Urbanisation and Global Urban Growth

GCSE Geography · Urban Issues and Challenges

What is Urbanisation?

Urbanisation is the increasing percentage of a country's population living in towns and cities. Globally, over 56% of the world's population now lives in urban areas, and this is projected to reach 68% by 2050 (UN estimate).

Causes of Urbanisation

Urbanisation is driven by two main factors:

Rural-Urban Migration

People move from the countryside to cities, pushed by:

Lack of employment in farming (mechanisation reduces jobs)
Poor services — limited schools, hospitals, clean water in rural areas
Natural hazards — drought, flooding, crop failure
Conflict and insecurity

And pulled by:

Job opportunities — factories, services, construction
Better services — education, healthcare, entertainment
Higher wages — urban incomes typically 2–3 times rural incomes in LICs
Perception of a better life — influenced by media and word of mouth

Natural Increase

Young migrants of reproductive age move to cities, producing high birth rates and low death rates (access to healthcare), leading to rapid natural population growth within cities.

Global Patterns of Urbanisation

Region	Pattern	Examples
HICs (e.g. UK, USA, Japan)	Already highly urbanised (75–90%); urbanisation occurred during the 19th/20th century Industrial Revolution; growth is now slow or stable	London, Tokyo, New York
NEEs (e.g. Nigeria, China, Brazil)	Rapid urbanisation happening now; fastest-growing cities	Lagos, Shanghai, Sao Paulo
LICs (e.g. Ethiopia, Bangladesh)	Lower current urbanisation levels but accelerating rural-urban migration	Dhaka, Addis Ababa

Megacities

A megacity has a population exceeding 10 million. In 1975, there were just 4 megacities; by 2025 there are over 40. Most new megacities are in LICs and NEEs — particularly in Asia (Tokyo 37M, Delhi 32M, Shanghai 29M) and Africa (Lagos ~16M, Cairo ~21M).

Case Study: Lagos, Nigeria (NEE City)

Lagos is Nigeria's largest city with an estimated 16+ million people (some estimates suggest over 21 million in the wider metropolitan area). It is one of the fastest-growing cities in the world, adding an estimated 3,000 people per day.

Opportunities

Economic hub — generates ~30% of Nigeria's GDP; major port; headquarters of banks and businesses
Employment — formal sector (technology, finance, manufacturing) and informal sector (street trading, repairs, transport)
Education — University of Lagos and numerous schools; literacy rates higher than rural Nigeria
Healthcare — more hospitals and clinics than rural areas, though still overstretched

Challenges

Squatter settlements (slums):

Makoko — a floating slum on the Lagos Lagoon; ~100,000 residents living in wooden shacks built on stilts over polluted water
Lack of clean water, sanitation, electricity, and waste collection
Overcrowding and fire risk
60–70% of Lagos residents live in informal housing

Traffic and transport:

Severe congestion — average commute of 3+ hours/day
Poor road infrastructure; limited public transport
The new Dangote Refinery and Lekki Free Trade Zone aim to shift economic activity

Water and waste:

Only ~10% of Lagos has a sewage system
Open drains mix sewage with surface water
An estimated 10,000 tonnes of waste generated daily; much dumped illegally
Olusosun landfill (one of Africa's largest) — health and environmental hazard

Crime and inequality:

Extreme wealth inequality — gated communities alongside slums
High crime rates in some areas; limited policing

Managing Urban Growth in Lagos

Eko Atlantic City — a planned new coastal city built on reclaimed land, providing housing and employment for 250,000
BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) — dedicated bus lanes to reduce congestion
Makoko Floating School (built 2013, collapsed 2016) — experimental sustainable architecture for waterfront communities
Waste management — Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) improving collection; recycling schemes employing former scavengers