essay on advantages of urbanisation

Essay on Urbanization for Students and Children

500 words essay on urbanization.

Urbanization refers to the movement of the population from rural areas to urban areas. It is essentially the gradual increase in the proportion of people living in urban areas. Furthermore, urbanization is quite a popular trend in the contemporary world. Moreover, people mostly undertake urbanization due to more work opportunities and a better standard of living. According to the expert prediction, by 2050, 64% of the developing world and 86% of the developed world will be urbanized.

Causes of Urbanization

First of all, political causes play a big role in urbanization. Many people get forced to leave rural areas for urban areas due to political unrest. Therefore, many families go to urban areas in search of food, shelter, and employment .

Another important cause of urbanization is an economic cause. Furthermore, poverty is a widespread phenomenon in rural areas. Moreover, farmers are finding it very hard to earn enough money and make a living. Consequently, rural people move to urban areas in search of better job opportunities.

Education is a strong cause of urbanization. Urban areas offer opportunities for seeking high-quality education. Moreover, urbanization offers opportunities for studying at universities and technical colleges. Such handsome education opportunities attract many young people in rural areas to move to urban areas.

Environmental degradation also plays a part in contributing to urbanization. Deforestation destroys the natural habitat of many farming families. Furthermore, mining and industrial expansion also harm the natural habitat of farming families.

The social cause is another notable reason for urbanization. Many young rural people migrate to urban areas in order to seek a better lifestyle. Moreover, many young people want to escape the conservative culture of rural areas. Most noteworthy, urban areas offer a more easy-going liberal lifestyle. Furthermore, cities have clubs to attract youth.

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Benefits of Urbanization

First of all, urban areas are much more efficient in providing resources than rural areas. Important and basic amenities like housing, clean water, and electricity are easily available in urban areas.

People in urban areas find it quite easy to access to various important services. Most noteworthy, these services are high-quality education, expert health care, convenient transportation, entertainment, etc. Furthermore, some or all of the services are unavailable in rural areas.

Urban areas offer better employment opportunities. Furthermore, these employment opportunities are the result of industrialization and commercialization.

Urban areas play a critical role as creators and disseminators of knowledge. This is because of the highly connected urbanized world. Most noteworthy, the geographical proximity of people in urban areas helps in the propagation of ideas.

Urban areas enjoy the benefits of technological development. Furthermore, many types of technologies get implemented in urban areas. Moreover, urban people quickly get in touch with the latest technology. In contrast, many rural individuals remain ignorant of many types of technologies.

To sum it up, urbanization is a process which is on a continuous rise. Furthermore, urbanization ensures the transformation of rural culture into urban culture. Moreover, the government must be vigilant to the rapidly increasing urbanization. A fully urbanized world looks like the ultimate destiny of our world.

FAQs on Urbanization

Q1 State any two causes for urbanization?

A1 Any two causes for urbanization are high-quality education and good job opportunities in urban areas.

Q2 Why urban areas offer better employment opportunities?

A2 Urban areas offer better employment opportunities due to high industrialization and commercialization.

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Essay on Urbanisation | Urbanisation Essay for Students and Children in English

February 14, 2024 by Prasanna

Essay on Urbanisation: Urbanization is the typical characteristic of human civilization and is the center of social life, economy, and politics. Urbanization is a term derived from a Latin word ‘urb’ which means city. The primary need for Urbanization is because it helps people under poverty and pushes them towards the progress of some industrialized urban centers. If the development is not administered aptly, it leads to the rise of pollution, crime, and slums.

Urbanization has demerits more than merits. With planned policies and sustainable land use, urban growth and development can thrive and minimize ecological degradation. Therefore, the government must create a well-developed plan of action and cannot ignore it.

You can read more  Essay Writing  about articles, events, people, sports, technology many more.

Long and Short Essays on Urbanisation for Students and Kids in English

We have mentioned two essays 500 words Long Essay and 200 words Short Essay. The long Essay on Urbanization consists of 400-500 words. The Long essay provides a framework that helps students with their competitive exams and assignments. The Short Essay on Urbanization is written for 200 words and is suitable for children and kids with their classwork.

Long Essay on Urbanization 500 words in English

Given below is a long Essay on Urbanization for aspirants of competitive exams and students belonging to classes 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10. The Urbanization essay helps the students with their class assignments, comprehension tasks, and even for competitive examinations.

Urbanization is the movement of the population residing in rural regions to urban areas. Urbanization has become a popular trend in today’s world. It is one of the most common economic attributes and its gradual growth shifts to the surplus population and industrialization growth. Urbanization holds two conceptual meanings sociological and demographical. Demographically, Urbanization refers to the balance of a population of a region that resides in cities. The sociological reference for Urbanization relates to behavior, worldly things, or institutions that have an identity as an Urban origin.

Urbanization occurs due to the vast opportunities and better standards of living. Experts predict that by 2050, 84 percent of the developed nations and 64 percent of the developing countries will become urbanized. Urban development is highly essential for the national economic development of a society.

Employment is one major cause of Urbanization. The movement of people from rural to urban areas is mainly in search of job opportunities, shelter, and food. Political unrest also plays a vital role in Urbanization. Economic factors are another major cause of Urbanization. Due to the existence of poverty, and the plight of farmers living in rural regions, people move to the urban part looking for opportunities.

The next important cause of Urbanization is high-quality Education facilities. Urban areas offer opportunities for studying at technical colleges and universities that attract students from rural to urban. Ecological imbalance, environmental degradation, industrial expansion, and mining destroy the natural habitats of agriculture-dependent families and contribute to Urbanization.

The social cause is an essential reason for Urbanization. Many young people migrate from urban to rural to escape the conservative culture and seek a better lifestyle. Urban regions contain clubs and pubs, and an easy-going liberal way of living that attracts young people.

Benefits of Urbanization Essay

Urban regions provide efficient resources like clean water, electricity, housing, and other basic amenities than rural areas. The urbanization offers better access to essential services like transportation, entertainment, healthcare facilities, high-quality education, etc. Industrialization and commercialization are the end-products of Urbanization that provide better employment opportunities. Urbanizations are critical creators and disseminators of values and knowledge. The geographical proximity of diverse people aids the procreation of different ideas.

Urbanization holds the benefit of technological development and the implementation of different technologies. Urban people discover and experience the latest tech developments contradicting the rural individuals who remain ignorant of any newest event. Furthermore, some or all of the services remain unavailable in rural regions.

Effects of Urbanization Essay

Urbanization has made life affordable, which has to lead to an increase in population. The migration of people from rural regions to urban has lead to overcrowding and congestion of public spaces and transportation.

Population growth is one major factor that has led to unemployment with a high cost of living. Urbanization has, in turn, made fierce competition in every field to attain more senior positions. Urbanization has also led to elevated rental rates and the increase of slum accommodations.

Urbanization leads to inadequate facilities and contributes to problems such as typhoid, diarrhea, and plague. This has led to the elevation of crimes, kidnaps, thefts, rapes, murders, and hijackings. Traffic and road congestion is other main challenges faced by urban city people. Thus, Urbanization is a solution and harm to humanity. With is vast benefits, it also holds effects that cause the problem to man.

Short Essay on Urbanization 200 words in English

The 200 words short essay mentioned below is suitable for kids and children up to 6th standard. The essay is written to guide the children with their school works-assignments and comprehension exercises.

Urbanization means the movement of man from least developed parts in search of better facilities. Urbanization leads to the disappearance of forests and agricultural lands for modern buildings that lead to the migration of farmers into the cities.

A developed region facilitates resources like electricity, clean water, housing, and other necessities than rural areas. The urbanization offers better services like entertainment, transportation, high-quality education, healthcare facilities, etc. that fosters better lifestyle and living conditions.

The large-scale urban development has contributed to India’s economy. It expands the production system, thus paving the way to large scale manufacture of goods and services. The booming economic development leads to the growth of cities and towns.

Rapid Urbanization around the world has lead to the growth of severe causes in big cities. It has lead to an increase in population all around the world. The advancement in the field of science and medicine, have decreased death rates and increased birth rates. Thus, the population is a growing factor of Urbanization.

Rapid Urbanization and growth of expanding trade and businesses in India have lead to rural-urban migration. The extension of cities and towns has led to the destruction of many agricultural lands in rural regions.

Thus, Urbanization is a continuous rising process. It ensures the transformation of rural culture into the urban culture, and the government must be observant of the rapidly pacing Urbanization.

10 Lines on Urbanization Essay in English

• Urbanization is the transformation of rural areas into urban. It leads to the movement of people from rural to cities.
• Urbanization impacts the concentration of population towards the regions that provide higher income categories.
• Experts have stated that by 2050, 84 percent of the developed nations and 64 percent of the developing countries will become urbanized.
• Urbanization occurs mainly in search of job opportunities, shelter, and food.
• Urbanization leads to environmental degradation, industrial expansion, ecological imbalance, and mining.
• Urbanization leads to commercialization and industrialization and provides people with housing, electricity, and clean water.
• Urbanizations leads to overpopulation, unemployment, traffic, and congestion of public spaces.
• Urbanization has led to an increase in crimes, kidnaps, thefts, rapes, murders, and hijackings.
• The urban development increases the economic development of a country through higher though income capita.
• Creating awareness can resolve problems related to Urbanization.

