What is urbanization?
Urbanization is the process through which cities grow, and higher and
higher percentages of the population come to live in the city.
As the world’s population is increasing, a rising number of people are
moving from rural areas to more urban settings. This global phenomenon is
called urbanization — essentially increasing the population of rural areas
(an area with 2500 residents or fewer), and turning them into urban areas (a
central city, and surrounding areas, with a population exceeding 50,000
people). More than half of the world’s population now lives in urban areas,
and this shift in population is driven by a variety of factors.
It is predominantly the process by which towns and cities are formed and
become larger as more people begin living and working in central areas.
Although the 2 concepts are sometimes used interchangeably, urbanization
should be distinguished from urban growth.
Urbanization refers to the concentration of human populations into discrete
areas. This concentration leads to the transformation of land for
residential, commercial, industrial, and transportation purposes. It can
include densely populated centers, as well as their adjacent periurban or
suburban fringes.
What causes urbanization?
Causes of urbanization include Industrial Growth: The explosion of
industrialization and manufacturing enterprises within a certain urban area
gives rise to more employment opportunities — which is another factor of
urbanization. Modernization: New technology upgrades the infrastructure of
urban areas.
