2.2.4 The majority of the world's population now live in urban areas

Define city.

Large urban settlements towards the top of the settlement hierarchy, they have more functions and provide more services.

Define megacity.

A city with at least 10 million people in its population

Define world city.

The command and control centers of the global economy

How has the distribution of cities changed over time?

• First found along major river valleys, as water is an important factor for settlement

• Close to river mouths like Rio de Janeiro

• Flat land

• Many cities for located on islands, added benefit of defense

How do urban growth rates vary in parts of the world with contrasting levels of development?

• Cities in Europe and North America peaked their gorwth in the 1950s or earlier where the most sustained period of urban growth in these ACs took place during the Industrial Revolution of late 1700s and early 1800s.

• Increase in population was driven by the ‘baby boom’ and the building of new houses, led to urban sprawl and growth of citites like London and Pairs.

• However, urbanisation is currently much more rapid in EDCs. Cities like Asia and Africa have overtaken cities in Europe and North America in terms of population size.

• EDCs and LiDCs tend to have towns and cities with a youthful population who are most likely there to find a job.

• Moving there also means that they are likely to have children there, leading to a high birth rate in those areas and a rapid natural growth.