Pearson Edexcel GCSE Geography A (1GA0) · Spec 4.1 and 4.2
Urban trends around the world and in the UK
Read the notes, then try the questions. Each one is marked the moment you press Check, and shows the right answer and why.
Key ideas
- Urbanisation is the growth of the share of people who live in towns and cities. It is fastest in lower-income countries.
- Rural-urban migration happens because of push factors (such as poor jobs in the countryside) and pull factors (such as jobs, schools and healthcare in cities). Natural increase also adds people.
- A megacity has 10 million or more people.
- A low urban percentage usually means most people still work in farming and other rural jobs.
- UK population is not spread evenly. It is sparse in upland Scotland and Wales. Density is people per square kilometre.
Key terms
- Urbanisation
- The increase in the proportion of people living in towns and cities.
- Megacity
- A city with 10 million or more people.
- Natural increase
- When more people are born than die.
- Population density
- The number of people per square kilometre.
- Pull factor
- Something that attracts people to a place.
Common mistakes
- Using 'population increase' or 'employment' on its own as a reason for urbanisation. Give a specific reason, such as better jobs, schools and healthcare in cities.
- Treating push factors as positives. Push factors are the negatives that make people leave.
- Mixing up distribution and density. Distribution is where people live. Density is how many per square kilometre.
Exam tip
For a data item, read the scale and units carefully. For 'calculate', show the working and give the units and decimal places asked for.
Free practice questions
6 questions, 11 marks. Answer, then press Check. The marking guide explains how the marks are worked out. Nothing is saved.
- Question 1 · Multiple choice[1 mark]
India was 35.1% urban in 2023. Which is the most likely reason a country has a low urban percentage?
- Question 2 · Multiple choice[1 mark]
What is a megacity?
- Question 3 · Multiple choice[1 mark]
Which statement gives a reason why the urban population of a lower-income country is rising?
- Question 4 · Fill the gaps[2 marks]
Population ___ is the number of people per square kilometre, found by dividing population by ___.
Word bank: density · area · distribution
- Question 5 · True or false[3 marks]
Decide whether each statement about UK population is true or false.
1. Population density is the number of people per square kilometre.
2. Distribution and density mean exactly the same thing.
3. The UK population is sparse in upland Scotland and Wales.
- Question 6 · True or false[3 marks]
Decide whether each statement about urbanisation is true or false.
1. Rural-urban migration is the movement of people from the countryside to cities.
2. Pull factors are negatives that push people out of a place.
3. Natural increase happens when more babies are born than people die.