FAQ’s on Urbanisation Essay

Question 1. What is meant by Urbanization?

Answer: Urbanization is the transformation into cities. This sees the movement of a particular section of the population from the rural regions migrating to urban areas.

Question 2. State a few critical causes of Urbanization.

Answer: Urbanization has led to high-quality education, excellent job opportunities, quick access to basic amenities, technological enhancements, etc.

Question 3. How does Urbanization benefit People?

Answer: Urbanization has led to the advancement of industries, thus providing people with resources like clean water, electricity, housing, transportation, entertainment, healthcare facilities, etc.

Question 4. What are the harmful effects faced due to Urbanization?

Answer: Urbanization causes a plethora of problems such as increased population growth, deforestation, traffic and road congestion, increased crime rates, a decrease in natural resources, pollution, etc.

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Urbanisation Essay

500+ words urbanisation essay.

Urbanisation is an integral part of development. It is an index of transformation from traditional rural economies to modern industrial ones. The process of urbanisation started with the industrial revolution and resulted in economic development. Urban areas are an integral part of India’s development and growth. It accounts for two-thirds of India’s GDP. India’s urban population has increased rapidly over the past decade and this rapid urbanisation is set to continue in the future. This urbanisation essay discusses the opportunities that urban areas have and the major challenges faced by them. So, students must go through this essay to gather the information and then try to write the essay in their own words. They can also get the list of CBSE Essays on different topics to practise essays on various topics.

Meaning of Urbanisation

When people move from village or rural areas to towns/cities or urban areas for better job opportunities where they can get involved in non-agricultural occupations such as manufacturing industry, trade, management etc. is known as urbanisation. People mainly migrate to cities in search of jobs, new opportunities and to have a better lifestyle.

Urbanisation in India – History and Present Situation

Urbanisation in India is said to have begun somewhere around 600 B.C. culminating in the formation of early historical cities. During ancient and medieval periods of Indian history, the kings established various capital regions, which developed into towns. For example, Pataliputra (now Patna) and Vaishali developed as towns during the Magadh rule. Kanauj was the capital town of Harshavardhana in Uttar Pradesh. The establishment of the East India Company and the onset of British colonial control of India from the seventeenth century led to the growth of the urban centres of Delhi, Calcutta, Bombay and Madras. These cities (except Delhi) developed along the seacoast in the respective regions where the British had established administrative systems in various provinces.

In the present scenario, the urban population is growing rapidly. Because of this, opportunities are also increasing. Urbanisation in India is mainly due to the expansion of cities and the migration of people. Investments are made in housing, urban transport, road network, water supply, smart cities, power-related infrastructure and other forms of urban management.

Consequences of Rapid Urbanisation

Rapid urbanisation often leads to both healthy and unhealthy consequences and aspects.

Positive Aspect of Urbanisation

Urbanisation resulted in the development and setting up of many industries in the cities. Manufacturing units and the service sector started to grow in the urban areas. This has created employment opportunities for the people. This has resulted in rural-urban migration and caused the “industrialisation urbanisation process” to set in. The growth of cities has given rise to external economies. Urbanisation results in changes in the attitudes and mindset of the urban people resulting in modernisation in behaviour. This indirectly helped the country to attain faster economic development.

Negative Aspect of Urbanisation

Growing urbanisation has increased the congestion in urban areas, which has resulted in problems like traffic jams and too much concentration of population. Too much population is another unhealthy aspect of urbanisation. It has created urban chaos related to housing, education, sanitation, pollution, medical facilities, growth of slums, unemployment, violence, inadequate water supply, overcrowding etc. All these resulted in deteriorating the quality of human life.

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Home — Essay Samples — Social Issues — Urbanization — Causes and Effects of Urbanisation

Causes and Effects of Urbanisation

• Categories: Urbanization

About this sample

Words: 1713 |

Published: Oct 11, 2018

Words: 1713 | Pages: 4 | 9 min read

Table of contents

Industrialisation, social benefits and services, modernization and changes in the mode of living, rural-urban transformation, technological and infrastructural advancements, housing problems, development of slums, traffic congestion, provision of essential services.

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Urbanization

The world population is moving to cities. Why is urbanization happening and what are the consequences?

By: Hannah Ritchie , Veronika Samborska and Max Roser

This article was first published in September 2018, and last revised in February 2024. We'd like to thank Diana Beltekian for great research assistance.

More than half of the world's population now live in urban areas — increasingly in highly dense cities. However, urban settings are a relatively new phenomenon in human history. This transition has transformed the way we live, work, travel, and build networks.

This topic page presents an overview of urbanization across the world, extending from the distant past to the present, and projections of future trends.

See all charts on urbanization ↓

Urbanization across the world today

Number of people living in urban areas, more than 4 billion people – more than half of the world – live in urban areas.

For most of human history, most people across the world lived in small communities. Over the past few centuries – and particularly in recent decades – this has shifted dramatically. There has been a mass migration of populations from rural to urban areas.

How many people live in urban areas today?

In the visualization, we see estimates of the number of people globally who live in urban and rural areas. More than 4 billion people now live in urban areas.

This means over half of the world lives in urban settings. The UN estimates this milestone event – when the number of people in urban areas overtook the number in rural settings – occurred in 2007.

You can explore the data on urban and rural populations for any country or region using the "Change country or region" toggle on the interactive chart.

Share of population living in urban areas

How does the share of people living in urban areas vary between countries?

In the chart shown below, we see the share of the population that is urbanized across the world.

Across most high-income countries – across Western Europe, the Americas, Australia, Japan, and the Middle East – more than 80% of the population lives in urban areas. Across most upper-middle-income countries – in Eastern Europe, East Asia, North and Southern Africa, and South America – between 50% to 80% of people do. In many low to lower-middle-income countries, the majority still live in rural areas.

But this is changing quickly. You can see how urbanization rates are changing with time using the "Edit countries and regions" toggle on the interactive chart. For many countries, you see a rapid migration of populations into towns and cities.

How urban is the world?

What we know about urban populations and why it matters.

Before looking in more detail at the differences in estimates of urban populations, we should first clarify what we  do know:

• Globally more people live in urbanized settings than not (disputes in these figures are all above the 50% urban mark);
• The broad distribution and density of where people live across the world (sometimes at very high resolution);
• Although it can seem like our expanding cities take up a lot of land, only a bit more than 1% of global land is defined as built-up area; 1
• rates of urbanization have been increasing rapidly across all regions (in 1800, less than 10% of people across all regions lived in urban areas );
• urbanization is expected to continue to increase with rising incomes and shifts away from employment in agriculture ; 2
• disagreements in urban population numbers arise from definition or boundary differences in what makes a population 'urban'.

Whilst disagreement on the numbers can seem irrelevant, understanding cities, urbanization rates, the distribution, and the density of people matters. The allocation and distribution of resources — ranging from housing and transport access to healthcare, education, and employment opportunities — should all be dependent on where people live. Understanding the distribution of people in a given country is essential to make sure the appropriate resources and services are available where they're needed.

The UN's 11th Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) is to " make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable ". If our aim is to develop resource-efficient, inclusive cities, understanding how many people they must provide for is essential for urban planning.

Let's, therefore, look at the conflicting estimates of how urban our world is, and where these differences come from.

UN estimates: More than half of the world’s population live in urban areas

At first glance, this seems like a simple question to answer. Figures reported by the United Nations (UN) deliver a straightforward answer. 3

In the chart here we see the share of the world's population living in urban and rural areas, extending from 1960. 4 This is based on nationally-collated census figures, combined with UN estimates where census data is unavailable. As of 1960, the rural segment constituted more than 60% of the population. By the year 2007, the distribution between urban and rural residents had equalized, representing a balanced share of the population. However, since then, the share of individuals residing in urban areas has escalated, exceeding 50% of the total population.

The UN figures are the most widely referenced and cited on global urbanization. However, they're not without their critics: some researchers suggest that far more people live in urban areas than these figures suggest. Why are they so contested?

How is an urban area defined?

'What defines an urban area?' lies at the center of these debates.

There is currently no universal definition of what 'urban' means. The UN reports figures based on nationally defined urban shares. The problem, however, is that countries adopt very different definitions of urbanization. Not only do the thresholds of urban versus rural vary, but the types of metrics used also differ. Some countries use minimum population thresholds, others use population density, infrastructure development, employment type, or simply the population of pre-defined cities.

In the table, we highlight the varied definitions across a selection of countries. The UN World Urbanization Prospects database also provides a full  downloadable list of statistical definitions for each country.

National definitions of 'urban area' as used for a custom selection of countries 5

The table illustrates the broad range of definitions between countries which compromises cross-country comparisons. And since the reported global figure is simply the sum of nationally reported shares, the lack of a universal definition is also problematic for these aggregated figures.

Even if we could define a single metric to use — such as a minimum population threshold in a settlement — countries adopt very different thresholds.

In the chart here we have mapped the minimum population threshold for countries that adopt this within their definition of 'urban'. 2000 and 5000 inhabitants were the most frequently adopted threshold. However, the variation across countries was vast. Sweden and Denmark set this threshold at only 200 inhabitants; Japan at 50,000 (a 250-fold difference).

