CBSE Class 8 · India's Urban Landscape

Urbanisation, Population Density and Why Cities Grow: Class 8 Notes and Questions

Updated 17 October 2026 · Fact-checked

Urbanisation is the shift of population from rural to urban areas. Cities grow near rivers, coasts, trade routes and resources and through industries, services, education, tourism and administration. Population density is population divided by area in square kilometres. India's urban share rose from 17 per cent in 1951 to around 40 per cent in 2025, and cities also act as hubs of culture.

Notice the orange urban part more than doubles from 17% to 40%, and density is people divided by area in sq km.

Illustration drawn for QuestionBuddy.

Understand Urbanisation, Population Density and Why Cities Grow

Urban and rural. Cities have concentrations of people, businesses, government institutions, and elaborate transport and communication, with elected local bodies; rural areas are villages with smaller populations, close-knit communities, mostly agriculture-based work, and governed by gram panchayats. Definitions differ across countries: a place is urban if its population exceeds 220 in Denmark, 50,000 in Japan and 5,000 in India (as NCERT notes).

Population density. Demographers measure how crowded a place is: population density = total population of a region / area of the region (in square km), expressed as people per sq km. Cities have much higher densities than villages. NCERT's examples: Singapore has over 8,000 people per sq km. NCERT shows Kolkata and New Delhi among the world's most populous cities in 2025 (the bar chart shows a range of about 2.25 to 4.19 crore).

Urbanisation. The population shift from rural to urban areas and the corresponding fall in the proportion of rural people. According to UN estimates, by 2050 about 68 per cent of the world will live in cities, compared with 55 per cent now; in India the urban population grew from 17 per cent in 1951 to around 40 per cent in 2025. Process: rural origins (farm work) to early urbanisation (shift to secondary and tertiary sectors, small towns and trading centres) to cities with new infrastructure and diverse jobs, which then expand into metropolitan areas.

Why cities grow.

Location: near rivers, coasts and trade routes; Mumbai (Arabian Sea) and Kolkata (eastern coast) became port cities.
Resources and industry: Sakchi, a village on the Chota Nagpur Plateau, was chosen for Asia's first steel plant because of nearby iron ore. The Tata family planned a township with wide tree-lined streets, gardens, a hospital and civic amenities; it was renamed Jamshedpur in 1919 and is now Jharkhand's largest industrial city.
Finance and commerce: the Bombay Stock Exchange (1875) made Mumbai the financial capital; the film industry began in the 1910s.
Clusters and education: Bengaluru, the 'Silicon Valley of India', has software firms, start-ups and higher-education institutions; Hyderabad is a technology centre.
Specialised smaller cities: Moradabad (brass), Ludhiana and Tirupur (textiles), Jaipur (handicrafts and gem jewellery), Channapatna (wooden toys), Kanchipuram (silk sarees). Kochi, Indore, Lucknow and Nagpur attract companies because operating costs are lower than in big cities.
History, culture, pilgrimage and tourism: Agra's Taj Mahal draws 70-80 lakh visitors a year; Amritsar and Varanasi thrive on pilgrims, supporting transport, hospitality, food and handicrafts.
Administration: Delhi has been a centre of culture, trade and administration since the Iron Age; after Independence New Delhi became the capital. To ease pressure the National Capital Region (NCR) took in NOIDA and Ghaziabad; Gurugram has been an IT and BPO hub since the 1990s. BPO means a company hiring another provider to do specific business functions.

Cities as cultural hubs. Cities draw people of many regions and create a mix of languages, customs, food and festivals. Example: vada pav, popular among Mumbai's textile mill workers. Kolkata's Durga Puja was inscribed on UNESCO's list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2021. Cities also host museums, libraries, cultural centres and stadiums, and places for exchanging ideas, such as the Pradhanmantri Sangrahalay in New Delhi.

