Some 2.8 billion people worldwide lack access to adequate housing, the United Nations programme for human settlements, UN Habitat, notes in its just released 2024 annual report.
Of these, 1.1 billion live in slums or informal settlements, described in the report as the “main challenge for sustainable urban development.”
Around 90% of slum dwellers reside in Africa and Asia, where there is a shortage of 170 million homes.
“Climate change, conflicts, and natural disasters continue to displace millions, forcing them to leave their homes in search of safety, stability, and better living conditions,” UN-Habitat Executive Director Anacláudia Rossbach, states in the report.
The UN agency estimates that 318 million people – almost equivalent to the population of the United States – are homeless worldwide.
Globally, “one in four persons lives in conditions harmful to their health, safety, and prosperity,” according to UN-Habitat. Specifically, 14% of urban and 40% of rural populations lack access to clean water, and two in five people do not have sanitation services.
Safely managed sanitation is vital for human development and is often used as an indicator of progress against poverty, disease, and premature death, the report emphasises.
Anacláudia Rossbach urges a “rethink of urban policies, land use, legislation, and financing to prioritise housing and basic services as crucial levers for climate action and sustainable development.”
Otherwise, things are likely to get worse. According to the report, two billion urban residents are expected to face significant spikes in temperature by 2040.
