2.1. Global Patterns of Urbanisation

Question 1

What is a megacity?

Answer 1

• A city or urban agglomeration (urban area incorporating several large towns or cities) with a population of more than 10 million people
• According to the UN, London achieved megacity status in 2013. This classification included residents in the greater London area

Question 2

What is a metacity?

Answer 2

• a conurbation with more than 20 million people

Question 3

What is urban growth?

Answer 3

• an increase in the number of urban dwellers
• classification of urban dwellers depends on the census definitions of urban areas, which vary from country to country
• they usually include one or more of the following criteria: population size, population density, average distance between buildings within a settlement and legal/ administrative boundaries

Question 4

What is urbanisation?

Answer 4

• an increase in the proportion of the country’s population that lives in towns and cities
• the two main causes of urbanisation are natural population growth and migration into urban areas from rural areas

Question 5

What is urban sprawl?

Answer 5

the spread of an urban area into the surrounding countryside

Question 6

What is involved in the importance of urban centres in human affairs?

Answer 6

• the organisation of economic production
• the exchange of ideas and creative thinking
• centres of political power and decision making
• social and cultural centres