level of urbanisation

What is Urbanisation?

Urbanisation is the process where more people live in cities and towns rather than in rural areas. It’s measured by the urbanisation rate:

$U = \dfrac{P_{\text{urban}}}{P_{\text{total}}} \times 100\%$

Think of it like a growing pizza: as more slices (people) are added to the city “pie”, the slice size (urban share) becomes bigger.

Levels of Development & Urbanisation Patterns

• Low‑Income Countries – Urbanisation < 30 % (e.g., many African nations). Cities are small and often lack basic services.
• Middle‑Income Countries – Urbanisation 30–70 % (e.g., Brazil, China). Rapid city growth, mixed infrastructure.
• High‑Income Countries – Urbanisation >70 % (e.g., USA, UK). Well‑developed cities, high living standards.

Analogy: Imagine a school where the number of students in the main hall (city) grows faster than the number in the courtyard (rural). The faster the hall fills, the more “urbanised” the school becomes.

Why Does Urbanisation Matter?

1. Access to jobs, education, and healthcare.
2. Infrastructure development (roads, electricity).
3. Environmental impact – more pollution but also potential for efficient public transport.

Example: In a low‑income country, a new factory in a city can pull workers from villages, boosting the city’s population and economy.

Exam Tip Box

Remember:

• Use the definition of urbanisation rate when asked to calculate it.
• Link higher urbanisation to better infrastructure but also to challenges like housing shortages.
• When comparing countries, note the income level and how it correlates with urbanisation.

Practice: Calculate the urbanisation rate for a country with 40 million urban and 60 million total population.

Answer: $U = \dfrac{40}{100} \times 100\% = 40\%$.

Quick Flashcard

Question: Which income level typically has the highest urbanisation rate?

Answer: High‑income countries.