Asia-Pacific urbanization report warns of rising social inequality

A report by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), prepared with the Asian Development Bank and the United Nations Development Programme, warns of worsening social inequalities driven by rapid urbanization. The region's urban population, currently at 54%, is projected to increase by 1.2 billion people by 2050.

In 2022, the Asia-Pacific region was home to 697 million people living in slums and informal settlements, accounting for 62% of the global total. Key challenges include unequal access to basic services; while water and electricity coverage are high in many areas, over 80% of wastewater in several countries is discharged without treatment.

Timor-Leste is highlighted as a specific case. Although the number of people in informal settlements decreased between 2013 and 2022, between 20% and 30% of the urban population still resides in such areas. While urban access to potable water and electricity exceeds 90%, vulnerable groups still lack adequate sanitation, and access to clean fuels and technologies remains highly unequal.