Small Urban Centres and Large Villages: The Habitat for Much of the World’s Low-Income Population 1

This chapter explores the proportion of national and of urban populations that live in small urban centres, and draws on the most recent census data available from each nation. It proposes the national populations that live in ‘large villages’ that have urban characteristics but which national governments choose to continue classifying as ‘rural’ — because these house a considerable proportion of the world’s rural population. A considerable part of the growth in urban services can be to meet demand from agricultural producers and rural populations. Many rural settlements have households that rely on non-agricultural jobs, and non-agricultural employment opportunities may be very important for reducing rural poverty. The spatial distribution of any nation’s urban population is best understood as the ‘geography’ of its non-agricultural economy and government system. In China, the criteria for urban designation have changed dramatically in response to changing urbanization policies and economic development strategies.