Introduction to Urbanisation

A number of towns or cites across the Caribbean has expanded significantly over the past years. Modifying these urban spaces has provided several benefits as well as created a number of challenges for the population. However, using varying strategies to control the development of the towns and cities can curb these problems.

Across the globe today, more than in recent years, additional people live in urban areas than in rural areas. For the first time in history, in 2007, the global urban population exceeded the global rural population, and the population remained mostly urban afterwards. This process is termed as urbanisation.

Key Terms:

Urbanisation is an increase in the proportion of people living in urban area. It is the growth and spread of a city and the consequential increase of the population.

Urban growth is the actual increase in physical size and total population of urban area.

Urban sprawl is the spread out of urban areas into surrounding rural areas to accommodate the growing population in city centre.  

The suburb is a built-up area close to large cities but away from the city centre.     

Commuting is travelling each day from a home in a rural area to work in a city.