UN-Habitat reports 80% of Kabul’s population lives in unplanned settlements, highlighting severe urban planning challenges and urgent housing needs.
According to the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), four out of every five residents in Kabul currently live in unplanned or informal housing areas. This highlights a critical challenge for urban development in Afghanistan’s capital city, where rapid population growth has outpaced the provision of adequate infrastructure and regulated urban planning.
In a message shared on Sunday, April 13, UN-Habitat stated that Kabul accommodates more than 40 percent of Afghanistan’s urban population. This makes the city a major urban hub, yet one that remains severely under-resourced in managing the consequences of informal settlements, such as overcrowding, insufficient sanitation, and lack of basic services.
The agency emphasized that these informal communities are highly vulnerable to natural disasters such as floods and earthquakes. The growing climate crisis and increasing environmental hazards amplify the need for urgent climate action and resilient infrastructure in cities like Kabul, where the majority of residents lack secure and sustainable housing.
Previously, UN-Habitat projected that at least 50 percent of Afghanistan’s total population is expected to reside in urban areas by the year 2060. This demographic shift places significant pressure on Afghanistan’s cities to enhance their capacity for sustainable growth, equitable service delivery, and disaster preparedness.
Despite this projected urban expansion, many Afghanistan’s cities remain unprepared for such transformations. Issues such as limited governance capacity, inadequate urban planning frameworks, and the scarcity of financial and technical resources contribute to the vulnerability of these urban centers, particularly when addressing climate change and population growth.
Kabul, with an estimated population of 5 to 7 million, has experienced rapid growth in recent decades. Originally designed for only 500,000 to 750,000 residents, the city now houses more than ten times its intended capacity. This surge, combined with poor urban planning, has fueled the expansion of informal settlements, which have grown by over 4%—far outpacing the growth of planned areas, which increased by just over 1% in the past two decades.
A recent study by the University of Twente in the Netherlands reveals that from 2001 to 2017, Kabul’s planned areas grew by 1.25 times, while unplanned areas expanded by 4.5 times—mainly in the western and northwestern hillsides. Experts see the UN-Habitat report as a warning sign, noting that 80% of residents live in substandard conditions caused by decades of war, migration, and mismanagement, with serious consequences for health, safety, and the city’s future.
The situation in Kabul reflects the larger socio-economic struggles faced by residents. Due to persistent poverty, unemployment, and the absence of affordable housing options, many people are forced to build homes in unregulated, high-risk zones. These areas lack legal recognition, making residents more susceptible to eviction, marginalization, and poor living conditions.
Addressing Kabul’s urban challenges requires a multi-stakeholder approach involving the government, local communities, international organizations, and development partners. Investment in affordable housing, inclusive urban planning, and climate-resilient infrastructure is essential to improve living conditions and ensure long-term sustainability.
Moreover, capacity-building initiatives, community engagement, and data-driven planning must be prioritized to guide future urban development. By aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (especially SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities), Afghanistan can work towards cities that are safe, inclusive, and resilient.