European Commission estimates: More than 8 in 10 people live in urban areas

Critics of current UN figures, therefore, say that such varied definitions of 'urban' lead to a significant underestimation of the world's urban population. Researchers from the European Commission, for example, reported that 85% of people live in urban areas. 6

Its project, Atlas of the Human Planet , combines high-resolution satellite imagery with national census data to derive its estimates of urban and rural settlements.

The European Commission applied a universal definition of settlements across all countries:

• Urban centers (cities) : must have a minimum of 50,000 inhabitants plus a population density of at least 1500 people per square kilometer (km 2 ) or density of build-up area greater than 50%.
• Urban clusters (towns and suburbs) : must have a minimum of 5,000 inhabitants plus a population density of at least 300 people per square kilometer (km 2 ).
• Rural areas : fewer than 5,000 inhabitants.

Using these definitions, it reports that around 44% of the world lived in cities, 43% in towns and suburbs, and 13% in rural areas in 2020 . This makes the total urban share 87% in 2020 ( more than 6.8 billion people ). The reported urban share by continent is shown in the chart below.

The European Commission's estimates are also not without its critics. Researchers at the Marron Institute of Urban Management (New York University) challenged these figures as a gross overestimation. 7

The authors suggest multiple reasons why such figures are too high: based on agricultural employment figures, they estimate urban populations cannot exceed 60%; the low urban-density threshold adopted by the European Commission means entire cropland regions are classified as urban; and that this low-density threshold is inconsistent with observed population densities on the fringes of cities.

Will we ever reach a consensus on urban population?

Clearly how we define an urban area has a significant impact on its estimated population. The UN figures report one-third fewer people residing in urban areas compared to the figures reported by the European Commission.

While there are clear differences in estimates at the global level, the overall trend in urbanization at national levels (regardless of their definition) is still important. It's vital for India, for example, to know that since 1990, its urban population has more than doubled . The rate of this change is important for its evaluation of progress, demographic change, and national planning. The lack of consensus on figures at the global level therefore shouldn't overshadow what they represent at national levels.

But would the world adopt a standardized definition? The UN Statistics Division has convened multiple expert groups in recent years to try to work towards a common definition, but none have been successful.

With such a wide array of national definitions, achieving this would be a difficult task. Countries have the right to define what they consider to be urban and rural settlements. One proposed option is to maintain individual definitions for national figures but to adopt a new universal definition for estimating the global and/or regional share.

This may, at least, bring us one step closer to an agreement on how urban the world really is.

Urban slum populations

Share of people living in slums, just under 1-in-4 urban dwellers live in slum households.

Quality of living standards in urban centers is of course an important measure of wellbeing. One metric of living standards is the share of the urban population living in slum households. A slum household is defined as a group of individuals living under the same roof lacking one or more of the following conditions: access to improved water, access to improved sanitation, sufficient living area, and durability of housing.

The most recent global estimates suggest just under 1-in-4 people in urban areas live in slum households.

The share of the urban population living in slums by country is shown in the chart. This data is available from the year 2000. Here we see that in the latest data, most countries across Asia and Latin America had between 10 to 50% of urban populations living in slum households. Slum households are most prevalent across Sub-Saharan Africa; in most countries, more than half of the urban populations live in slum households, and in some (such as Chad) around 8 in 10 people live in slum households.

We see that over time, for most countries, the share of the urban population living in slums has been falling. For example, in Vietnam, almost half of the population lived in slums in 2000. This figure has dramatically reduced to approximately 5% in recent years.

Number of people living in urban slums

This map shows the total number of people living in urban slum households in each country.

Urban density

Urban agglomerations.

Although the definition of 'urban' gives us some indication of population densities, it does not differentiate between those who live in small versus large urban settings. In the chart, we show the percentage of the total population that lives in agglomerations greater than one million people (i.e. large urban agglomerations). These figures are available in absolute terms (the total number of people living in large urban settings), found here .

Here we see large differences across the world. Smaller city-based nations such as Kuwait, UAE, Japan, Puerto Rico, and Israel tend to have high rates of large urban agglomeration: more than half live in large cities. Across much of the Americas, 40 to 50% live in large urban agglomerations. Most other countries across Europe, Asia, and Africa lie somewhere in the range of 10 to 40%.

There are a few countries that have a very low prevalence of large cities — in Germany and Poland, for example, less than 10% of the population live in cities over 1 million despite having large urbanization rates .

Population in largest city

We can also look at this centralization effect through the share of the urban population that lives in the single largest city. This is shown in this chart.

Here we have a handful of countries — such as Mongolia, Paraguay, Uruguay, Liberia, and Armenia — where more than half of the country's urban population live in its largest city. Overall, this share tends to be higher in countries across Africa and Latin America; a share of 30 to 50% is common. Rates across Europe, Asia, and North America are highly variable, ranging from over 40% to less than 10%.

City populations

Population of the capital city.

In the chart below we see the world mapped based on the population of each country's capital city. In 2018, Japan's capital — Tokyo — had the largest population of the world's capital cities at over 37 million people. This was followed by Delhi (India) at over 28 million; Mexico City (Mexico) at 21 million; and Cairo (Egypt) at 20 million.

Across the world, the most common capital size was in the range of 1 to 5 million people.

Population of cities

Many cities across the world have grown rapidly over the past 50 years in terms of their total population. The chart shows the estimated population of the world's 30 largest cities (by 2015 population) from 1950 to 2015, with projections through to 2035. 8

Beijing in 1950, for example, had a population of around 1.7 million. By 2015 this was more than 10 times higher, at more than 18 million. By 2035 it's expected this will increase further to more than 25 million. Dhaka (the capital of Bangladesh) increased from less than half a million in 1950 to almost 18 million in 2015 (and is projected to reach more than 30 million by 2035). Using the "Edit cities" in the top-right of the chart, you can browse trends for the largest 30 cities.

Related chart – population density of cities. This chart shows the population density of cities across the world

Long-run history of urbanization

Urbanization over the past 500 years, migration to towns and cities is very recent – mostly limited to the past 200 years.

How has urbanization changed over longer timescales – over the past 500 years?

In the map below we see how the share of populations living in urban areas has changed in recent centuries. Data on urbanization dating back to 1500 is available only for select countries, with an estimated share at the global level. Using the timeline on the map (or by clicking on a country) you can see how this share has changed over time.

Here we see clearly again that urbanization has largely been confined to the past 200 years. By 1800, still, over 90% of the global (and country-level) population lived in rural areas. Urbanization in the United States began to increase rapidly through the 19th century, reaching around 40% by 1900. 9 By 1950 this almost reached 65% and by 2000 1 in 8 people lived in urban areas.

China and India had similar rates of urbanization until the late 1980s. 10 By then, both had around 1-in-4 living in urban areas. However, China's rate of urbanization increased rapidly over the 1990s and 2000s. Over this 30-year period, its urban share more than doubled to more than half. India's rise has continued to steadily rise to around 1-in-3 today.

Urbanization over the past 12,000 years

The recency of urbanization becomes even more pronounced when we look at trends for countries and regions over even longer timescales – the past 10,000 years. This is shown in the visualization here, derived from the work of the History Database of the Global Environment . 11

As we see, urban living is a very recent development. For most of our history, humans lived in low-density, rural settings. Prior to 1000, it's estimated that the share of the world population living in urban settings did not reach 5%. By 1800, this share reached around 8%; and by 1900 had increased to around 16%.

Related chart – urban land area over the past 10,000 years. This chart shows the change in urban land area dating back to 10,000 BC.

Future urbanization

What share of people will live in urban areas in the future, by 2050, more than two-thirds of the world will live in urban areas.

The past 50 years in particular have seen a rapid increase in rates of urbanization across the world. Are these trends likely to continue?

The UN World Urbanization Prospects provide estimates of urban shares across the world through 2050. These projections are shown in the chart — using the timeline you can watch this change over time.

Across all countries, urban shares are projected to increase in the coming decades, although at varied rates. By 2050, it's projected that 1 in 7 people globally will live in urban areas. In fact, by 2050 there are very few countries where rural shares are expected to be higher than urban. These include several across Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, Pacific Island States, and Guyana in Latin America.

Why, when most countries are expected to be mostly urban , is the global total just over two-thirds? This seems low but results from the fact that many of the world's most populated countries have comparably low urban shares (either just over half or less). For instance, India, which is anticipated to become the world's most populous nation, is estimated to have slightly over half of its population living in urban areas by the year 2050.

The other map shown here provides a snapshot overview of how the world is expected to continue to become more urbanized. It shows, for any given country, whether more people (the majority) live in urban or rural areas. Using the timeline feature and "play" button in the bottom-left of the chart, you can explore how this has changed over time. In 1950, it was predominantly high-income countries across Europe, the Americas, Australasia, and Japan that were largely urban. A century later — in 2050 — it's projected that most countries will have more people living in urban areas than not.

How many people will live in urban areas in the future?

By 2050, close to 7 billion people are projected to live in urban areas.

In the chart, we see estimates of urban and rural populations in absolute terms, projected through to 2050. Projected population growth based on the UN's medium fertility scenario. By 2050, the global population is projected to increase to around 9.8 billion. It's estimated that more than twice as many people in the world will be living in urban than in rural settings.

These trends can be explored by country or region using the "Change country or region" function in the top-right of the chart.

