Housing Affordability and Homelessness Crisis
318 million people are homeless globally. 2.8 billion people, over one-third of humanity, lack adequate housing. 1.1 billion live in informal settlements, with 90 percent concentrated in Africa and Asia. Price-to-income ratios in major cities range from 10 to 30 times median annual income, rendering homeownership impossible for most working households. UN-Habitat's Strategic Plan 2026-2029 places affordable housing at the center of global urban priorities. Urbanization across Africa and Asia will intensify the crisis.
Probability
Horizon: 10y
Claims
Over one-third of humanity lacks adequate housing, with 318 million homeless and 1.1 billion in informal settlements.
UN-Habitat and UN-DESA provide the primary global estimates. Measurement challenges exist, particularly for homelessness, but the order of magnitude is well-established through national censuses and satellite imagery analysis. Evidence Level B.
Indicators
- • 2.8 billion people without adequate housing globally
- • 318 million people homeless
- • 1.1 billion living in informal settlements, 90 percent in Africa and Asia
- • Price-to-income ratios of 10-30x in major cities across all continents
- • 62 percent of urban dwellings in Africa are informal
- • Housing costs consuming majority of income for lowest economic quintile
Interactions
Sources
- UN-Habitat — World Cities Report (accessed Fri Apr 03 2026 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time))
- UN-DESA — World Social Summit 2025 preparatory documents (accessed Fri Apr 03 2026 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time))
- UN-Habitat Strategic Plan 2026-2029 (accessed Fri Apr 03 2026 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time))