Sponsor Area

Human Settlements

Question
CBSEENGE12024590

Examine the criteria used by different countries for designated settlements as urban.

Solution
Some of the criteria used by different countries for designating settlements as urban are:
 

1. Size of Population: It is an important criteria which has been adopted by census department to determine a settlement as urban. The census department of different countries have taken their own criterion of the size of population. For example in Denmark and Sweden urban settlement is that where 250 persons are there. In Canada it is 1000 while in India it is 5000.

2. Occupational or Functional structure: Urban settlement differ from rural settlement. In Italy a settlement is called an urban if more then 50% of the economically productive population are engaged in non-agricultural activities. In India an urban population is that where 75% people are engaged in secondary or tertiary activities.

3. Administrative decision: It is also a criteria. Urban centres are generally administered by municipality or corporations. In several cities of Latin America such as Brazil the administration centre is called an urban irrespective of its size. In India a settlement with big than 5000 population can became an urban centre.