Urbanisation, Population Density and Why Cities Grow: key facts

Population density: Total population of a region / area of the region in sq km | unit: persons per sq km; Higher in cities.
Urban share (NCERT): India: 17 per cent in 1951
around 40 per cent in 2025
World: 55 per cent now, 68 per cent by 2050; UN estimates.
Urban threshold: Denmark over 220
Japan 50,000
India 5,000; Definitions vary.
Why cities grow: Location
Resources and industry
Finance and trade
Education and clusters
Tourism and pilgrimage
Administration; Six reasons.
Specialised towns: Moradabad brass
Tirupur and Ludhiana textiles
Channapatna toys
Kanchipuram silk
Jaipur handicrafts; Industry clusters.

Denmark	over 220
Japan	50,000
India	5,000

Moradabad	brass
Tirupur and Ludhiana	textiles
Channapatna	toys
Kanchipuram	silk
Jaipur	handicrafts

How to answer Urbanisation, Population Density and Why Cities Grow questions

Questions ask for population density calculations, reasons for the growth of a named city, differences between urban and rural areas, and the role of cities as cultural and economic hubs.

1For density, write the formula, substitute, and state the unit persons per sq km.
2For city growth, pick factors from location, resources, trade, education, tourism and administration, and tie each to a named city.
3For urban versus rural, compare occupations, governance, density and facilities.
4For cultural hubs, give two examples (Mumbai's vada pav, Kolkata's Durga Puja).
5Quote percentages with their years and sources.

Urbanisation, Population Density and Why Cities Grow in real life

The idea, met in an everyday situation. Answer the question in your own words, then compare with the model answer. The one-line hook is what to remember.

Calculating population density

Suppose a village has 3,600 people spread over 12 sq km, while a city ward has 90,000 people in 15 sq km (hypothetical figures).

Find each density and compare.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

Village density = 3,600 / 12 = 300 per sq km.
Ward density = 90,000 / 15 = 6,000 per sq km.
Ratio = 6,000 / 300 = 20.

Answer: The village has 300 persons per sq km and the city ward 6,000 persons per sq km, so the ward is 20 times as dense. Check: 300 x 12 = 3,600 and 6,000 x 15 = 90,000.

Memory hook: People divided by area, per square kilometre.

Tricks to remember Urbanisation, Population Density and Why Cities Grow

Short memory aids. Say each one aloud once, then use it on a question the same day.

L-R-F-E-T-A
Location, Resources, Finance, Education, Tourism, Administration.
Use it when: Reasons for city growth.
17 to 40
India's urban share: 17 per cent in 1951; around 40 per cent in 2025.
Use it when: Urbanisation numbers.
Sakchi to Jamshedpur
Iron ore plus Tata township; renamed in 1919.
Use it when: Industry-led growth.

Urbanisation, Population Density and Why Cities Grow: solved examples

Ordered from board level to HOTS. Try each one before you open the solution.

Example 1: Urban threshold in India · 1 mark · MCQBoard level

According to NCERT, a place becomes urban in India if its population exceeds:
(a) 220
(b) 5,000
(c) 50,000
(d) 1,00,000

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

NCERT gives 5,000 for India, 220 for Denmark and 50,000 for Japan (1 mark).

Answer: (b) 5,000

Example 2: Population density (3 marks) · 3 marks · Short answerHarder board level

A city has an area of 480 sq km and a population of 24,00,000, and a rural district has an area of 2,400 sq km and a population of 7,20,000. Find the densities and say how many times denser the city is. (3 marks)

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

City density = 24,00,000 / 480 = 5,000 per sq km (1 mark).
District density = 7,20,000 / 2,400 = 300 per sq km (1 mark).
5,000 / 300 = 16.67, so about 16.7 times denser (1 mark).

Answer: City density = 24,00,000 / 480 = 5,000 persons per sq km. Rural district density = 7,20,000 / 2,400 = 300 persons per sq km. The city is about 5,000 / 300 = 16.7 times as dense. Check: 5,000 x 480 = 24,00,000 and 300 x 2,400 = 7,20,000.

