The rank-size ruleThe rank-size rule

By DominikaBy Dominika

What is it?What is it?

It is a simple model which states It is a simple model which states that population size of a given city that population size of a given city tends to be equal to the population tends to be equal to the population of the largest city divided by the of the largest city divided by the rank of the given cityrank of the given city

Pr=P1/rPr=P1/r Pr- population of the largest city Pr- population of the largest city ranked rranked r

P- population of the largest cityP- population of the largest city r- rank of the city rr- rank of the city r

Do all cities follow the rank size Do all cities follow the rank size rule?rule?

There is a There is a number of number of patterns.patterns.

The theoretical The theoretical rank-size rule rank-size rule pattern is a pattern is a straight line.straight line.

In some In some countries, 1 countries, 1 city dominates city dominates and other cities and other cities are very small.are very small.

The rank size patternsThe rank size patterns

The urban primacyThe urban primacy: a single city : a single city dominates and is much more greater dominates and is much more greater that the next large centre (primary that the next large centre (primary pattern).pattern).

The binary pattern: The binary pattern: 2 or more cities 2 or more cities are larger than the predicted size.are larger than the predicted size.

Stepped order patternStepped order pattern: series of : series of levels and steps (conurbations, levels and steps (conurbations, cities, towns, etc.)cities, towns, etc.)

The primacyThe primacy Primate city:Primate city: Usually in LEDCs.Usually in LEDCs. A city with more A city with more than twice the than twice the population of the population of the next largest city.next largest city.

Rapid urbanization.Rapid urbanization. Migration.Migration. Strategic citiesStrategic cities Ports dominating Ports dominating the country.the country. Bangkok: 5,705,061Bangkok: 5,705,061

Nonthaburi:264,651Nonthaburi:264,651

The primate cityThe primate city

Economies of scale can be achieved.Economies of scale can be achieved. Attractive places of migration.Attractive places of migration. Large-scale of services availableLarge-scale of services available

BUTBUT

House shortages,traffic,crime,pollution.House shortages,traffic,crime,pollution. Urban and rural inequalities, unemployment.Urban and rural inequalities, unemployment. Congestion, pollution.Congestion, pollution. Concentration of power supplies.Concentration of power supplies.

World’s largest citiesWorld’s largest cities

SlovakiaSlovakia Bratislava: 423,737Bratislava: 423,737 Košice: 236,563Košice: 236,563 Prešov: 94,718Prešov: 94,718 Nitra: 86,329Nitra: 86,329 Zilina: 85,985Zilina: 85,985 Banská Bystrica: Banská Bystrica: 82,33682,336

Trnava: 69,785Trnava: 69,785 Martin: 60,817Martin: 60,817 Trenčín: 58,278Trenčín: 58,278 Poprad: 57,432Poprad: 57,432

Graph

Rank-size rule Graph

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AustraliaAustralia Sydney: 4,336,374Sydney: 4,336,374 Melbourne: Melbourne: 3,806,0923,806,092

Brisbane:1,857,594Brisbane:1,857,594 Perth:1,554,769Perth:1,554,769 Adelaide:1,158,259Adelaide:1,158,259 Gold Coast:583,657Gold Coast:583,657 Newcastle:523,662Newcastle:523,662 Canberra: 388,072Canberra: 388,072 Wollongong: 280,159Wollongong: 280,159 Sunshine Sunshine Coast:230,429Coast:230,429

Rank-size rule graph

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ThailandThailand

Bangkok: 5,705,061Bangkok: 5,705,061 Nonthaburi:264,651Nonthaburi:264,651 Pak Kret:173,622Pak Kret:173,622 Hat Yai:157,596Hat Yai:157,596 Chiang Mai:147,504Chiang Mai:147,504 Udon Thani:141,751Udon Thani:141,751 Surat Thani:127,237Surat Thani:127,237 Khon Kaen:118,667Khon Kaen:118,667 Nakhon Si Nakhon Si Thammarat:108,317Thammarat:108,317

rank-size rule Graph

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South AfricaSouth Africa Cape Town:2,415,408Cape Town:2,415,408 Durban:2,117,650Durban:2,117,650 Johannesburg:1,480,53Johannesburg:1,480,5300

Pretoria:1,104,479Pretoria:1,104,479 Soweto:1,098,094Soweto:1,098,094 Port Port Elizabeth:749,921Elizabeth:749,921

Pietermaritzburg:378,Pietermaritzburg:378,126126

Benoni:365,467Benoni:365,467 Vereeniging:346,780Vereeniging:346,780 Bloemfontein:333,769Bloemfontein:333,769

Rank-size rule Graph

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Key questions:

What factors affect the urban hierarchy of a country?

Why do primate cities develop?

What affect do primate cities have on the development of a country?