Urbanization

The study of urbanization examines the growth of cities and the shift of populations from rural to urban areas.

Scope

It covers the demographic drivers and measurement of urbanization, urban growth and primacy, and the social consequences of urban living.

Core questions

• Why and how do populations urbanize?
• How is urbanization measured?
• What drives the growth of cities?
• What are the social effects of urban living?

Key concepts

• Urbanization
• Urban growth
• Urban primacy
• Rural-urban migration
• Megacities
• Urbanism

Key theories

Urbanism as a way of life

Wirth theorized how urban size, density, and heterogeneity shape social life.

World urbanization

Davis charted the historical growth of urbanization as a global demographic process.

History

The demographic study of urbanization, framed by Wirth's urbanism and Davis's analysis of world urban growth, now addresses rapid urbanization in the global South and megacities.

Debates

Is urbanization beneficial or problematic?

Whether urban concentration drives development or generates congestion, inequality, and informality.

Key figures

• Louis Wirth
• Kingsley Davis

Seminal works

• wirth-1938
• davis-1955

Frequently asked questions

What is urbanization?

The increasing share of a population living in urban areas, driven by rural-urban migration and urban growth.