Write a comparative note on urbanisition in Brazil and India.
Answers
Brazil has seen a spurt in growth of industries, in recent times. Industries, commercial activities and tourism attracts more and more people to the urban areas. Mostly those who have migrated from villages or interior areas in search of employment in industries. It is estimated that 87% of Brazil's population, currently live in urban areas.
India is not far behind Brazil in urbanisation. The current urban population, in India is 31%. Studies suggest that by the end of next decade, more than 50% of India's population will be living in urban cities. In recent years, India has been witnessing an industrial and economic revolution. The resultant growth lead to rapid urbanisation.
Brazil is a highly urbanized country whereas India has much lesser than half its population in urban areas. Various factors are responsible for this.
i) Literary rate is high in Brazil (92.6% in 2010). On the other hand, during the same year, India had touched 72.2% only. Literate population can contribute more towards urbanisation.
ii) Life expectancy is as high as 75 years in 2016 in brazil, but only 68 in India in the same year. This is another factor that can influence urbanisation, directly or indirectly/insignificantly.
iii) The physiography play an important role in urbanisation. In Brazil, the interior of the amazon river basin area is not very densely populated i.e the North and the North Eastern part (only inland) - due to inaccessibility, dense forests, heavy rainfall and unfavourable climatic conditions. India has less population in the North i.e the Himalayan region, in the west -in rajasthan desert area, in the eastern Himalayas and in the densely forested areas due to similar reasons like inaccessibility and unfavourable climatic conditions.
iv) Brazil's percentage of urban population in 1960 was 47.1%. India has not touched that figure even now. According to latest data available, Brazil's urban population is at 84.6% (2010) and India at 31.2%(2011). Both India and Brazil have dense population in the coastal regions. India may take a few more decades to chase and catch up with the urban population percentage of Brazil.