Rural-urban migration in LEDCs is driven by push factors like poverty, lack of work, and natural disasters, and pull factors like opportunities for employment and higher wages in cities. This causes rapid urban growth and the emergence of shanty towns with poor living conditions lacking basic services. Governments have tried improving existing slums through low-cost construction upgrades and self-help housing schemes to address the challenges of accommodating the large influx of migrants.

1. What is rural-urban migration? What is rural depopulation? Shanty towns
Rural-urban migration is the movement of people Rural depopulation is usually when numbers of working age HOUSING - is often a collection of
from the countryside to the city. people migrate from the countryside to earn more money in primitive shacks made from any available
This causes two things to happen: the city. They leave behind the old and the young. material. Most houses lack such basic
1. Urban growth - towns and cities are expanding, amenities as electricity, gas, running water
covering a greater area of land. and sewerage. No refuse collection.
2. Urbanisation - an increasing proportion of Problems faced in LEDC cities HEALTH - lack of clean water, no
people living in towns and cities. • Poor electricity and power supplies disposal of human waste and rubbish lead
Mega cities - those with over 10 million people. • Pollution to disease. Can't afford doctors.
• Lack of clean water EDUCATION - is limited as there are very
• Few employment opportunities few schools. Many, even by the age of 6,
Push and pull factors • Traffic problems are trying to earn some money.
PUSH PULL • Poverty TRANSPORT - earth tracks that often just
• Famine, drought, • Employment • Drugs, gangs and violence fill up with rubbish. Few public transport
• Poor education and health provision systems.
natural disasters FAMILY LIFE - is under constant threat.
• Poor living conditions - • Higher incomes • Poor sewerage systems
The factors listed above can lead to break
housing, education and • Poor rubbish collection
down of marriages. Increase in crime and
health care • Lack of shelter
‘street children’.
• Agricultural change • Better healthcare and
(see notes on the Green education
Revolution). Improving life for the urban poor
• Unemployment • Urban facilities and Rural-Urban Migration Although most governments would like to remove
way of life shanty towns from their cities, they cannot afford
• War and conflict • Protection from in LEDCs to build the necessary replacement
conflict accommodation. Two government-assisted
schemes in Sao Paulo aimed at improving the
quality of life in the shantytowns are:
Examples of push factors from rural areas
1. Modernization of agriculture in countries such as
Sao Paulo, Brazil Low-cost Improvements
Brazil has resulted in more machines and the need • Sao Paulo is a cosmopolitan, industrial city with Existing housing is improved by re-building with
for fewer workers. Many workers have migrated to nearly 18 million people, with 11 shopping malls, cheap, quick and easy to use breezeblocks. A tank
the cities e.g.. Sao Paulo. many apartment blocks for the rich, and lots of of water on the roof collects rainwater. Electricity
2. Flooding in Bangladesh destroyed the food crops
entertainment. and sewerage may by added. Most people who live
for millions of people. In these circumstances • In the early 1970s the city was one of the fastest- in these will have some sort of employment so that
people may have no option but to move to the city. growing places in South America with 150 they can pay low rents.
migrants arriving every hour, attracted by the
prospect of jobs. Many of these put up shacks on Self-help schemes
Attraction to the urban areas land that was at the edge of the city. Groups of people are encouraged to help build
People are attracted to urban areas because they think that • In the next 25 years most of the housing was built their new homes. Each group will do basic work
they will have greater opportunities there. For many, life with very little control or regulation. such as digging the ditches to take the water and
is better but some end up in poverty. • Conditions were very poor, living spaces cramped, sewerage pipes. The local authority will then
clean water was expensive and sewage a problem. provide breezeblocks and roofing tiles, and the
• Crime was rife and new rural families were group will provide the labour. The advantages of
This module is about why people move from the vulnerable to gangs who occupied land and this is that it can be done in stages and create a
countryside to the cities in POOR (LEDC) countries. illegally sold off plots to newcomers. community spirit.