Water and Urbanization
Publication year
Resource type
UNCCD Library
Material Type
Web resource
Water and Urbanization
Facts and Figures
## The number of city inhabitants lacking safely managed drinking water has increased by more than 50% since 2000. (UN-Water 2021)
## 86% of people in urban areas have safely managed drinking water services, but only 60% of people rural areas have them. Safely managed sanitation services reach 62% of the world’s urban population but only 44% of the rural population. (WHO/UNICEF 2021)
## The global urban population is estimated to grow from 3.9 billion people today to 6.3 billion in 2050. (UNESCO, 2012)
## Today, 55% of the world’s population lives in urban areas, a proportion that is expected to increase to 68% by 2050, adding another 2.5 billion people to urban areas with close to 90% of the increase taking place in Asia and Africa (UN DESA, 2018).
## In urban areas, the main challenge is often a lack of access to basic services in informal settlements, or high prices and a lack of quality control of water from private vendors. (WHO, 2017)
Water and Urbanization
Urban areas are expected to absorb all of the world’s population growth over the next four decades, as well as accommodating significant rural-to-urban migration. The vast majority of these people will be living in overcrowded slums with inadequate, often non-existent, water and sanitation services.
Safe drinking water systems and adequate sanitation that effectively disposes of human waste will be essential to ensure cities and towns grow sustainably. Extending these services to the millions of urbanites currently unserved will play a key role in underpinning the health and security of cities, protecting economies and ecosystems and minimising the risk of pandemics.
Challenges
For the first time in history, more than half of the global population live in towns and cities. By 2050, that proportion is expected to rise to two-thirds. Population growth is happening fastest in urban areas of less developed regions, with the urban population estimated to grow from 3.9 billion people today to 6.3 billion in 2050.
Even though water and sanitation access rates are generally higher in urban areas than rural, planning and infrastructure have been unable to keep pace in many regions. Today, 700 million urbanites live without improved sanitation, contributing to poor health conditions and heavy pollution loads in wastewater, and 156 million live without improved water sources.
Opportunities
However, cities provide significant opportunities for more integrated and sustainable water use and waste management. The positive impacts of these services, particularly for public health, spread rapidly and cost-effectively among densely populated unplanned settlements. Furthermore, more efficient use of water within cities and the safe reuse of more waste will put less strain on the surrounding ecosystems.
New Urban Agenda
In December 2016, world leaders adopted the New Urban Agenda, which sets a global standard for sustainable urban development, and will help rethink planning, management and life in cities. The New Urban Agenda is roadmap for building cities that can serve as engines of prosperity and centres of cultural and social well-being while protecting the environment. The Agenda also provides guidance for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and provides the underpinning for actions to address climate change.
In Morocco, people wait to board the tram providing service between Rabat and Salé cities. Photo: World Bank/Arne Hoel
In Morocco, people wait to board the tram providing service between Rabat and Salé cities. Photo: World Bank/Arne Hoel
Find out more from
WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Program for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (JMP) – 2017 Update and SDG Baselines
WHO/UNICEF (2021): JMP Progress on household drinking water, sanitation and hygiene 2000 – 2020
UN (2015): UN World Water Development Report 2015: ‘Water for a Sustainable World’
UN-Habitat: New Urban Agenda
UN-Water (2021): Summary Progress Update 2021: SDG 6 — water and sanitation for all
World Water Day 2011: Water for cities
Facts and Figures
## The number of city inhabitants lacking safely managed drinking water has increased by more than 50% since 2000. (UN-Water 2021)
## 86% of people in urban areas have safely managed drinking water services, but only 60% of people rural areas have them. Safely managed sanitation services reach 62% of the world’s urban population but only 44% of the rural population. (WHO/UNICEF 2021)
## The global urban population is estimated to grow from 3.9 billion people today to 6.3 billion in 2050. (UNESCO, 2012)
## Today, 55% of the world’s population lives in urban areas, a proportion that is expected to increase to 68% by 2050, adding another 2.5 billion people to urban areas with close to 90% of the increase taking place in Asia and Africa (UN DESA, 2018).
## In urban areas, the main challenge is often a lack of access to basic services in informal settlements, or high prices and a lack of quality control of water from private vendors. (WHO, 2017)
Water and Urbanization
Urban areas are expected to absorb all of the world’s population growth over the next four decades, as well as accommodating significant rural-to-urban migration. The vast majority of these people will be living in overcrowded slums with inadequate, often non-existent, water and sanitation services.
Safe drinking water systems and adequate sanitation that effectively disposes of human waste will be essential to ensure cities and towns grow sustainably. Extending these services to the millions of urbanites currently unserved will play a key role in underpinning the health and security of cities, protecting economies and ecosystems and minimising the risk of pandemics.
Challenges
For the first time in history, more than half of the global population live in towns and cities. By 2050, that proportion is expected to rise to two-thirds. Population growth is happening fastest in urban areas of less developed regions, with the urban population estimated to grow from 3.9 billion people today to 6.3 billion in 2050.
Even though water and sanitation access rates are generally higher in urban areas than rural, planning and infrastructure have been unable to keep pace in many regions. Today, 700 million urbanites live without improved sanitation, contributing to poor health conditions and heavy pollution loads in wastewater, and 156 million live without improved water sources.
Opportunities
However, cities provide significant opportunities for more integrated and sustainable water use and waste management. The positive impacts of these services, particularly for public health, spread rapidly and cost-effectively among densely populated unplanned settlements. Furthermore, more efficient use of water within cities and the safe reuse of more waste will put less strain on the surrounding ecosystems.
New Urban Agenda
In December 2016, world leaders adopted the New Urban Agenda, which sets a global standard for sustainable urban development, and will help rethink planning, management and life in cities. The New Urban Agenda is roadmap for building cities that can serve as engines of prosperity and centres of cultural and social well-being while protecting the environment. The Agenda also provides guidance for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and provides the underpinning for actions to address climate change.
In Morocco, people wait to board the tram providing service between Rabat and Salé cities. Photo: World Bank/Arne Hoel
In Morocco, people wait to board the tram providing service between Rabat and Salé cities. Photo: World Bank/Arne Hoel
Find out more from
WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Program for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (JMP) – 2017 Update and SDG Baselines
WHO/UNICEF (2021): JMP Progress on household drinking water, sanitation and hygiene 2000 – 2020
UN (2015): UN World Water Development Report 2015: ‘Water for a Sustainable World’
UN-Habitat: New Urban Agenda
UN-Water (2021): Summary Progress Update 2021: SDG 6 — water and sanitation for all
World Water Day 2011: Water for cities
Keywords
water resources management
urbanization
population growth
facts and figures