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Studying the development and location of cities with populations exceeding 10 million people.
Imagine a single city with more people than the entire country of Australia. How do millions of people live, work, and move in one space without everything grinding to a halt?
To identify a megacity, we look at the total metropolitan population. 1. Tokyo, Japan: ~37 million people. 2. Delhi, India: ~32 million people. 3. Shanghai, China: ~28 million people. 4. Dhaka, Bangladesh: ~22 million people. 5. Sao Paulo, Brazil: ~22 million people. Notice that four out of these five are located in Asia.
Quick Check
What is the minimum population required for a city to be classified as a megacity?
Answer
10 million people.
Consider two cities: London (UK) and Lagos (Nigeria). 1. London: Growing at approx per year. It is an established city with stable infrastructure. 2. Lagos: Growing at approx per year. It experiences massive rural-to-urban migration. At a growth rate, a city's population can double in just 20 years, creating immense pressure on housing and transport.
Quick Check
Why are megacities in Europe growing more slowly than those in Africa?
Answer
European countries are already highly urbanized and have lower birth rates (aging populations) compared to the rapid industrialization and migration seen in Africa.
Megacities are the command and control centers of the global economy. They are not just places where people live; they are hubs for innovation, finance, and trade. Because so many people and businesses are packed together, they benefit from agglomeration economies—the idea that being close together reduces costs and increases productivity. A single megacity like Tokyo has a Gross Metropolitan Product (GMP) larger than the entire GDP of many medium-sized countries. They host the headquarters of multinational corporations and major stock exchanges, making them vital to the world's financial health.
Imagine the impact of a strike in a megacity like Shanghai. 1. Local Impact: Production stops in thousands of factories. 2. National Impact: China's export data drops significantly. 3. Global Impact: Tech companies in the US and Europe face 'supply chain disruptions' because components aren't shipped. This demonstrates that megacities are the 'nodes' in a global network; if one node fails, the whole network feels the vibration.
Which of the following is a primary 'pull factor' for megacity growth in developing nations?
If City A has 12 million people and City B has 8 million people, which one is a megacity?
Megacities in Europe are growing faster than megacities in Asia.
Review Tomorrow
In 24 hours, try to list five megacities and recall the specific population number that defines them.
Practice Activity
Open a world map and try to find Tokyo, Delhi, Shanghai, Sao Paulo, and Mexico City. Notice their proximity to coastlines or major rivers.