Final answer:
The highest rates of urbanization are occurring in low- and middle-income nations due to rural-to-urban migration driven by economic development. High-income countries typically have higher levels of urbanization but are now experiencing stable or declining urban population growth, whereas areas such as Africa are still urbanizing.
Step-by-step explanation:
The highest rates of urbanization are occurring in low- and middle-income nations (B). Contrary to the trends in high-income countries, where urbanization has largely stabilized due to earlier transitions to urban living, low- and middle-income countries are now experiencing significant rural-to-urban migration. This shift is driven by several factors, including the search for better employment opportunities, which are often found in urban areas. As these countries develop economically, a larger proportion of their populations start living in urban areas, following the general pattern of modernization and development . In comparison, high-income nations, often referred to as core nations, have already undergone significant urbanization during the Industrial Era, and now exhibit stable or even declining urban population growth. Many of these countries currently have about 80% of their population living in urban areas, reflecting a plateau in urbanization rates. It is important to note that globally, the level of urbanization is uneven, and some regions, especially in Africa and low-income countries, are still in earlier stages of urbanization with only about 30% of the populations living in urban areas.