What term refers to a significant increase in the number and size of cities?

Urbanization refers to the process by which an increasing percentage of a population comes to live in urban areas, leading to a significant rise in the number and size of cities. This phenomenon often results from various factors, including the migration of people from rural areas to cities in search of better employment opportunities, education, and services, as well as the natural growth of the population within urban areas.

Urbanization is closely linked to societal changes, economic development, and technological progress. As industries grow, they often concentrate in urban areas, attracting workers and leading to the expansion of city infrastructures and services.

The other terms refer to different concepts: industrialization focuses specifically on the shift from agrarian economies to industrial production, globalization pertains to the increasing interconnectedness of economies and cultures across the world, and expansion can refer to growth in various contexts but is not exclusively related to urban development. Hence, urbanization is the most precise term that captures the essence of significant increases in city populations and sizes.