The process by which rural populations migrate to cities and urban areas expand, transforming predominantly agricultural societies into industrial and service-based economies. This demographic shift fundamentally reshapes social, economic, and political structures.
From Latin 'urbanus' (relating to a city) combined with '-ization' (process of becoming). The term emerged in the 19th century to describe the rapid city growth accompanying industrialization, though urban development has ancient roots.
The urbanization triggered by industrialization created entirely new social problems—from overcrowded slums to labor movements—that forced governments to expand their roles in housing, sanitation, and workers' rights. Today's rapid urbanization in developing countries echoes 19th-century patterns but at unprecedented speed and scale, with cities like Lagos and Dhaka growing faster than infrastructure can keep pace.
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