Dynamics of settlement hierarchy: A bibliometric analysis (1959 – 2024)
Settlement hierarchy, a fundamental concept in urban geography and spatial planning, has garnered significant attention over the decades due to its relevance in understanding the spatial organization and dynamics of human settlements. This study presents a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of research on settlement hierarchy published from 1959 to 2024, using data from the Scopus database. Through a systematic analysis of 1,197 documents, it examines the evolution of research themes, publication trends, and influential authors in the field. The results reveal a growing interest in settlement hierarchy over time, with a notable increase in publications since the 2000s, corresponding to advancements in spatial data accessibility and analytical tools. Influential authors emerged predominantly during the 2000s, while highly cited articles were primarily between the late 1960s and the late 1980s. The United States leads in citation counts, followed by the United Kingdom and China, reflecting significant scholar focus on China’s urban settlement system. Despite limitations such as database coverage and potential search term bias, this study offers valuable insights into the development of settlement hierarchy research and serves as a guide for future investigations.
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