Urbanization
More than half the world's population now resides in cities. Urbanization in low-income countries could offer billions of people better access to jobs and health-care services and a gateway to the world economy. To reap those benefits, those nations will have to confront the looming health and environmental challenges of urban life. This section examines the ways in which health and infectious diseases shape urbanization, but also the ways in which cities will define the future of global health
Urbanization
42%
42% of public housing projects were built before 1975
Obstacles to Healing Asthma
30%
Climate change fuels an increase in the share of wildfires deemed extreme, to 14% by 2030 and and 30% by 2050
Connecting the Dots Between Climate and Air Quality
6,000
An explosion in a Beirut warehouse in 2020—resulted in more than 6,000 injuries and deaths
Injuries: A Leading Killer of Youth in Lebanon
2 X
In Lebanon, children who are refugees have twice the risk of dying from a traffic injury than local children
Injuries: A Leading Killer of Youth in Lebanon
1 in 10
One in ten Americans has asthma, making the United States the worldwide leader in asthma prevalence rates
The link between poverty, housing, and asthma in the U.S.
4 Percent
In Kampala, Uganda, the city loses up to 4 percent of its economic activity due to congestion
Learning from Lagos
6 Years
Gaza’s sole power plant, sewage plants, hospitals are among essential infrastructure lost to 6 years of war
Destruction of essential infrastructure during war in Gaza
90%
Of future urban growth will be in Africa and Asia
Contribution of Africa and Asia to future global urban growth
55%
World’s population residing in urban areas in 2018
World’s population residing in urban areas in 2018
2.0 B
Projected number of people living in slums by 2030
Projected number of people living in slums by 2030
Featured
Climate and Health: Global Problems, Local Solutions
For effective approaches to combat climate change, world leaders should look to cities like New York
Sloth Fever: Latin America's Oropouche Epidemic
Without global collaboration and action to address root causes, Oropouche fever is likely to continue spreading
A U.S. Response to Mosquito-Borne Disease Outbreaks
Experts explain what it would take for malaria to become endemic in the United States—and why this is unlikely
The United States Can't Arrest Its Way Out of Gun Violence
Communities, hospitals, and prosecutors can play valuable roles in curbing gun violence
Polluted Rivers Create a Public Health Crisis in Nepal
Unchecked urbanization has led to a surge of waterborne diseases among Nepal's poorest communities
Revitalizing Road Safety Regulation in Africa
In 2021, nearly a quarter million motorists and pedestrians were killed on African roads
Drones Deliver Humanitarian Aid in Africa
Unmanned aerial vehicles are transforming last-mile health-care deliveries within sub-Saharan Africa
An Academic Lifeline for Rural Hospitals
A flurry of partnerships demonstrate how academic health systems can bolster rural hospitals
Examining the Diversity of the Rural United States
How rural health varies by racial and ethnic population
Connecting the Dots Between Climate and Air Quality
Connecting the dots between climate and air quality
Road Safety in Lusaka
Mayor Chilando Chitangala on road safety, public health, and her political ambitions
Urban Design and the Shift from "Doing Less Harm" to "Doing Good"
Architects Richard Hassell and Wong Mun Summ on building design that gives back to the community, city, and environment
Obstacles to Healing Asthma
The link between disparities in housing, access to care, and respiratory health among Black Americans
Injuries: A Leading Killer of Youth in Lebanon
Traffic accidents are wreaking havoc on young lives, especially children who are refugees