Urban Issues & Challenges

Question 1

Urbanisation

Answer 1

An increase in the number of people living in urban areas such as towns and cities

Question 2

High rates of urbanization in LICs

Answer 2

Majority of population lives in rural areas;
Less economically developed —> as manufacturing industries set up in cities, more rural-urban migration —> attracted by jobs;
Rate of natural increase is high in younger cities;
Eg. Ethiopia

Question 3

Decreasing rates of urbanization in NEEs

Answer 3

Urban growth varies;
Rapid economic growth;
Urbanization happened earlier, slowed down, but have not reached level of HICs;
Eg. Brazil, Russia, China, India, South Africa —> BRICS

Question 4

Low rates of urbanization in HICs

Answer 4

Majority of population lives in urban areas;
Urbanization occurred during Industrial Revolution;
Rate of natural increase has decreased due to aging population

Question 5

Megacities

Answer 5

Population over 10 million;

Question 6

Natural Increase

Answer 6

When birth rate is higher than death rate: population increases

Question 7

Natural Decrease

Answer 7

When death rate is higher than birth rate: population decrease

Question 8

Push Factors (encourages people to leave an area)

Answer 8

• Farming is hard and poorly paid;
• Desertification and soil erosion make farming difficult;
• Drought and other climate hazards reduce crop yields;
• Farming is often at subsistence level, producing only enough food for the family, leaving nothing to sell;
• Poor harvests may lead to malnutrition or famine;
• There are few doctors and hospitals;
• Schools only provide a very basic education;
• Rural areas are isolated due to poor roads

Question 9

Pull Factors (encourages people to move to an area)

Answer 9

• More well-paid jobs;
• Higher standard of living is possible;
• Friends and family live there;
• Better chance for better education;
• Public transport is better;
• Range of entertainment is available;
• Better medical facilities

Question 10

Distribution of megacities

Answer 10

Over half world’s population lives in Asia —> large proportion of megacities in Asia

Question 11

Slow-growing megacities

Answer 11

Located in S.E Asia, Europe, N. America;
70%+ population urban, no squatter settlements;
Eg. Tokyo, Los Angeles, Moscow

Question 12

Growing megacities

Answer 12

Located in S. America, S.E Asia;
40-50% population urban, <20% in squatter settlements;
Eg. Beijing, Rio de Janeiro, Shanghai

Question 13

Rapid-growing megacities

Answer 13

Located in S./S.E Asia, Africa;
<50% population urban, >20% in squatter settlements;
Eg. Jakarta, Mumbai, Manila

Question 14

UK Population and Distribution

Answer 14

65.2 million;
82% live in cities;
Population density: 260 people/km^2;
West coast sparsely populated —> mountainous regions (eg, Pennines, Scottish Highlands, mountainous areas in Wales);
Where densely populated —> big cities (eg, London);
Fast-growing cities in South;
Slow-growing cities in North —> deindustrialization;
Densely populated cities in low-lying flat land, near coasts and rivers (historically: supported by farming, trade, industry)

Question 15

Sustainable

Answer 15

idea that meets the needs of the people without making it more difficult for future generations to meet their needs