Urbanization

and
Migration
Week 9

Recap of previous lecture

Patterns

and trends of SSA populations

Fertility

patterns
Mortality patterns
Migration

SSA

populations
A

predominantly black race

The poorest region of the world, and contains
of the Least Developed Countries (LDC) of the
world
Fast unprecedented growth rate
Worlds fastest growing population
Concentration of population in countries and
geographical areas that are rich with natural
resources or have better economic
opportunities.

Distinguishing features of SSA populations

children (< 15 years) form 43% of the population

of SSA
the population of SSA aged 65+ years is
presently 3%
it has population momentum
implication on the need to provide health and
educational infrastructure and services for
children and the young people

High fertility

TFR ranges from 2 to 7 in the region

CBR is 39 per thousand population
Teenage pregnancy or early childbearing is hugely prevalent

General

Mortality declines

Infant, Child and Maternal Mortality - major health problems

IMR in sSA 81 per thousand live births in 2010; 50 for all LDCs;
and 6 for MDCs.

URBANIZATION
Worldwide

, countries differ in
the ways in which they classify
their population as urban or
rural (village).
A population of 2000 or more people is
considered urban.

The

cut-off point may be higher

In Ghana , a population of 5000 or

more is considered urban.

Some countries consider availability of

certain services and facilities when
classifying.

See the United Nations Demographic Yearbook

for country definitions

 World

Urbanization Prospects, The 2011

Revision

2013,

World Population Data Sheet

WHAT IS URBANIZATION ?

The increase in the proportion of

the population residing in towns.

Global figures
Major

disparities in the level of

urbanization exist among development
groups.
The

proportion urban in the more

developed regions was already nearly 54
per cent in 1950

Sub-Saharan Africa is the least urbanized

region of the world.

That is, countries in Africa, other than

those at the North, are the least urbanized
in the world.

It will still take another decade for half of

the population of the less developed
regions to live in urban areas

The world urban population is expected to increase

by 72 per cent by 2050, from 3.6 billion in 2011 to
6.3 billion in 2050.

By mid-century the world urban population will

likely be the same size as the worlds total
population was in 2002.

Virtually all of the expected growth in the world

population will be concentrated in the urban areas
of the less developed regions

This could be as a result of :

Migration (particularly rural-urban migration).

Natural population increase

Reclassification of previous rural communities as urban as

they experience population increase and change their
character (Hinrichsen, Salem and Blackburn 2002: 6)

Sub-Saharan Africa is the least urbanized

region of the world.

That is, countries in Africa, other than those at

the North, are the least urbanized in the
world.

 Rate

of urbanization is the percentage

of population living in urban centers.

In

2004, the rate of urbanization in SSA

was 31%.

(LDC = 41%, MDC =76%)

In

2013, the rate of urbanization in SSA

was 37%.

(LDC = 28%, MDC =76%)

The rates of urbanization in

SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA (2005)
Large

variations

50% Southern

Africa
36% West Africa
35% Central Africa
22 % East Africa
Least
Most

urbanized
urbanized

Burundi (8%).

South Africa(53%).

The rates of urbanization in

SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA (2013)
Large

variations

58% Southern

Africa
45% West Africa
42% Central Africa
24 % East Africa
Least
Most

urbanized
urbanized

Burundi (11%).

Gabon (86%).

Some MDCs

Canada

80 %

Belgium

99 %

Denmark -

87 %

Iceland

95 %

GHANA
Between

1984 and 2000 the Accra

metropolis grew at a rate of 4% per
annum
190,000
1

million
1,658937
4 million
Presently

=
=
=
=

1957
1984
2000
2020

, 52 percent of all people living in

towns or urban areas of the country .

COASTAL TOWNS are most

urbanized in SSA

Reasons for coastal town urbanization

Pre-colonial trade with Europeans and Arab

Merchants; ports to export of raw materials
from other regions

Established plantations in the interior

Railroads were built to connect the towns

After independence the trading continued

because of export of goods

The establishment of capital towns

and colonial administration

Contact with missionaries (Christian).

Other towns in the interior

railways junctions
along major rivers
Near sources of valuable resources (mining towns
Jburg, Tarkwa, Konongo, Obuasi

Other towns grew as trading activities became

important following contact with European
traders

Lagos and Salaga (trade posts)

ISSUES WITH URBANIZATION IN

SUB-SAHARA AFRICA
The

lack of effective planning of cities

The

lack of regulatory policy frameworks

on city management
- housing, architecture, provision of play
grounds, hospitals and schools,
migration, industrial areas, noise levels,
transportation etc.

Economies have not grown to be able to

support urbanization;

job opportunities, efficiency (as against

bureaucracy and red tapeism),

high income across board

low cost of living.

 Inadequate

social amenities; schools, health,

water and electricity.

The

lack of essential infrastructure to support

the high numbers; good roads with street
lights, good housing, sanitation, effective
drainage system etc.

Growth of large cities

The growth of large cities and

metropolitan areas has been one of the
most remarkable demographic stories of
past decades.

 Cities

of 10 million or more are often

referred to as mega-cities.
In

1950, 117 million people lived in the

top 30 metros but that number rose to
426 million by 2011.

In

1950, 19 of the top 30 cities were in

industrialized countries. By 2011, that
number had shrunk to eight.

In

1950, Delhi was not even in the top 30

but it is now second behind only Tokyo.

 Such

phenomenal growth is usually

due to rural-urban migration as
migrants seek a better life in cities.

CAUSES OF URBANIZATION
PUSH-PULL THESIS

Circumstances at the place of origin

PUSH

poverty, unemployment

Opportunities in urban areas - high

standard of
living or job opportunities PULL

 urban

biased development.

Employment
Educational
Social

opportunities

options

infrastructure & Amenities

Modern

lifestyles

Deteriorating

agric land

Poor

markets

Lack

of banking facilities

FEATURES OF URBANIZATION

THE NEED FOR MONEY IS HIGHER IN

URBAN CENTERS DUE TO ;

Modern lifestyles and ways of doings things.

Healthcare.

Education.

Housing .

Utilities.

ENVIRONMENTAL

Overcrowding.

Sanitation.

Flooding.

SOCIAL

Crime

Streetism

Care

HEALTH

Stress, sedentary lifestyles

Non communicable Diseases are higher in

the cities than in the rural areas

Pollution from vehicles, industries

Globalization; dietary changes, risky

behaviours

Consumption of refined foods and vegetable

oils is high

IMPLICATIONS OF (UNMANAGED)
URBANIZATION

CRIME: The majority of criminal cases in Ghana has

been recorded in Accra and in a survey conducted by
the Center for Democracy and Development I 999, it
was reported that 35.5 percent of there respondents
indicated that they felt less safe when walking bout
alone.

Prostitution
Overcrowding and congestion
Poor housing facilities
Urban poverty.
flooding due to insanitary conditions.