Population and Urbanization

As populations grew...

More people moved into urban areas (cities)

​

In the 1950s, less than 30% of people lived in urban areas

Today, ​81% of people in the US live in cities

​

Urbanization-​o Process in which people increasingly move from rural areas to densely populated cities

• ​​High birth rates in rural areas leads more people to moving to cities

• ​Creates higher racial diversity, ethnicity, religion, and socioeconomic status in cities

People move to cities...

• Urbanization is increasing rapidly, especially in developing nations

• ​9 out of 10 of the world's largest cities are in developing countries

Increasing urbanization

• Well-paid jobs

• Higher quality of living

• ​Better access to education and healthcare

​People are PULLED towards urban areas due to...

• ​Lack of jobs

• Poor access to education

• ​Poor healthcare

​People are PUSHED out of rural areas due to...

Push/pull factors

Megacities – cities > 10 million inhabitants

​

9 out of 10 of the largest cities in the world are in developing countries​

​

​Megacities

​This image shows temperature differences between urban and rural areas- demonstrating the Urban Heat Island Effect

​

Urban Heat Island

​The high temperatures within urban areas can also forms a dust dome. Dust domes are domes over a city that contain high concentrations of pollution.

​

Dust Domes