Using our timeline map of urbanization you can explore how countries are expected to transition from predominantly rural to urban in the coming decades. There we see that by 2050 it's projected that the majority of countries will have a majority (greater than 50%) of people living in urban areas.

How do living standards change as people move to urban areas?

Populations urbanize as they get richer.

In the chart, we show the relationship between the share of the population living in urban areas on the y-axis, and average income (gross domestic product per capita) on the x-axis. Here we see a strong relationship between urbanization and income: as countries get richer, they tend to become more urbanized.

The link between urbanization and economic growth has been well documented. 12

Urbanization is complex, however: there are many recognized benefits of urban settings (when developed successfully) including high density of economic activity, shorter trade links, utilization of human capital, shared infrastructure, and division of labor. 13

Is there causal feedback by which urbanization is also a predictor of future economic growth? The evidence for this is relatively weak  — assessments of this effect suggest that countries with a higher initial urban population share do not achieve faster or slower economic growth than countries with a low initial urban population share. 14

Urban populations tend to have higher living standards

There are many examples —  across broad areas of development —  that suggest that, on average, living standards are higher in urban populations than in rural ones. Some examples include:

• in nearly all countries electricity access is higher in urban  areas than in rural areas;
• access to improved sanitation is higher in urban areas;
• access to improved drinking water is higher in urban areas;
• access to clean fuels for cooking and heating is higher in urban areas;
• child malnutrition is lower in urban settings.

Note, however, that it is difficult to infer causality between urbanization and these examples. Since urbanization shows a strong correlation with income, such relationships may instead simply show the effect of higher incomes on electricity access, sanitation, drinking water, and nutrition. Furthermore, there can also be significant inequalities within urban areas; this is evidenced by the fact that across many low-to-middle-income countries, a high share of the urban population lives in slum households (which lack access to all of the basic resources).

Agricultural employment falls with urbanization

It would be expected that changing where populations live will have an impact on types of employment. Rural-urban migration has been empirically linked with the structural transformation process: as urban population shares increase, employment tends to shift from agriculture towards industry/manufacturing, or services. 15

In the chart, we see the share of people employed who are in agriculture (y-axis) versus the share of the population living in urban areas (x-axis). Here, in general, we see that agricultural employment tends to decline with urbanization. In our blog post 'Structural transformation: how did today's rich countries become deindustrialized?' we discuss and look at the data on this agriculture-industry-services shift in more detail.

Although this agriculture-urbanization link tends to hold true for most countries, there are a couple of clear outliers. Sri Lanka, Samoa, and Barbados, for example, appear to show relatively low levels of agricultural employment despite being predominantly rural. For Sri Lanka, this anomaly is explained by low urbanization rates, rather than relatively low levels of agricultural employment  — a labor share of just under 30% in agriculture is similar to neighboring countries in the Asia-Pacific region. In the case of Barbados and Saint Lucia, low agricultural production and employment are common for many small island states .

Definitions and measurement

How is an urban population defined.

There is no universal definition of what constitutes an 'urban area'. Definitions of an urban settlement vary widely across countries, both in terms of the metrics used to define them, and their threshold level. The UN World Urbanization Prospects (2018) database provides a downloadable list of underlying data sources and the statistical concepts used to define 'urban' by country. 5

In the chart, we have mapped the minimum threshold level of the number of inhabitants in a settlement needed for it to be classified as an 'urban area'. The data shown for a given country is its nationally-defined minimum threshold. When we look at the frequency at which a given threshold level is used by a country, we see that 2000 and 5000 inhabitants are the most frequently adopted (by 23 countries each). However, these ranges vary widely: Sweden and Denmark, for example, use a threshold of only 200 inhabitants whereas Japan adopts a very high threshold of 50,000 inhabitants.

Note that 133 countries do not use a minimum settlement population threshold in their 'urban' definition. Some use a variation of population density, infrastructure development, pre-assigned city populations, or in some cases no clear definition.

The UN adopts national definitions in its reporting of urban versus rural populations. This means urban populations are often not comparable across countries. Global urbanization trends also encounter this issue: world urban population is reported as the sum of nationally defined urban populations (therefore summing metrics/thresholds that are not directly comparable).

How is a slum household defined?

UN-HABITAT defines a slum household as a group of individuals living under the same roof in an urban area who lack one or more of the following 16 :

• Durable housing of a permanent nature that protects against extreme climate conditions.
• Sufficient living space which means no more than three people sharing the same room.
• Easy access to safe water in sufficient amounts at an affordable price.
• 4. Access to adequate sanitation in the form of a private or public toilet shared by a reasonable number of people.

Sometimes a fifth criterion is included:

• Security of tenure that prevents forced evictions.

It should be noted that although a single categorization of a 'slum household' is given, the conditions and level of deprivation can vary significantly between slum households. Some households may lack only one of the above criteria, whereas others may lack several.

How is urban density defined?

The density of a geographic area is measured on the basis of the average number of people per unit of area (for example, the number of people per square kilometer, km 2 ). It's therefore calculated as the population divided by the land area for that given population.

But what does urban density mean? Here, again, we encounter difficulty in agreeing on the standard boundary definition of what constitutes an urban area. The standard metric adopted (and encouraged) by the UN for urban density is the so-called "urban agglomeration population density".

An urban agglomeration is defined by the UN as:

The term “urban agglomeration” refers to the population contained within the contours of a contiguous territory inhabited at urban density levels without regard to administrative boundaries. It usually incorporates the population in a city or town plus that in the suburban areas lying outside of, but being adjacent to, the city boundaries. Whenever possible, data classified according to the concept of urban agglomeration are used. However, some countries do not produce data according to the concept of urban agglomeration but use instead that of ‘metropolitan area’ or ‘city proper’. If possible, such data are adjusted to conform to the concept of ‘urban’ agglomeration. When sufficient information is not available to permit such an adjustment, data based on the concept of city proper or metropolitan area are used.

This figure, which shows the urban definition boundaries for Toronto, is used by the UN to demonstrate these differences. 17

Here we see that the most commonly used definition of "urban agglomeration" is based on the population and area size of the central city or town plus its close suburban sprawls.

Interactive charts on urbanization

Built-up area is defined as cities, towns, villages, and human infrastructure.

In 1800 when urbanization rates were low, agricultural employment was very high — including in today's rich countries. For example, around 60% of the workforce in France was employed in agriculture in 1800. Today this figure is only a few percent.

UN World Urbanization Prospects (2018). Available at:  https://esa.un.org/unpd/wup/Download/ .

Note that this data can be viewed for any country or region using the "Change country or region" function in the top-right of the chart.

United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2018). World Urbanization Prospects: The 2018 Revision, Online Edition. Available at:  https://esa.un.org/unpd/wup/ .

Pesaresi, M., Melchiorri, M., Siragusa, A., & Kemper, T. (2016). Atlas of the Human Planet - Mapping Human Presence on Earth with the Global Human Settlement Layer.  JRC103150. Publications Office of the European Union. Luxembourg (Luxembourg): European Commission, DG JRC . Available at:  https://ec.europa.eu/jrc/en/publication/eur-scientific-and-technical-research-reports/atlas-human-planet-mapping-human-presence-earth-global-human-settlement-layer .

Angel et al. (2018). Our Not-So-Urban World. The Marron Institute of Urban Management, New York University. Available at:  https://marroninstitute.nyu.edu/uploads/content/Angel_et_al_Our_Not-So-Urban_World,_revised_on_22_Aug_2018_v2.pdf

Projections through to 2035 are published by the UN World Urbanization Prospects (2018) based on its medium fertility scenario of population growth and urbanization rates.

US Census Bureau. Population: 1790-1990. Available at:  https://www.census.gov/population/censusdata/table-4.pdf .

Bairoch (1988). Cities and Economic Development. University of Chicago Press, Chicago.

Klein Goldewijk, K. , A. Beusen, and P. Janssen (2010). Long-term dynamic modeling of the global population and the built-up area in a spatially explicit way, HYDE 3 .1. The Holocene20(4):565-573. Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0

Bloom, D. E., Canning, D., & Fink, G. (2008). Urbanization and the wealth of nations.  Science ,  319 (5864), 772-775. Available at:  http://science.sciencemag.org/content/319/5864/772.short

C. M. Becker, in International Handbook of Development Economics, A. Dutt, J. Ros, Eds. (Edward Elgar Publishing, Northampton, MA, 2008).

Henderson, V. (2003). The urbanization process and economic growth: The so-what question.  Journal of Economic Growth ,  8 (1), 47-71. Available at:  https://link.springer.com/article/10.1023/A:1022860800744 .

Ciccone, A., & Hall, R. E. (1993).  Productivity and the density of economic activity  (No. w4313). National Bureau of Economic Research. Available at:  http://www.nber.org/papers/w4313 .

Montgomery, M. R., Stren, R., Cohen, B., & Reed, H. E. (2013).  Cities transformed: demographic change and its implications in the developing world . Routledge. Available at:  https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/9781134031665 .

Black, D., & Henderson, V. (1999). A theory of urban growth.  Journal of Political Economy ,  107 (2), 252-284. Available at:  https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/250060 .

Michaels, G., Rauch, F., & Redding, S. J. (2012). Urbanization and structural transformation.  The Quarterly Journal of Economics ,  127 (2), 535-586. Available at:  https://academic.oup.com/qje/article/127/2/535/1824278 .

