Urbanization is the increase in the proportion of a population living in urban areas, usually involving a population shift from rural to urban areas. Rural-to-urban migration is driven by interacting push factors that encourage people to leave rural areas and pull factors that attract them to cities.
How the Process Works
In IB ESS Subtopic 8.2: Urban systems and urban planning (SL and HL), an urban area is a built-up area with high population density, buildings and infrastructure.
The drivers are often economic, social, political and environmental:
| Rural push factors | Urban pull factors |
|---|---|
| Low agricultural incomes, unemployment or landlessness | More varied employment and potentially higher wages |
| Limited schools, healthcare, electricity or sanitation | Better access to education, healthcare and public services |
| Drought, flooding, soil degradation or declining crop yields | Perceived environmental security and reliable infrastructure |
| Conflict, discrimination or insecure land tenure | Greater political stability, personal freedom or social networks |
| Agricultural mechanization reducing demand for labour | Established migrant communities that help newcomers find work and housing |
For example, migration to Dhaka, Bangladesh, reflects manufacturing and service employment alongside rural flooding, riverbank erosion, poverty and insecure livelihoods. Rapid migration can exceed urban capacity, contributing to informal settlements, congestion, pollution and unequal access to water and sanitation.
A common misconception is that urbanization simply means a city becoming larger. Urban growth increases an urban area's population or physical size; urbanization increases the proportion of the national population living in urban areas. Natural increase within cities and settlement reclassification can also cause urbanization.
Exam Technique
For an explain question, define urbanization precisely, link at least one push factor and one pull factor through cause and effect, and support the explanation with a named example. Avoid presenting migration as a purely voluntary economic choice because environmental pressures, inequality and political conditions also shape decisions.