Example 3: Assertion-reason: Jamshedpur · 1 mark · Assertion-reasonHarder board level

Assertion (A): Sakchi was chosen for Asia's first steel plant.
Reason (R): It lay close to rich iron ore deposits.
(a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
(b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
(c) A is true, but R is false.
(d) A is false, but R is true.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

NCERT says it was chosen because of its proximity to rich iron ore (1 mark).

Answer: (a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.

Example 4: Why cities grow (5 marks) · 5 marks · Long answerHarder board level

Explain five factors that lead to the growth of cities in India with an example for each. (5 marks)

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

Location: Mumbai and Kolkata as ports (1 mark).
Resources and industry: Jamshedpur near iron ore (1 mark).
Finance and trade: Mumbai's stock exchange of 1875 (1 mark).
Education and industry clusters: Bengaluru's IT hub (1 mark).
Tourism or pilgrimage or administration: Agra, Varanasi or New Delhi (1 mark).

Answer: Cities grow for several reasons. A favourable location, near coasts, rivers or trade routes, helped Mumbai and Kolkata become ports for domestic and international trade. Natural resources and industry drew people to Jamshedpur, where a steel plant was built close to iron ore and a planned township grew around it. Finance and commerce, such as the Bombay Stock Exchange founded in 1875, made Mumbai the financial capital. Concentrations of software firms, start-ups and higher-education institutions made Bengaluru an IT hub. Tourism and pilgrimage sustain Agra, Amritsar and Varanasi, while administration made New Delhi grow, with the NCR easing the pressure.

Example 5: Case: Delhi and Gurugram · 4 marks · Case-basedHOTS / competency

Read the case and answer.

NCERT says Delhi has been a centre of culture, trade and administration from the Iron Age. After Independence, New Delhi became the capital with many ministries, industries, universities and research centres. Population growth put pressure on housing, water and sewerage systems. The National Capital Region (NCR) was created to include NOIDA and Ghaziabad, and better roads, highways and the metro helped expansion. Since the 1990s Gurugram has become a major IT and BPO hub.

(i) What does BPO stand for? (1)
(ii) Why was the NCR created? (1)
(iii) Explain two effects of rapid growth in such a region. (2)

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

(i) Business Process Outsourcing (1 mark).
(ii) To ease pressure on Delhi's housing, water and sewerage by developing surrounding towns (1 mark).
(iii) Jobs and housing and commercial growth; but pressure on infrastructure, traffic and pollution (2 marks).

Answer: (i) Business Process Outsourcing. (ii) To ease the pressure of Delhi's growing population on housing, water and sewerage by including neighbouring towns such as NOIDA and Ghaziabad. (iii) Growth brings jobs, global companies and new housing and commercial spaces; it can also strain infrastructure, raise traffic and add to pollution, which is why planning and transport such as the metro matter.

Where students lose marks in Urbanisation, Population Density and Why Cities Grow

The slips examiners see most often, and what to write instead.

Mistake: Wrong density formula
Reversing numerator and denominator.
Wrong working
Density = area / population.
Right working
Density = population / area.
Do this: Write the unit persons per sq km.
Usually costs: 1-2 marks.
Mistake: Using urban share figures without years
Incomplete quoting.
Wrong working
India's urban population is 40 per cent.
Right working
About 40 per cent in 2025, up from 17 per cent in 1951.
Do this: Always give the year.
Usually costs: 1 mark.
Mistake: Giving a single reason for a city's growth
Over-simplifying.
Wrong working
Mumbai grew only because of its port.
Right working
Port, stock exchange, film industry, infrastructure and diverse talent.
Do this: Give at least two factors.
Usually costs: 1 mark.

