Urbanization in Southern Africa
According to UN-Habitat, more than 87 million people in Southern Africa live in slums and informal settlements.
Across southern Africa, more and more people live in towns compared to rural areas. Most towns struggle to provide housing for rapidly growing populations. As a result, large percentages of urban residents end up in slums with no formal tenure rights, and lack of access to water, sewerage and electricity.
There are various “push” and “pull” factors that influence people’s decisions to move from rural areas to urban areas.
Pull factors – These attract people to urban areas by offering better access to healthcare, education, and employment opportunities.
Push factors – These drive people away from rural areas due to persistent poverty, limited income opportunities, and climate-related events such as drought.
In Zambia, for example:
- In 2000, approximately 35% of the population lived in urban areas.
- By 2018, this had increased to 44%.
- By 2030, the urban population is projected to reach 50%.
