Which term describes a city that dominates a country's urban system in population and services?

Which term describes a city that dominates a country's urban system in population and services?

• A. Megacity
• B. World city
• C. Primate city
• D. Annexation

Answer: (C)

Urban systems often feature one city that stands out by having far more people and providing a larger share of the country’s services than any other city. This pattern is described by the term primate city. A primate city isn’t just very large; it exerts outsized influence on national politics, economy, transport, media, and culture because so many functions are concentrated there. That’s why it dominates the country’s urban system. By contrast, a megacity refers to a very large city by population but doesn’t inherently imply dominance of the national urban structure; a world city emphasizes global connectivity and influence rather than national dominance; annexation is simply the act of incorporating land or territory, not a descriptor of urban hierarchy. Classic examples include Paris in France or Mexico City in Mexico, where one city clearly stands above others in population and services.

Urban systems often feature one city that stands out by having far more people and providing a larger share of the country’s services than any other city. This pattern is described by the term primate city. A primate city isn’t just very large; it exerts outsized influence on national politics, economy, transport, media, and culture because so many functions are concentrated there. That’s why it dominates the country’s urban system. By contrast, a megacity refers to a very large city by population but doesn’t inherently imply dominance of the national urban structure; a world city emphasizes global connectivity and influence rather than national dominance; annexation is simply the act of incorporating land or territory, not a descriptor of urban hierarchy. Classic examples include Paris in France or Mexico City in Mexico, where one city clearly stands above others in population and services.