“What is Urbanization?”

It is a shift of population from rural to urbanized areas. It refers to the rising proportion of the population living in urban areas, and the way people adapts to the changes.

Urbanization is the new trend all around the world. It is driven by the increase in world’s population from 2 billion to 6 billion, over the span of nine decades, since 1900. The urban population increased more rapidly from 2.4 million to 2.9 billion in 2000 and is expected to rise to 5 billion by 2030.

According to United Nations reports in 2013, they mentioned that without fresh ideas to address rapid urbanization, the number of people living in slums lacking access to basic infrastructure and services such as sanitation, electricity, and health care may skyrocket from one billion at present to three billion by 2050. Thus from a utilitarian point of view, a country should seek urbanization to achieve greater satisfaction from a large portion of the population.

“What about Singapore? What had Urbanization done to Singapore?”

Singapore was a small fishing village in the 1960s. After she separated from Malaysia in 1965, Mr Lee Kuan Yew, a founding father of Singapore, aspired to transformed Singapore’s third world economy to one of the most advanced countries it is today.

Singapore River in 1965

Working towards his aspiration and his promise to Singaporeans to a better life, Singapore underwent rapid industrialization and urbanization. These are done to boost Singapore’s economy and competitiveness, as well as pursuing prosperity and stability of the country.

Singapore River today

In 2013, Singapore is ranked 1 for the highest degree in urbanization. And with that, The Singapore Straits Times reported that Singapore today, is the 3rd richest country in the world!