Urban poverty is rising across the world.
Today, more than half of the global population lives in cities. By 2050, that figure is expected to rise to nearly 70% (UN). Cities can offer opportunity – jobs, education, healthcare and connection. But for many, urban life comes with rising costs and daily uncertainty.
Urban poverty is not just poverty that happens in a city. It has distinct causes, pressures and consequences.
Will you help fund the vital seeds and tools that mean families can farm themselves out of urban poverty?
Urban poverty definition
Urban poverty refers to people living in poverty in towns and cities, often in overcrowded neighbourhoods or informal settlements, with limited access to secure work, affordable housing, clean water, sanitation and healthcare.
Unlike rural poverty, where land may provide some food security, urban poverty is heavily cash-dependent. If income stops, families are put at immediate risk. In cities, there's often no land to fall back on.
The difference between living in poverty in a rural area to an urban area, is that the rural community has resources – among those is land.
What causes urban poverty?
Urban poverty is shaped by a combination of structural and personal factors.
1. Rapid urbanisation
Cities are expanding faster than infrastructure and services can keep up. Affordable housing, sanitation systems and secure jobs are not growing at the same rate as the population.
This leads to the growth of informal settlements. These are highly populated areas of densely packed housing, where residents may lack secure land rights, reliable electricity or clean water.
2. Informal and insecure work
In many cities, most employment is informal. People work as street vendors, day labourers, domestic workers or small-scale traders. In Kenya, only around 15% of jobs are formal (World Bank).
Income can change from day to day. And so, without savings or social protection, one illness, one eviction or one lost job can push a family deeper into poverty.
3. Rising living costs
Urban life is expensive. Rent, transport and food prices are often higher in cities. For families living on low and unstable incomes, even small price increases can be devastating.
4. Climate change
Urban areas are increasingly exposed to extreme weather – flooding, heatwaves and water shortages. Informal settlements are often built on marginal land, making them particularly vulnerable.
Climate change also drives up food prices, placing additional pressure on households already struggling to afford nutritious meals.
5. Inequality and unjust systems
Urban poverty is not inevitable. It’s shaped by decisions about housing, wages, debt, taxation and public services. When systems favour the wealthy and powerful, people living on low incomes are pushed further to the margins.
As our strategy puts it, tackling poverty means challenging unjust power structures as well as meeting essential needs.
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The impact of urban poverty
Urban poverty affects every aspect of life:
- Food insecurity and malnutrition
- Poor housing and overcrowding
- Limited access to healthcare
- Interrupted education
- Increased exposure to violence or exploitation
- Higher vulnerability during crises
Behind every statistic is a parent worried about feeding their children. A young person whose education is interrupted. Or a worker trying to stretch a day’s earnings to cover a week’s expenses.
Urban poverty is about dignity as much as income.
Strengthening livelihoods as a solution to urban poverty
Secure and sustainable livelihoods are central to tackling urban poverty. Training, small business support and access to markets can increase incomes and resilience.
In Nairobi, Kenya, for example, urban farming projects are helping families grow food in small city spaces and earn income from surplus produce. Participants learn composting, water conservation and small business skills.
Spotlight: Urban farming in Dagoretti
‘When I wake up, I have a lot of worries. Sometimes I don’t have food,’ says Fridah Moraa, a recently widowed grandmother now responsible for providing for her family. With rent and school fees to cover, putting food on the table is a constant pressure.
With tools, seeds and training from our partner, Beacon of Hope, Fridah now grows fresh vegetables in a small city space – feeding her family and selling surplus at market.
‘Urban farming has changed my life.’
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Hope is growing
In small city spaces, hope is taking root.
We believe partnership is the best way to support lasting change. It's at the heart of all our work to fight poverty, respond to humanitarian emergencies, and create a fairer world.
Poverty is an outrage against humanity. But we believe it can be ended.
Whether through fundraising, prayer, campaigning or giving, we all have a role to play.
