The causes of rapid urbanisation in low-income developing countries (LIDCs)

Rapid urbanisation is a significant trend in low-income developing countries (LIDCs), where urban populations are expanding at an unprecedented rate. This growth is most pronounced in Africa, with projections indicating that urban populations could triple by 2050. The surge is driven by two main processes: migration from rural areas to cities and the natural increase in population within urban centres.

Key drivers of urbanisation in LIDCs

• Rural to urban migration - This involves individuals relocating from countryside areas to urban settings in search of better opportunities and living conditions.
• Internal population growth - Once settled in cities, many migrants start families, contributing to a higher birth rate and further increasing the urban population.

Push and pull factors driving rural to urban migration

Migration from rural to urban areas in LIDCs is influenced by a combination of negative conditions in rural settings and attractive prospects in cities. These are categorised as push and pull factors, which together create a strong incentive for people to move.

Push factors encouraging migration from rural areas

• Limited services - Rural areas often lack access to essential services like education and healthcare.
• Inadequate infrastructure - Poor road networks and limited facilities make daily life challenging.
• Natural disasters - Events such as droughts and floods can devastate rural livelihoods.
• Unreliable utilities - Access to electricity and clean water is often inconsistent or absent.
• Agricultural challenges - Crop failures and food insecurity drive people away from farming-dependent areas.
• Low wages - Earnings in rural jobs are frequently at poverty levels, offering little financial security.
• Scarce job opportunities - Employment is often restricted to agriculture, with few alternatives.
• Youth exodus - As younger generations leave for cities, rural communities face increased food insecurity.

Pull factors attracting people to urban areas

• Diverse employment options - Cities offer a wider range of jobs with the potential for higher earnings.
• Improved services - Access to better healthcare and educational facilities is a significant draw.
• Advanced transport links - Urban areas have more developed road, rail, and air networks.
• Success stories - Tales of improved lifestyles in cities inspire others to migrate.
• Greater freedoms - Cities often provide more political and religious freedom compared to rural regions.
• Stable governance - Urban areas may benefit from more consistent and effective administration.
• Food availability - Better access to food supplies reduces the risk of scarcity.
• Enhanced living conditions - The promise of improved housing and entertainment, often referred to as the 'bright lights' of the city, attracts many.

The role of natural growth in urban population increase

Beyond migration, the urban population in LIDCs grows due to natural increase, where the number of births exceeds deaths within the city population. This trend is particularly strong in LIDCs due to specific demographic characteristics.

Factors contributing to natural growth in urban areas

• Youthful population - LIDCs often have a large proportion of young people who are of childbearing age, leading to higher birth rates.
• Settled migrants - Once migrants secure jobs and housing in cities, they often start families, contributing to population growth.
• Contrast with advanced countries (ACs) - Unlike LIDCs, many advanced countries face an ageing population, resulting in lower natural growth rates in their urban areas.

The impact of rapid urban growth on the informal sector

Rapid urbanisation in LIDCs often outpaces the development of formal employment opportunities, leading to a significant rise in the informal sector. This sector encompasses unregulated and often unregistered work that becomes a primary source of income for many urban dwellers.

Characteristics of the informal sector in LIDCs

• Nature of employment - Jobs include roles like street vendors, shoe shiners, and waste collectors, which are not governed by formal contracts or regulations.
• Scale of involvement - A substantial portion of the workforce is engaged in informal work, with estimates suggesting over 50% of jobs in Mexico and up to 80% in parts of India.
• Key features of informal jobs - These roles require minimal start-up costs, demand few specialised skills, are labour-intensive, and operate on a small scale.
• Lack of benefits - Workers in this sector do not receive formal benefits such as pensions, holiday pay, or sick leave, and they have no legal protections.
• Economic contribution - Since informal workers do not pay taxes, their direct contribution to the country's gross national product (GNP) is limited.

The characteristics and challenges of informal housing

As urban populations swell in LIDCs, many new residents cannot access formal housing, leading to the growth of informal settlements. These are often known by local names such as favelas or shantytowns and present significant challenges for inhabitants.

Features of informal housing in LIDCs

• Location issues - These settlements are typically built on land not owned by the residents, often in hazardous or unsuitable areas such as:
  • Riverbeds prone to flooding after heavy rainfall.
  • Areas near industrial zones, posing health risks due to pollution.
  • Steep, unstable slopes at risk of landslides.
  • Land alongside railway tracks, creating safety hazards.
• Poor infrastructure - Basic services like electricity and water supply are unreliable or absent in these areas.
• Social challenges - High population densities contribute to the rapid spread of diseases and elevated crime rates.
• Economic pressures - Children often forgo education to work in the informal sector, supporting family income at the cost of their future prospects.
• Potential for improvement - Over time, some communities implement self-help initiatives to upgrade living conditions, gradually improving the quality of informal settlements.