Exam tips

Do not forget units in density questions; verify by multiplying density by area.
Link each city with a distinct factor and one fact: Jamshedpur (iron ore, 1919), Mumbai (BSE 1875), Bengaluru (IT).
State that definitions of urban differ by country, with the three NCERT thresholds.
Write 'around 40 per cent in 2025' rather than a precise figure.

Practice questions on Urbanisation, Population Density and Why Cities Grow

Write each answer on paper first. Open the hint only if you are stuck, and the answer only when you have finished.

Q1 · 1 mark · MCQBoard level
Which Indian city is called the 'Silicon Valley of India'?
(a) Hyderabad
(b) Chennai
(c) Bengaluru
(d) Pune
Hint
IT hub with many start-ups.
Answer
(c) Bengaluru
Q2 · 2 marks · Very short answerBoard level
Name two differences between urban and rural areas. (2 marks)
Hint
Occupations and governance.
Answer
Urban areas have large populations, varied businesses and elaborate transport and are governed by elected local bodies such as municipalities; rural areas have smaller populations, mostly agriculture-based work, fewer businesses and are governed by gram panchayats.
Q3 · 3 marks · Short answerHarder board level
A town covers 250 sq km and has a population of 5,00,000. Find the density. If its area stays the same and its population rises to 6,25,000, find the new density and the percentage increase. (3 marks)
Hint
Density = population / area; percentage increase = change / original x 100.
Answer
Present density = 5,00,000 / 250 = 2,000 per sq km. New density = 6,25,000 / 250 = 2,500 per sq km. Increase = 500 per sq km; percentage increase = 500 / 2,000 x 100 = 25 per cent. Check: 2,000 x 1.25 = 2,500.
Q4 · 1 mark · Assertion-reasonHarder board level
Assertion (A): Smaller cities such as Indore and Nagpur attract companies.
Reason (R): The cost of operating there is lower than in larger cities.
(a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
(b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
(c) A is true, but R is false.
(d) A is false, but R is true.
Hint
Think costs.
Answer
(a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
Q5 · 5 marks · Long answerHOTS / competency
'Cities are centres of production as well as consumption, and also of culture.' Support this statement with examples from Mumbai, Kolkata and a pilgrimage city, and add one cost of urban growth. (5 marks)
Hint
Economic hub, cultural hub, tourism; strain on resources.
Answer
Mumbai is a trading and financial centre with a stock exchange since 1875 and a film industry from the 1910s; vada pav, a snack suited to mill workers, shows how a mix of cultures creates new food traditions. Kolkata, once the colonial capital, keeps institutions like the Indian Museum and Victoria Memorial and its Durga Puja is on UNESCO's list of Intangible Cultural Heritage (2021). Varanasi and Amritsar thrive because pilgrims create demand for transport, hospitality, food and handicrafts, giving livelihoods. Cities produce goods and services, consume them, and host museums, libraries and stadiums. A cost of such growth is pressure on water, housing, transport and the environment.

Test your recall

Answer in your head or on paper first, then open the card. Pulling an answer out of memory makes it stick far better than re-reading.

1.What is population density?Show answer
The number of people per square kilometre, found by dividing the population by the area.
2.When was Sakchi renamed Jamshedpur?Show answer
1919.
3.What does the NCR include besides Delhi, as per NCERT?Show answer
NOIDA and Ghaziabad.
4.Which Kolkata festival is on UNESCO's list of Intangible Cultural Heritage?Show answer
Durga Puja (inscribed in 2021).
5.What share of the world's people will live in cities by 2050 as per UN estimates?Show answer
About 68 per cent.

Urbanisation, Population Density and Why Cities Grow: frequently asked questions

What is urbanisation?

The shift of population from rural to urban areas, with a corresponding fall in the share of people living in rural areas.

Why did Mumbai become a financial hub?

Its port location, the Bombay Stock Exchange set up in 1875, expanding trade and commerce and the gathering of talent from many parts of society.

What are cities known for besides business?

They are cultural hubs with a mix of languages, foods and festivals, and with museums, libraries and stadiums.