Urbanisation in LIDCs

• Urbanisation is caused by rural-urban migration and internal growth
• rural-urban migration is the movement of people from countrysides to cities

  • this is due to pull factors (things that encourage people to move to an area) and push factors (things that encourage people to leave an area)
• push factors in LIDCs for rural-urban migration

  1. natural disasters damage property and farmland which people can’t afford to repair
  2. mechanisation of agricultural equipment means farms require fewer workers
  3. drought
  4. conflict/war means people flee their homes
• pull factors encouraging urbanisation in LIDCs

  1. more jobs
  2. higher pay
  3. better access to social services
  4. to join other family members who have already moved
  5. people think they will have a better quality of life
• internal growth

  when birth rate is higher than the death rate, causing rising populations in urban areas

  • birth rate tends to be higher in cities because young people move to urban areas and have children
  • in LIDCs, there’s better healthcare in cities so people live longer, reducing death rates
• economic consequences of rapid urbanisation

  1. not enough jobs —> high levels of unemployment
  2. people work in the informal sector

  • jobs aren’t taxed
  • work long hours
  • dangerous conditions + little pay

  1. may not have access to education —> no job
• social consequences of rapid urbanisation

  1. not enough houses —> squatter settlements

  • dangerous
  • overcrowded

  1. infrastructure can’t be built fast enough — people often don't have access to basic services
  2. high levels of crime
• environmental consequences of rapid urbanisation

  1. waste disposal services and sewage systems can’t keep pace with the growth
  2. rubbish isn’t collected —> rubbish heaps which are toxic
  3. sewage and toxic chemicals —> rovers
  4. road systems cannot cope with all the vehicles —> congestion + pollution