Year 8 · Geography · Geographical knowledge and understanding
Urbanisation in Australia and the world
Learners investigate why people move to cities, the pattern of urban settlement in Australia, and the opportunities and challenges of urban growth.
Awaiting educator review. This material was drafted by our content team with AI assistance and is waiting for review by a qualified educator. Please check it suits your child before using it. Created 10 October 2026.
Learning goals
Learners will
- Define urbanisation and describe global trends.
- Describe and explain Australia's pattern of urban settlement.
- Explain push and pull factors in migration to cities.
Success looks like
- I can explain what urbanisation is.
- I can describe where most Australians live and why.
- I can identify push and pull factors.
- I can describe a challenge caused by rapid urban growth.
The big idea
Urbanisation is the increase in the proportion of people living in urban areas. Since around 2007, more than half the world's people have lived in towns and cities, and this share continues to rise.
Australia is one of the most urbanised countries. About two-thirds of Australians live in the greater capital cities, and most of the population lives within a short distance of the coast, especially in the south-east and south-west.
This pattern reflects climate and water (more rain near the coast), history (colonies began as coastal ports), and jobs and services concentrated in cities.
People move for push factors (lack of jobs, drought, limited services) and pull factors (jobs, education, health care, entertainment). Within Australia, internal migration includes moves to cities, and also 'sea change' and 'tree change' moves to coastal and regional towns.
Some cities are growing extremely fast, especially in Asia and Africa. Megacities such as Tokyo, Delhi, Shanghai, Dhaka and Lagos have more than 10 million people.
Rapid growth brings opportunities (jobs, innovation, services) and challenges: congestion, pollution, housing shortages and pressure on water and sanitation. In some fast-growing cities, many people live in informal settlements. In Australian cities, challenges include housing affordability, urban sprawl and long commutes.
Worked examples
Classifying factors
Classify: (a) a drought on a farm; (b) a university course in the city; (c) few health services in a small town.
- (a) encourages leaving: push.
- (b) attracts to the city: pull.
- (c) encourages leaving: push.
Answer: (a) push, (b) pull, (c) push.
Calculating urban percentage
A country has 20 million people, 17 million in urban areas. What percentage is urban?
- 17 ÷ 20 = 0.85.
- 0.85 × 100 = 85%.
Answer: 85%.
Practice check
Have a go, then check your answers. Each answer comes with an explanation.
Answer guide for parents
What is urbanisation?
The increase in the proportion of people living in towns and cities — Urbanisation is the rising share of people in urban areas.
Where do most Australians live?
In coastal cities, especially in the south-east — Most Australians live in coastal cities.
Which is a pull factor?
Better job opportunities — Jobs attract people to a place.
A megacity has a population of more than…
10 million — Megacities have more than 10 million people.
What is a 'sea change'?
Moving from a city to a coastal town for lifestyle — Sea change describes moving to a coastal town.
A town has 10,000 people, of whom 2,500 moved there in the last five years. What percentage is that?
25 — 2,500 ÷ 10,000 = 0.25 = 25%.
People moving within the same country is called ____ migration.
internal — Internal migration happens within a country.
Something that encourages people to leave a place is a ____ factor.
push — Push factors drive people away.
Watch out for
- Some think urbanisation means cities are getting bigger only because of births. Migration, both internal and international, is a major cause.
- Learners may assume all fast-growing cities are in poorer countries. Growth happens in many kinds of countries, including Australia.
Tips for parents
- Look at an Australian population density map together and discuss why the centre has few people.
- Talk about family moves between cities, regions or countries and their push and pull factors.
- Avoid stereotypes when discussing informal settlements; emphasise residents' resourcefulness and the causes of rapid growth.
Go further
- Compare population growth in your capital city with a megacity in Asia using a line graph.
- Interview a family member who moved to or from a city about their reasons.
- Research how one city is planning for future growth.