UN-HABITAT (2007). State of the World's Cities. Available at:  http://mirror.unhabitat.org/documents/media_centre/sowcr2006/SOWCR%205.pdf

United Nations (2017). The World's Cities in 2016. United Nations Population Division. Available at:  http://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/publications/pdf/urbanization/the_worlds_cities_in_2016_data_booklet.pdf .

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112 Urbanization Essay Topics, Questions, and Examples

🏆 best questions to ask about urbanization, ✍️ urbanization essay topics for college, 📌 discussion questions about urbanization, 👍 good research questions on urbanization, ❓ questions about urbanization.

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• Urbanization: Origins and Growth of Cities That is why there is no doubt that the emergence of social classes and the distribution of labor significantly contributed to the rise and growth of ancient cities.
• American Cities and Urbanization After the Civil War American cities’ central development and urbanization occurred in the years after the end of the Civil War. Firstly, the active development of urbanization was caused by the fact that people began to move to cities […]
• Demography, Urbanization and Environment The coefficients of migration, immigration, and emigration show the movements of people, which also change the number of people living in a particular territory.
• US Urbanization and Migration Trends at the End of the 19th Century It discussed the factors leading to successful urbanization, the challenges of urban life, and the effects this trend caused on the history of the state and its further development.
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• Technology and Migration in the Industrial Urbanization The history of the United States has a life-changing period between the end of the nineteenth century and the middle of the twentieth – industrial urbanization.
• Information and History of Ecuador: Urbanization, Natural Resources and Politics Official Name: Republic of Ecuador Area: 272,046 square kilometers Official Language: Spanish Currency: US dollar Capital: Quito Largest City: Guayaquil Regime: Unitary presidentialconstitutional republic Constitution: August 10, 1998.
• United States History in 1864-1900 Years: Industrialization, Urbanization, and the Commercialization of Farming The Western frontier advanced in the years 1864 and 1900 by the establishment of democracy in America, industrialization, urbanization and the commercialization of farming.
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• Rapid Urbanization and Underdevelopment The essay through examples of the developing world and the developed world establishes the linkage between rapid urbanization and underdevelopment in both; the cities as well as the outlying peripheral areas.
• The Relationship Between the High Rate of Urbanization in Africa and AIDS Spread This movement results in to increase in the number of people in the towns and cities in a particular year. The increased social interaction of people in towns has led to increased HIV/AIDS infections in […]
• New Urbanism: The Problems of Urbanization The scales of differentiating private to public space include the following: spatial, degree of exclusivity and openness, and modes of social encounter.
• Rural Residents in “Rapid Urbanization” by Jennifer Weeks Research shows that many rural dwellers in developing nations move to towns and as cities struggle to accommodate the high growth, the rural residents often end up living in slums that are already teemed.
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• China’s Success in the Urbanization Process The current paper aims at reflecting and analyzing the article to comprehend the reasons of why the challenges appear during the process of urbanization when it is so important for the society and becomes a […]
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• Table Of Contents

urbanization , the process by which large numbers of people become permanently concentrated in relatively small areas, forming cities.

The definition of what constitutes a city changes from time to time and place to place, but it is most usual to explain the term as a matter of demographics . The United Nations does not have its own definition of “urban” but instead follows the definitions used in each country, which may vary considerably. The United States , for instance, uses “urban place” to mean any locality where more than 2,500 people live. In Peru the term is applied to population centres with 100 or more dwellings.

Whatever the numerical definition, it is clear that the course of human history has been marked by a process of accelerated urbanization. It was not until the Neolithic Period , beginning at roughly 10,000 bce , that humans were able to form small permanent settlements. Cities of more than 100,000 did not exist until the time of Classical antiquity , and even those did not become common until the sustained population explosion of the last three centuries. In 1800 less than 3 percent of the world’s population was living in cities of 20,000 or more; this had increased to about one-quarter of the population by the mid-1960s. By the early 21st century more than half of the world’s population resided in urban centres.

The little towns of ancient civilizations, both in the Old World and the New, were only possible because of improvements in agriculture and transportation . As farming became more productive, it produced a surplus of food. The development of means of transportation, dating from the invention of the wheel about 3500 bce , made it possible for the surplus from the countryside to feed urban populations, a system that continues to the present day.

Despite the small size of these villages, the people in early towns lived quite close together. Distances could be no greater than an easy walk, and nobody could live out of the range of the water supply . In addition, because cities were constantly subject to attack, they were quite often walled, and it was difficult to extend barricades over a large area. Archaeological excavations have suggested that the population density in the cities of 2000 bce may have been as much as 128,000 per square mile (49,400 per square km). By contrast, the present cities of Kolkata and Shanghai , with densities of more than 70,000 per square mile, are regarded as extremes of overcrowding .

With few exceptions, the elite—aristocrats, government officials, clergy, and the wealthy—lived in the centre of ancient cities, which was usually located near the most important temple. Farther out were the poor, who were sometimes displaced beyond the city walls altogether.

The greatest city of antiquity was Rome , which at its height in the 3rd century ce covered almost 4 square miles (10 square km) and had at least 800,000 inhabitants. To provide for this enormous population, the empire constructed a system of aqueducts that channeled drinking water from hills as far away as 44 miles (70 km). Inside the city itself, the water was pumped to individual homes through a remarkable network of conduits and lead pipes, the equal of which was not seen until the 20th century. As in most early cities, Roman housing was initially built from dried clay molded about wooden frameworks. As the city grew, it began to include structures made from mud, brick, concrete, and, eventually, finely carved marble.

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Essay Samples on Urbanization

Benefits of living in the city: an overview of the opportunities and experiences.

Choosing a place to call home is a significant decision that impacts various aspects of our lives. For many, the allure of city living is undeniable, offering a vibrant and dynamic lifestyle that appeals to individuals of all ages. This essay explores the benefits of...

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Life inside the concrete city was the most terrifying and mind torturing experience I’ve ever had. Keeno; a city unknown to most, where staying off the grid is top priority. Its location isolated, deep inside a desert surrounded by natural dull mountains of sand. The...

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Annual Review of Environment and Resources

Volume 42, 2017, review article, linking urbanization and the environment: conceptual and empirical advances.

• Xuemei Bai 1 , Timon McPhearson 2,3 , Helen Cleugh 4 , Harini Nagendra 5 , Xin Tong 6 , Tong Zhu 7 , and Yong-Guan Zhu 8,9
• View Affiliations Hide Affiliations Affiliations: 1 Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University, Canberra ACT 0200, Australia; email: [email protected] 2 Urban Systems Lab, The New School, New York, NY 10003, USA 3 Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Millbrook, New York 12545, USA 4 Climate Science Centre, CSIRO, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia 5 School of Development, Azim Premji University, Bangalore 560100, India 6 Department of Urban and Economic Geography, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China 7 BIC-ESAT and SKL-ESPC, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China 8 Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China 9 Research Center for Eco-environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
• Vol. 42:215-240 (Volume publication date October 2017) https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-environ-102016-061128
• First published as a Review in Advance on August 14, 2017
• © Annual Reviews

Urbanization is one of the biggest social transformations of modern time, driving and driven by multiple social, economic, and environmental processes. The impacts of urbanization on the environment are profound, multifaceted and are manifested at the local, regional, and global scale. This article reviews recent advances in conceptual and empirical knowledge linking urbanization and the environment, focusing on six core aspects: air pollution, ecosystems, land use, biogeochemical cycles and water pollution, solid waste management, and the climate. We identify several emerging trends and remaining questions in urban environmental research, including ( a ) increasing evidence on the amplified or accelerated environmental impacts of urbanization; ( b ) varying distribution patterns of impacts along geographical and other socio-economic gradients; ( c ) shifting focus from understanding and quantifying the impacts of urbanization toward understanding the processes and underlying mechanisms; ( d ) increasing focus on understanding complex interactions and interlinkages among different environmental, social, economic, and cultural processes; and ( e ) conceptual advances that call for articulating and using a systems approach in cities. In terms of governing the urban environment, there is an increasing focus on public participation and coproduction of knowledge with stakeholders. Cities are actively experimenting toward sustainability under a plethora of guiding concepts that manifests their aspirational goals, with varying levels of implementation and effectiveness.

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Rapid urbanisation: opportunities and challenges to improve the well-being of societies

By 2050 more than two-thirds of the world’s population will live in cities.

Thangavel Palanivel

Deputy director of the human development report office, undp.

Throughout history, cities have been the main centres of learning, culture and innovation. It is not surprising that the world's most urban countries tend to be the richest and have the highest human development.

Ongoing rapid urbanisation has the potential to improve the well-being of societies. Although only around half the world’s people live in cities, they generate more than 80 percent of Global Domestic Product (GDP). Cities are also younger: home to relatively more young and working-age adults than rural areas, making them pivotal places to capture demographic dividends.

And around the world cities are introducing initiatives aimed at addressing poverty, improving infrastructure and tackling pollution.

For example, in a special contribution to the 2013 Human Development Report , former New York Major, Michael Bloomberg talked about the ‘Opportunity NYC: Family Rewards’ initiative, the first conditional cash transfer programme in the United States, that aimed to reduce poverty and inequalities in the city by providing households with incentives for preventive health care, education and job training.

