Nairobi : a city in an LEDC

Location and importance Nairobi is in western Kenya It is the capital and the largest city

Population Nairobi’s population in 1995 was 1.5 million. The population grew from 100,00 in 1948 to 1.3 million in 1989. It is expected to double by 2010.

Population Growth This rapid growth is due mainly to rural-urban migration. A young population means that the rate of natural increase is very high too.

Population Growth(2) Many push factors encourage people to leave rural areas including poverty and unemployment Pull factors like the promise of better jobs and services encourage people to move to Nairobi.

Problems This increase in population has led to a shortage of cheap housing and overcrowding. Most households share 1 room with 6-7 people in each household. This results in a high population density. (73,000 people per sq.km.).

Problems(2) lower standards of health, hygiene and sanitation. Lack of basic services like water supply and mains drainage. Illegal slums may be pulled down by property developers causing homelessness.

Shanty towns 55% of Nairobi's population live on 6% of the city’s area in shanty towns. They are mainly to the W. of Nairobi on the edge, along roads, railway lines or by rivers. An example is Kariobangi.