Megacities

• Megacity


  a city with a population 10 million and over
• World city


  a city with global importance (any population)
• E.g. UK

  has 1 megacity and world city - London

  6 large metropolitan areas: Manchester, Sheffield, Leeds, Birmingham, Liverpool, Newcastle

  56 towns

  64 primary urban area
• Why are megacities growing?


  1. Globalisation and economic competition between coutries

  2. Mass migration- perception that cities offer a better life, poor rural prospects + climate change

  3. Government incentives encourage financial investment e.g. special enterprise zones in China
• Categorisation of megacities


  1. Immature megacity

  2. Consolidate megacity

  3. Mature megacity

  4. Established megacity
• Immature megacity


  a city growing rapidly in an uncontrolled way

  many in Africa, the services + infrastructure can't keep up

  e.g. Lagos
• Consolidate megacity


  have a slower rate of growth, services + infrastructure

  lag behind somewhat

  e.g. Mumbai
• Mature megacity


  high amounts of formal employment + advanced services

  e.g. Sao Paulo
• Established megacity


  stable + established government

  higher quality of life

  e.g. London