Moreover according to UN Habitat, 1600 cities worldwide are now reporting on air pollution levels, which allow them to map the main sources of pollution and implement effective measures to improve the quality of the air.

Yet urbanization also presents many human development challenges. It is estimated that nearly 40 percent of the world’s urban expansion may be in slums, exacerbating economic disparities and unsanitary conditions. Rapid urbanization is also linked to environmental concerns and many cities located in coastal areas or on river banks may also be vulnerable to natural disasters such as storms, cyclones and floods. Likewise, poor urban infrastructure - such as unreliable power systems, congested roads and poor public transport, inefficient ports and inadequate schools - reduces cities' competitiveness and economic prospects.

So not all urbanization is positive, especially if it is unplanned. To be able to fully capitalise on the opportunity, policymakers will have to address a few key issues.

By 2050 more than two-thirds of the world’s population is projected to be living in urban areas. This rapid increase will take place mainly in developing countries. Africa and Asia— both still less urbanized than other regions— will have the fastest urban growth rates. Africa’s urban population is projected to jump from 40 percent today to 56 percent by 2050, and Asia’s from 48 percent to 64 percent.

In order to accommodate this rapid expansion in urban dwelling, experts estimate that US$57 trillion in global infrastructure investment is required by 2030 alone. More than 1 billion people live in housing that is below minimum standards of comfort and sanitation, and new houses will have to be built for 3 billion people by 2030.

Investing in essential infrastructure propels growth and human development. There has been some progress in narrowing the infrastructure deficit in recent decades, but much more needs to be done. Good planning and sound management is needed to manage this. National and local governments need to become more strategic in responding to the full range of challenges and opportunities posed by rapid urbanisation. This can be done by formulating a national urbanisation strategy as a first step to help to identify urban development priorities, shape plans and better coordinate actions by all the actors involved, including the private sector.

There is, however, no one-size-fits-all urban strategy. Urban policy priorities and choices depend on a variety of factors - including the scale, speed and source of urbanisation, the size of cities and the stage of urban development.

Intergovernmental relationships are also key to successful urbanisation. National, regional and city governments need to be connected and share a similar vision. Local governments will need technical and managerial skills, the ability to engage with the public and strong capacities to design, implement, monitor and evaluate local public policies and services.

As cities grow, governments will need to cater to rapidly growing demands for public services and infrastructure. In many places, they are not keeping up. For example, almost 700 million urban slum dwellers lack adequate sanitation, which, along with the paucity of safe drinking water, raises the risk of communicable diseases, particularly among children. And urbanization creates income and opportunity disparities, not only between rural and urban areas but also among socioeconomic groups in cities.

The world needs inclusive and sustainable urbanisation as a milestone in the path towards socio-economic development, as recognized by Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) - Goal #11: Sustainable Cities and Communities . Future human development prospects largely hinge on how well these growing cities are managed.

The HDialogue blog is a platform for debate and discussion. Posts reflect the views of respective authors in their individual capacities and not the views of UNDP/HDRO.

HDRO encourages reflections on the HDialogue contributions. The office posts comments that support a constructive dialogue on policy options for advancing human development and are formulated respectful of other, potentially differing views. The office reserves the right to contain contributions that appear divisive.

Photo: (cc) David Berkowitz

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Urbanization: expanding opportunities, but deeper divides

Whether the process of urbanization is harnessed and managed, or allowed to fuel growing divides, will largely determine the future of inequality, says UN DESA’s World Social Report 2020. For the first time in history, more people now live in urban than in rural areas. And over the next three decades, global population growth is expected to take place almost exclusively in the world’s cities and towns. The total number of people living in cities is expected to grow from approximately 4.4 billion today to 6.7 billion in 2050.

Like some other megatrends, urbanization has the potential to become a positive transformative force for every aspect of sustainable development, including the reduction of inequality. When properly planned and managed, urbanization can reduce poverty and inequality by improving employment opportunities and quality of life, including through better education and health. But when poorly planned, urbanization can lead to congestion, higher crime rates, pollution, increased levels of inequality and social exclusion.

Inequality within cities has economic, spatial and social dimensions. Economically, inequality is generally greater in urban than in rural areas: the Gini coefficient of income inequality is higher in urban areas than in rural areas in 36 out of 42 countries with  data .

Larger cities are generally richer but more unequal than smaller cities. The opportunities that cities bring are unevenly distributed in space, preventing entire neighbourhoods and groups of population from accessing proper health care, good schools, sanitation, piped water, employment opportunities and adequate housing among others. Slums are the most notable extreme of the spatial concentration of urban poverty and disadvantage.

The uncontrolled growth of many cities has resulted in inadequate provision of public services and a failure to guarantee a minimum quality of life for all urban residents. The current speed of urbanization in developing countries makes urban governance and adequate planning increasingly urgent. As cities grow, inequality is likely to increase unless we implement policies to address it.

While there is no one-size-fits-all solution to reducing urban inequality, some Governments have been able to address the spatial, economic and social aspects of the urban divide and promote inclusive urbanization, including in rapidly growing cities. Their successful strategies have four elements in common. First, they have established land and property rights, paying particular attention to security of tenure for people living in poverty.

Second, they have improved the availability of affordable housing, infrastructure and basic services and access to these services, since good transport networks, including between residential and commercial areas, are key to spatial connectivity and economic inclusion.

Third, they have facilitated access to education and decent employment for all urban residents.

Fourth, they have introduced mechanisms to allow participation in decision‑making,encouraging input from all stakeholders on the allocation of public funds and on the formulation, monitoring and evaluation of all policies.

For more information on the links between urbanization and inequality, please see Chapter 4 of the  World Social Report 2020: Inequality in a rapidly changing world .

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10 things to know about the impacts of urbanisation.

Briefing/policy paper

Written by Meera Murali, Joseph Feyertag, Tom Hart, Amina Khan, Ian Langdown, Paula Lucci, Stephen Gelb

Most cities are growing quickly, with the majority of growth projected to be in low-income countries in Africa and Asia. By 2050, 6.5 billion people will live in urban centres – two-thirds of the projected world population.

Urban living offers many benefits to residents including more job opportunities and higher incomes, and to businesses including lower input costs, greater collaboration and innovation opportunities. But urbanisation – especially if it is rapid – also brings challenges.

City governments and policy-makers must plan for and manage the impacts of urbanisation on poverty, inequality, employment, services, transport, climate change and politics. Only by addressing these interconnected issues, and both the technical and political barriers to change, can they ensure a good quality of life for millions of urban dwellers.

Meera Murali, Clare Cummings, Joseph Feyertag, Stephen Gelb, Tom Hart, Amina Khan, Ian Langdown and Paula Lucci

Meera Murali

Research Officer

Joseph Feyertag

Research Fellow

Senior Research Fellow

Senior Research Officer

Ian Langdown

Research Associate

Paula Lucci

Stephen Gelb

Principal Research Fellow - Team Leader

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Addressing Urbanization Challenges for a Sustainable Future

• 06 Sep 2024
• 24 min read
• GS Paper - 1
• Urbanization
• Population and Associated Issues
• Poverty and Developmental Issues

This editorial is based on “ Making transit-oriented urban development work” which was published in Hindustan Times on 03/09/2024. This article highlights that the Transit-oriented development (TOD) is frequently discussed in Union budgets but struggles with implementation. Despite its promise of improving accessibility and reducing carbon emissions by concentrating urban development around transit hubs, TOD faces several challenges.

For Prelims: Urbanization , United Nations, 2011 Census, United Nations, Global Liveability Index , Slums And Unauthorized Colonies , Flood Management, Urban Planning, World Air Quality Report 2023 , Managing Solid Waste , Budget 2024-25 , AMRUT, Housing For All, Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) , Municipal Bonds.

For Mains : Significance of Planned Urbanisation for Sustainable Development.

Urbanization is a dynamic and complex process involving the transition of populations from rural to urban areas , profoundly transforming land use, economic activities, and social structures.

This phenomenon, recognized by the United Nations as one of the key demographic trends alongside population growth, aging, and migration, entails more than just a shift in numbers. It includes the expansion of city boundaries, economic diversification, cultural changes, and the evolution of governance systems.

The 2011 Census recorded India's urbanization rate at 31.2% , an increase from 27.8% in 2001. By 2030, it is projected that approximately 590 million people will reside in urban areas. With rapid urbanization underway, it is crucial to analyze the growth trends and their impact on the population.

Urbanization manifests in various forms, including planned settlements designed by government agencies to foster sustainable development and unplanned settlements that emerge spontaneously, often resulting in informal and sometimes precarious living conditions. In India, urbanization is accelerating, with significant impacts on city infrastructure, economic output, and social dynamics.

Despite the promise of urban growth projected to drive a substantial portion of GDP and job creation by 2030, challenges such as inadequate infrastructure, transit issues, safety problems, environmental degradation, and socio-economic inequalities persist . Understanding urbanization’s multifaceted nature and addressing these challenges is crucial for fostering resilient and sustainable urban environments.

What is Urbanisation?

