Afghanistan Cities Unprepared for Rapid Urban Population Growth, Warns UN

DID Press: UN warned Afghanistan’s cities are unprepared to handle rapid population growth, cautioning that unchecked urbanization without infrastructure development could trigger widespread crises.

According to the UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), Afghanistan’s urban population has increased fivefold over the past seven decades. The report notes that while only 5 percent of Afghans lived in cities in 1950, the figure had risen to 25 percent by 2022 — and is projected to reach 50 percent by 2060.

The agency stressed that Afghanistan cities lack the infrastructure to accommodate such fast-paced growth. Without proper urban planning and investment in essential public services, living conditions in urban centers are expected to deteriorate further.

The report highlights that capital Kabul now accounts for more than 40 percent of the country’s urban population, with nearly 80 percent of residents living in informal settlements lacking basic services such as drinking water, electricity, and sanitation services.