Urban poverty

Urban underclass
Inner city poverty
Urban fringe poverty

Nature

Urban poverty is, in a sense, an overflow of rural poverty. Because rural people in the low-income group find themselves 'unemployable' in the urban environment as a result of their deficient education and training, they continue to be poor. According to the Urban Management Programme of the UN Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat), urban poverty encompasses three main issues: lack of adequate employment, lack of appropriate urban services and insufficient social integration.

Incidence

Urban poverty affects hundreds of millions globally, with the World Bank estimating that over 1 billion people live in slums or informal settlements as of 2023. Major cities in Asia, Africa, and Latin America experience acute concentrations of poverty, where residents face inadequate housing, limited access to clean water, sanitation, and basic services. The persistence and growth of urban poverty are closely linked to rapid urbanization, economic inequality, and insufficient social safety nets, making it a critical issue in both developing and developed nations.
In 2022, Lagos, Nigeria, witnessed a surge in urban poverty, with over 60% of its 20 million residents living in informal settlements such as Makoko. Many inhabitants lacked secure housing, reliable electricity, and access to healthcare, exacerbated by inflation and economic disruptions following the COVID-19 pandemic.