- What is the urban population?
- History of the urban population
- Characteristics of the urban population
- Differences with rural populations
- Problems of the urban population
We explain what the urban population is, its history, characteristics and common problems. Also, differences with the rural population.
What is the urban population?
The urban population is one that lives in industrialized cities called metropolis or megalopolis, and that may have infrastructure large or moderate. Economic activity and its labor supply are the main causes of migration from rural areas to cities.
At present the population of the entire world is of seven thousand five hundred million inhabitants and more than half of the world population lives in urban areas (54%, according to the United Nations). It is estimated that in 2050 the total population will be 10 million and that 66% will live in urban areas.
History of the urban population
Signs of the first urban population emerged around 6,000 BC, when the human being he stopped being nomadic and acquired a more sedentary and group lifestyle. The population began to develop farming as an activity to stock up on food.
After many years, the Commerce Centralized became a very important activity that influenced the growth of cities. One of these great metropolises in history was the city of Rome.
From 1760 there was the Industrial Revolution, a period in which cities experienced great technological development that impacted the five sectors of economic activity. Towns called “suburbs” settled around the big cities.
Although they were made up of a minor population density, they had the same services than the metropolises but on a smaller scale.
Characteristics of the urban population
The urban population presents the following characteristics:
- A high population density.
- It is set in a vast territory.
- A scenery altered by the intervention of man.
- Prefers vertical building.
- The cost of land is high as a consequence of the demand for homes, businesses and other economic activities.
- It concentrates economic activity in the sectors secondary Y tertiary.
- It offers a wide variety of services (educational, health, financial, cultural, leisure, among others).
Differences with rural populations
The urban population differs from the rural population, mainly, by the number of inhabitants: it is considered "urban" when it has more than 2,500 inhabitants, and it is considered "rural", with less than 2,500 inhabitants.
The rural population lives in the countryside and has few means of transportation and reduced services (such as electricity in certain areas and water from underground waters). Develop your work in the sector primary or agriculture that involves the extraction of raw Materials through agriculture, beekeeping, cattle raising, among other.
The urban population lives in cities that offer multiple means of transport and a large number of services (such as street lighting, water distribution network, sewers, etc.). It develops its work between the different sectors of economic activity:
- Secondary (or industrial). Economic activities that transform raw materials into products elaborated.
- Tertiary (or services). Activities that provide services to the society, such as transportation, education, the Commerce, etc.
- Quaternary (or intellectual). Activities of planning, from government, from research and of technology of the information.
- Quinario (or non-profit). Artistic, educational, health, entertainment activities, among others.
Problems of the urban population
The main problems facing the growth of the urban population are:
- Gentrification. This term, which comes from the English gentry and what does it mean "bourgeoisie”, Refers to the suburban areas that are in decline and that are transformed into cities of a greater purchasing power, which further displaces poor or humble neighborhoods and worsens their situation (land and rents increase in value in the face of greater demand and the cost of living also increases).
- Greater vehicle traffic. Despite the fact that urban growth implies the development of public transport, an increase in vehicles (private or commercial) that generate air pollution Y noise pollution, traffic jams that cause long delays, etc.
- Deterioration of natural landscape. The ecosystem suffers damage, destruction and changes in biodiversity due to the construction of roads, highways, buildings and other engineering works that make possible the development of large urbanizations.
- Increased pollution. Both industrial activity and transport considerably pollute the environment. Despite the existence of policies that moderate and control the impact of pollution, urban growth advances faster than the implementation of the rules established.