• It encompasses demographic transformation, spatial expansion of cities, economic diversification, cultural shifts, and evolving governance systems, resulting in increased urban population density and the development of built environments.
• The United Nations identifies urbanisation as one of four major demographic trends, alongside population growth, aging, and international migration.
• With the aim to create sustainable and livable environments, such plans take into account various factors, including physical, social, and economic considerations, to ensure organized development.
• These areas typically feature a mix of permanent, semi-permanent, and temporary structures and are commonly located near city drains, railway tracks, flood-prone areas, or on agricultural land and green belts.
• This ranking reflects that Indian cities have low scores in five key parameters: stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure.
• The focus has shifted from large Tier 1 cities to medium-sized towns, driven by factors like employment, education, and security.
• According to the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), by 2030, urban areas are projected to contribute approximately 70% to the GDP, 85% of total tax revenue, and 70% of new jobs.
• Trade and Industry: The growth of trade and industry attracts labor, fosters infrastructure development, and creates access to markets and innovation hubs.
• Economic Opportunities: Cities offer a greater number of job opportunities compared to rural areas, hosting businesses, factories, and other institutions.
• Education: Urban areas generally provide superior educational facilities, including schools and universities, which draw people seeking to enhance their education and career prospects.
• Better Lifestyle: Cities offer improved services such as hospitals and libraries and provide a vibrant lifestyle with abundant social and cultural opportunities.
• Migrants often move to unplanned areas due to the high cost of living in more established urban regions, resulting in numerous informal settlements, such as slums and unauthorized colonies, that lack essential amenities like clean water and sanitation.

What are the Challenges Related to Urban Development?

• For instance, flooding events in Delhi (2024 & 2023), Nagpur (September 2023), Bengaluru and Ahmedabad (2022), Chennai (November 2021), and Hyderabad (2020 and 2021), revealed severe infrastructure shortcomings and highlighted the urgent need for better flood management and urban planning.
• This trend, evident in Gurugram’s expansion, often leads to socioeconomic divides, environmental strain, and challenges in maintaining balanced urban growth and sustainability.
• Coordination issues between transit and city planning agencies result in inefficiencies, while rigid planning practices and cultural resistance hinder TOD.
• For example, there is a lack of coordination between transit agencies (like the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation) and city planning authorities (like the Delhi Development Authority). This results in disputes over revenue-sharing and inefficient TOD implementation.
• Traffic Congestion and Mobility Challenges : Rapid urbanisation, lack of transit options and an increase in private vehicles have caused severe traffic congestion, extending commute times and reducing productivity.
• For instance, the World Air Quality Report 2023 reveals that nine of the ten most polluted cities globally are in India and with Delhi emerging as the world's most polluted capital city for the fourth consecutive time.
• For example, Delhi experienced an extreme heatwave in May 2024, pushing the city's power demand to over 8,000 megawatts.
• For instance, Delhi water crisis in 2024 and Chennai's water crisis in 2019, forced residents to rely on water tankers and desalination plants, and Bengaluru's recent water issues, underscore the severity of the problem.
• This situation strains infrastructure, exacerbates poverty, and hampers planned development, affecting overall livability and social cohesion.
• The Central Pollution Control Board reports that Indian cities generate approximately 62 million tons of municipal solid waste annually, with only about 20% being processed or treated adequately.

How TOD Promotes Sustainable Urban Development?

• By prioritizing public transit and walkable designs, TOD reduces the reliance on private vehicles, thereby easing traffic flow and shortening commutes. This shift not only enhances mobility but also minimizes the environmental impact associated with vehicular emissions.
• This approach promotes the efficient use of land, reduces environmental degradation, and fosters vibrant, sustainable communities.
• By creating neighborhoods where residential, commercial, and recreational spaces are in close proximity, TOD counters the spread of low-density, car-dependent developments.
• This design supports a high quality of life, allowing residents to easily access workplaces, amenities, and recreational areas . The focus on walkability and mixed-use development contributes to a more engaging and healthier urban environment.
• Economically, TOD boosts local businesses, reduces transportation costs, and attracts investment, enhancing overall economic competitiveness. T his integrated approach to urban planning supports long-term sustainable development goals.

Examples of Successful TOD Implementation

• Around 15 cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Jaipur and Chennai etc have operational metro systems, with many more under construction or planned in other urban centers.
• For example,in 2005, a government task force developed the Integrated Transport Plan for NCR 2032, identifying a need for a RRTS to connect major cities in the Delhi NCR. It prioritized three corridors : Delhi-Meerut, Delhi-Panipat, and Delhi-Alwar.
• Mumbai: Lower Parel i n Mumbai has evolved into a TOD hub with high-rise residential and commercial buildings around local train stations, reflecting increased integration of transit and urban spaces.
• Noida's cycle zones: It features dedicated tracks, cycle-sharing programs, and integrated urban design to promote sustainable transport. By separating bike lanes from traffic, offering rental options, and enhancing safety with signage, these initiatives aim to reduce pollution, improve public health, and support a greener, more pedestrian-friendly city.
• For example: London, UK – Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) aims to reduce air pollution by restricting access to high-emission vehicles. The zone promotes the use of electric and hybrid vehicles and integrates well with public transit, supporting TOD by enhancing the environmental quality and encouraging sustainable transportation.
• Authorities buy land development rights before rail construction, sell them post-construction at higher prices, and use the revenue to finance transit operations.
• This model generates substantial income from property, reduces urban sprawl and pollution, and enhances ridership through increased density.

What are the Steps Taken for Urban Development?

• Also, central assistance of Rs 2.2 lakh cror e for urban housing over the next five years as well as an interest subsidy scheme to facilitate loans at affordable rates for urban housing works, was announced in the budget.
• It focuses on areas like water supply, sanitation, waste management, urban mobility, and e-governance.
• It aims to improve the quality of life in these cities through better amenities and infrastructure.
• The program includes credit-linked subsidies and partnerships with private developers to increase affordable housing stock.
• It includes constructing individual and community toilets, and implementing modern waste management practices.
• It includes projects like public Wi-Fi hotspots, digital delivery of government services , and encouraging cashless transactions to create 'smart' urban ecosystems.
• Scheme for Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment 2022-23 (Rs. 6000 Cr): It focuses on urban planning reforms including Modernization of Building Bylaws, Adoption of Transferable Development Rights (TDR), Implementation of Local Area Plans (LAP) and Town Planning Schemes (TPS), Implementation of Transit-oriented Development (TOD), Creation of Sponge Cities, Removing Taxation for running the Buses for Public Transport.
• Scheme for Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment 2023-24 (Rs. 15000 Cr): It emphasizes enhancing urban planning through human resource augmentation, town planning schemes, modernization of building bylaws, in-situ slum rehabilitation, TOD, and strengthening urban ecosystems.
• Articles 243Q and 243W: Grant powers to local governments (municipalities) for urban planning and development within their regions.
• 74 th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992: Granted constitutional status to urban local bodies and introduced Part IX-A to the Constitution.
• 12 th Schedule : Outlines the powers, authority, and responsibilities of municipalities.

What Other Measures can be Taken for Sustainable & Resilient Urban Development?

• This approach not only provides immediate financial resources but also supports long-term urban modernization and resilience.
• To maximize their impact, cities should enhance investor confidence through transparent processes and effective project management, ensuring that funds are used efficiently and lead to tangible benefits for residents.
• This means engaging diverse stakeholders and ensuring that development benefits all segments of society, fostering equitable growth and addressing disparities.
• For instance, Indore’s innovative waste management system utilizes smart bins and automated segregation to enhance efficiency.
• Similarly, integrating renewable energy technologies, such as solar power and wind turbines, can reduce cities' carbon footprints and enhance sustainability.
• This approach ensures that decisions are informed by accurate data, leading to more effective and efficient urban planning outcomes.
• This involvement helps align urban policies with community needs and priorities , enhancing the quality and responsiveness of urban services.
• Effective urban development requires a unified approach across agencies to address challenges and leverage resources efficiently.
• These initiatives aim to improve environmental resilience and sustainability within urban landscapes.
• Invest in robust cybersecurity measures to protect critical digital infrastructure from emerging threats.
• This will ensure that urbanization efforts are inclusive and address the diverse needs of urban populations.

Urbanization represents a critical juncture in global and national development, offering both opportunities and challenges. As cities grow and evolve, embracing comprehensive planning and reform is essential to ensure that urbanization contributes positively to economic prosperity and quality of life.

In India, initiatives like the Smart Cities Mission and AMRUT aim to address infrastructure deficits and enhance urban livability. However, effective implementation of transit-oriented development, better coordination among agencies, and modernization of planning practices are necessary to overcome obstacles. By focusing on sustainable growth, enhancing infrastructure, and improving governance, cities can harness the benefits of urbanization while mitigating its challenges, paving the way for a more inclusive and resilient urban future.

UPSC Civil Services Examination Previous Year Question (PYQ)

Q. With reference to the role of UN-Habitat in the United Nations programme working towards a better urban future, which of the statements is/are correct? (2017)

1. UN-Habitat has been mandated by the United Nations General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities to provide adequate shelter for all.

2. Its partners are either governments or local urban authorities only.

3. UN-Habitat contributes to the overall objective of the United Nations system to reduce poverty and to promote access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1, 2 and 3

(b) 1 and 3 only

(c) 2 and 3 only

Q . The frequency of urban floods due to high intensity rainfall is increasing over the years. Discussing the reasons for urban floods, highlight the mechanisms for preparedness to reduce the risk during such events. (2016)

• Letter to the Editor
• Open access
• Published: 02 January 2020

Urbanization: a problem for the rich and the poor?

