to cities that are experiencing rapid economic growth so their population increases rapidly.
Define a world city?
A world city is a city that has political and financial influence over the whole world.
What do world cities usually dominate?
International trade and regional economies. For example, Tokyo is extremely influential in international trade between the East Asian nations. World Cities have good international transport links, which allow them to trade with the rest of the world.
Give three characteristics of a world city?
They are generally home to world renowned universities.
They also tend to be centres for science and innovation, with high quality research and development facilities.
They are also centres for culture and have large influential media and communications corporations.
Define urban sprawl?
The spread of an urban area into surrounding countryside.
Name 5 push factors from rural areas to urban areas?
- Population growth - not enough land to support increasing numbers of people. Leads to over farming.
- Agricultural problems - due to desertification.
- Natural disasters - floods, tropical storms, earthquakes.
- Cash crops - land traditionally used to grow food for locals now used to produce crops for money to pay off debts.
- Local diseases and inadequate medical provision.
