Current State of Global Homelessness
According to the
OECD's 2020 report, tens of millions worldwide are experiencing homelessness.
Below is the updated ranking of countries by homeless population:
|
Rank |
Country |
Homeless
Population |
Primary
Causes |
|
1 |
Pakistan |
8,000,000 |
Natural disasters, economic
inequality, overpopulation |
|
2 |
Syria |
5,500,000 |
Civil war, political
instability |
|
3 |
Bangladesh |
5,000,000 |
Climate change (flooding),
urbanization |
|
4 |
Nigeria |
4,500,000 |
Conflict, extreme poverty |
|
5 |
Philippines |
4,500,000 |
Typhoons, earthquakes,
natural disasters |
|
6 |
Uganda |
4,016,980 |
Refugee influx, housing
shortage |
|
7 |
Argentina |
3,600,000 |
Economic crisis, inflation |
|
8 |
Sudan |
2,900,000 |
Conflict, famine |
|
9 |
Nepal |
2,800,000 |
Earthquakes, tourism decline |
|
10 |
Egypt |
2,000,000 |
Rising unemployment,
urbanization |
Key Findings
from the OECD Report
1.
Pakistan's Severe Situation: Leads with 8
million homeless, showing a 2 million increase since 2018.
2.
Syria's Ongoing Crisis: Protracted
civil war has left 5.5 million homeless - the worst per capita situation
globally.
3.
Deteriorating African Nations: Nigeria
entered the top 5 for the first time, while Sudan and Uganda show no
improvement.
4.
Developed Nations' Relative Issues: The US
(653,104) and UK (380,000) have high absolute numbers but relatively lower
rates per population.
Five Root Causes
of Rising Homelessness
1.
Accelerating Climate Change
o Rising sea
levels and extreme weather destroying homes in Bangladesh and Philippines
o 2.4 million
additional homeless from climate-related disasters (2019-2020)
2.
Expanding Armed Conflicts
o Ongoing
conflicts in Sub-Saharan Africa and Middle East creating refugees
o Syria's
decade-long civil war continues to displace millions
3.
Urbanization Challenges
o Rapid urban
population growth in developing nations outpacing housing supply
o Expanding slums
in megacities like Karachi and Dhaka
4.
Economic Instability
o Argentina's 50%+
inflation severely reducing housing affordability
o Rising unemployment
in emerging economies
5.
Lack of Social Safety Nets
o 78% of
developing nations lack unemployment benefits
o Limited mental
health services contributing to homelessness
Global Response
Efforts
The OECD report
recommends:
·
Emergency Aid: UNHCR-led
refugee camp improvement projects
·
Long-term Planning: Increased
infrastructure investment for climate adaptation
·
Policy Innovation: Urban renewal
programs and expanded low-income housing
·
International Cooperation: Increased
development aid through G20 agreements
Implications for
South Korea
As an OECD
member with relatively low homelessness, South Korea can learn:
1.
Need to strengthen housing stability against climate
change
2.
Consider affordable housing in urban renewal projects
3.
Preventive approaches through expanded social safety nets
4.
Increased international development cooperation
This report emphasizes that homelessness
is not just statistics but a global challenge requiring coordinated solutions.
The urgent need for cooperation between governments and international
organizations has never been greater.