• Md Abdul Kuddus 1 , 2 , 4 ,
• Elizabeth Tynan 3 &
• Emma McBryde 1 , 2  

Public Health Reviews volume  41 , Article number:  1 ( 2020 ) Cite this article

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Urbanization has long been associated with human development and progress, but recent studies have shown that urban settings can also lead to significant inequalities and health problems. This paper is concerned with the adverse impact of urbanization on both developed and developing nations and both wealthy and poor populations within those nations, addressing issues associated with public health problems in urban areas. The discussion in this paper will be of interest to policy makers. The paper advocates policies that improve the socio-economic conditions of the urban poor and promote their better health. Further, this discussion encourages wealthy people and nations to become better informed about the challenges that may arise when urbanization occurs in their regions without the required social supports and infrastructure.

Urbanization refers to the mass movement of populations from rural to urban settings and the consequent physical changes to urban settings. In 2019, the United Nations estimated that more than half the world’s population (4.2 billion people) now live in urban area and by 2041, this figure will increase to 6 billion people [ 1 ].

Cities are known to play multifaceted functions in all societies. They are the heart of technological development and economic growth of many nations, while at the same time serving as a breeding ground for poverty, inequality, environmental hazards, and communicable diseases [ 2 ]. When large numbers of people congregate in cities, many problems result, particularly for the poor. For example, many rural migrants who settle in an urban slum area bring their families and their domesticated animals—both pets and livestock—with them. This influx of humans and animals leads to vulnerability of all migrants to circulating communicable diseases and the potential to establish an urban transmission cycle. Further, most urban poor live in slums that are unregulated, have congested conditions, are overcrowded, are positioned near open sewers, and restricted to geographically dangerous areas such as hillsides, riverbanks, and water basins subject to landslides, flooding, or industrial hazards. All of these factors lead to the spread of communicable and non-communicable diseases, pollution, poor nutrition, road traffic, and so on [ 3 , 4 , 5 ]. The problems faced by the poor spill over to other city dwellers. As the trend to urbanization continues, this spillover effect increases and takes on a global dimension as more and more of the world’s populations are affected [ 3 ].

Some of the major health problems resulting from urbanization include poor nutrition, pollution-related health conditions and communicable diseases, poor sanitation and housing conditions, and related health conditions. These have direct impacts on individual quality of life, while straining public health systems and resources [ 6 ].

Urbanization has a major negative impact on the nutritional health of poor populations. Because they have limited financial resources and the cost of food is higher in cities, the urban poor lack nutritious diets and this leads to illness, which contributes to loss of appetite and poor absorption of nutrients among those affected. Furthermore, environmental contamination also contributes to undernutrition; street food is often prepared in unhygienic conditions, leading to outbreaks of food-borne illnesses (e.g., botulism, salmonellosis, and shigellosis) [ 6 ]. Urban dwellers also suffer from overnutrition and obesity, a growing global public health problem. Obesity and other lifestyle conditions contribute to chronic diseases (such as cancers, diabetes, and heart diseases). Although obesity is most common among the wealthy, international agencies have noted the emergence of increased weight among the middle class and poor in recent years [ 7 ].

Populations in poor nations that suffer from protein-energy malnutrition [ 8 ] have increased susceptibility to infection [ 9 ] through the impact of micronutrient deficiency on immune system development and function [ 10 ]. Around 168 million children under 5 are estimated to be malnourished and 76% of these children live in Asia [ 11 ]. At the same time, the World Health Organization is concerned that there is an emerging pandemic of obesity in poor countries that leads to non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, hypertension, and stroke [ 12 ].

Obesity is caused by increased caloric intake and decreased physical activity [ 13 ], something historically associated with wealth. However, people in urbanized areas of developing countries are also now vulnerable to obesity due to lack of physical space, continually sitting in workplaces, and excessive energy intake and low energy expenditure. In these areas, infrastructure is often lacking, including sufficient space for recreational activities. Further, in developing countries, as in developed countries, large employers frequently place head offices in urban capitals and work is increasingly sedentary in nature [ 14 ]. Another culprit associated with the risk of developing obesity is the change in food intake that has led to the so-called nutrition transition (increased the consumption of animal-source foods, sugar, fats and oils, refined grains, and processed foods) in urban areas. For instance, in China, dietary patterns have changed concomitantly with urbanization in the past 30 years, leading to increased obesity [ 15 ]. In 2003, the World Health Organization estimated that more than 300 million adults were affected, the majority in developed and highly urbanized countries [ 16 ]. Since then, the prevalence of obesity has increased. For example, in Australia, around 28% of adults were obese in 2014–2015 [ 17 ].

Pollution is another major contributor to poor health in urban environments. For instance, the World Health Organization estimated that 6.5 million people died (11.6% of all global deaths) as a consequence of indoor and outdoor air pollution and nearly 90% of air-pollution-related deaths occurred in low- and middle-income countries [ 18 ]. Poor nutrition and pollution both contribute to a third major challenge for urban populations: communicable diseases. The poor live in congested conditions, near open sewers and stagnant water, and are therefore constantly exposed to unhealthy waste [ 6 ]. Inadequate sanitation can lead to the transmission of helminths and other intestinal parasites. Pollution (e.g., from CO 2 emission) from congested urban areas contributes to localized and global climate change and direct health problems, such as respiratory illnesses, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer for both the rich and the poor.

In addition to human-to-human transmission, animals and insects serve as efficient vectors for diseases within urban settings and do not discriminate between the rich and poor. The prevalence and impact of communicable diseases in urban settings, such as tuberculosis (TB), malaria, cholera, dengue, and others, is well established and of global concern.

National and international researchers and policy makers have explored various strategies to address such problems, yet the problems remain. For example, research on solutions for megacities has been ongoing since the early 1990s [ 19 , 20 ]. These studies have concluded that pollution, unreliable electricity, and non-functioning infrastructure are priority initiatives; nevertheless, air pollution, quality of water in cities, congestion, disaster management issues, and infrastructure are not being systematically addressed [ 19 , 20 ].

The impact of inner city transportation on health, such as road traffic, is emerging as a serious problem. Statistics show that a minimum of 10 people die every day on the railways in the city of Mumbai, India [ 21 ]. Vietnam is another example of a country that has seen a remarkable increase in road traffic accidents [ 22 ]. Improvements to the country’s infrastructure have not been able to meet the increasing growth of vehicular and human traffic on the street. Vietnam reportedly has a population of 95 million and more than 18 million motorbikes on its roads. A deliberate policy is needed to reduce accidents [ 21 ].

Although urbanization has become an irreversible phenomenon, some have argued that to resolve the problems of the city, we must tackle the root causes of the problem, such as improving the socio-economic situation of the urban poor.

Until the conditions in rural areas improve, populations will continue to migrate to urban settings. Given the challenges that rural development poses, the root causes are unlikely to be addressed in the near future. Therefore, governments and development agencies should concentrate on adapting to the challenges of urbanization, while seeking to reduce unplanned urbanization.

Some examples of policies and practices that should be considered include (i) policies that consider whole-of-life journeys, incorporating accessible employment, community participation, mobility/migration and social transition, to break generational poverty cycles; (ii) policies addressing urban environmental issues, such as planned urban space and taxes on the use of vehicles to reduce use or to encourage vehicles that use less fuel as well as encourage bicycle use, walking, and other forms of human transportation; (iii) greater cooperative planning between rural and urban regions to improve food security (e.g., subsidies for farmers providing locally produced, unprocessed and low cost food to urban centers); (iv) social protection and universal health coverage to reduce wealth disparity among urban dwellers; including introduction of programs and services for health, for example by establishing primary healthcare clinics accessible and affordable for all including those living in urban slums [ 23 ].

Availability of data and materials

Not applicable

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Arundell L, Sudholz B, Teychenne M, Salmon J, Hayward B, Healy G, et al. The impact of activity based working (ABW) on workplace activity, eating behaviours, productivity, and satisfaction. International journal of environmental research and public health. 2018;15(5):1005.

Zhang J, Wang D, Eldridge A, Huang F, Ouyang Y, Wang H, et al. Urban–rural disparities in energy intake and contribution of fat and animal source foods in Chinese children aged 4–17 years. Nutrients. 2017;9(5):526.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the editor for his/her thoughtful comments and efforts towards improving the manuscript.

This work was conducted as a part of a PhD programme of the first authors and funded by the College of Medicine and Dentistry at the James Cook University, Australia (JCU-QLD-933347).

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Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia

Md Abdul Kuddus & Emma McBryde

College of Medicine and Dentistry, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia

Graduate Research School, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia

Elizabeth Tynan

Department of Mathematics, University of Rajshahi, -6205, Rajshahi, Bangladesh

Md Abdul Kuddus

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MAK planned the study, analyzed, and prepared the manuscript. ET and EM helped in the preparation of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Kuddus, M.A., Tynan, E. & McBryde, E. Urbanization: a problem for the rich and the poor?. Public Health Rev 41 , 1 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40985-019-0116-0

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Received : 02 September 2019

Accepted : 09 December 2019

Published : 02 January 2020

DOI : https://doi.org/10.1186/s40985-019-0116-0

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