The global pattern of Urban Areas

Firstly let's understand the trends in urbanisation globally...

The most urbanised areas are developed countries (MEDCs)

The largest metropolises are in developing countries (LEDCs)

The rate of urbanisation is fastest in LEDCs

LEDCs: The proportion of people living in urban areas has reached 50%
MEDCs: This figure is quickly catching up on the figure of 73% in developed countries

Now. Why is the rate so exponential in LEDCs?
-The large rural-urban economic gap.
-The larger the (perceived) gap between urban and rural areas the greater the rate/extent of migration.
[Migrants seek to move from the SUBSISTANCE sector to the CAPITALIST sector in which higher wages are available]
-The pool of agricultural workers ready to migrate is greater than the numbers in the 19th century (the industrial revolution, the period of urbanisation for European cities)
-The costs to migrate are now lower than in the 19th century
-LEDCs have a more advanced radial transport network (compared to the network establishing in the 19th century)
-The liberalisation of trade- firms/companies have spread out (perhaps seeking low-wage economies)

The basic inputs:
HIGH NATURAL INCREASE
RURAL-URBAN MIGRATION

Think about the typical profile of a migrant...
Young and seeking employment
Child bearing age

Next. Why is urbanisation perhaps slowing in MEDCs?
-Processes of counter urbanisation. I.e. The attraction of rural lifestyle
-Increased mobility means long commutes are now more viable
-Lower rates of natural increase as families are more materialistically driven
-These areas have largely shed their industrial activities onto LEDCs



The distribution of 'mega cities' illustrated above shows the progressive urbanisation in Asia
-In 20 years (1990-2010) China's urban population almost doubled
http://asiancenturyinstitute.com/development/224-urbanization-and-slums-in-asia

 

" A common image of Asian urbanization is the growth of mega-cities, cities whose population exceeds 10 million. And 12 of the world’s 21 mega-cities are indeed in Asia (including 7 of the largest 10 cities). Cities like Tokyo, Delhi, Mumbai and Shanghai."

[Despite the exponential rates of urbanisation in Asia, it is still the 2nd least urbanised area after Africa]

Summary... As the map shows, the global distribution of urban areas has shifted majorly to the Eastern Hemisphere