What is the term used for the increase in the number of people living in towns and cities?

Urbanisation refers to the process by which an increasing percentage of a population comes to live in urban areas, namely towns and cities. This phenomenon generally occurs as a result of various factors such as economic opportunities, improved living standards, and better access to services that urban areas offer compared to rural settings. As populations migrate from rural areas to urban centers, the number of individuals residing in these urban environments increases significantly.

In contrast, urban decay pertains to the decline of a city or a part of it, characterized by neglect and a reduction in population, which can lead to deteriorating infrastructure. Urban sprawl describes the outward expansion of cities into surrounding areas, often leading to the development of suburbs and low-density housing, but it does not specifically denote an increase in population. Population shift is a broader term that can refer to changes in population distribution, and it is not exclusive to urban areas. Thus, urbanisation specifically captures the essence of increasing urban populations.