Half of the world’s population lives in cities. This proportion
is growing, especially in the Philippines and Asia. One billion
people languish in informal settlements and slums, and their
number is also expected to increase, doubling by 2030. In the
Philippines, about 60% of the total population lives in urban
settings, and about 28% live in squatter and slum dwellings.
Urbanization can be the engine for progress of cities and
provide great opportunities for individuals and families to
prosper. However, urbanization can bring many difficult health
challenges. Rapid, unplanned urbanization, when not managed
properly, can give rise to urban poverty, growth of slums,
health problems and widening inequities. Projects, feature
stories and news Publications and documents WHO work in the
Philippines