3.5A Rural-Urban Migration and Megacities

• What is a megacity?


  A megacity is an urban area with a population of over 10 million people
• In 1970 there were just 3 megacities, how many are there now?


  At least 33
• Why has the number of people in urban areas grown?


  Due to a combination of rural-urban migration and natural increase
• What type of migration has led to megacity growth?


  Internal centripetal migration
• Why are birth rates in megacities high?


  Due to a lack of knowledge on contraception and the child-bearing age of migrants