SDG 11: Sustainable Cities & Communities
Real-time intelligence platform for monitoring global urban sustainability progress | Data updated: February 2025
4.5B
Urban Population (56.2%)
↑ 70% projected by 2050
1.1B
Slum Dwellers (24% urban)
↑ 3B need housing by 2030
50%
Public Transport Access
Only 40% in LDCs
131
Countries with DRR Strategies
↑ from 57 in 2015
97
C40 Member Cities
920M people, 51 countries
16M
Green Jobs Created
Target: 50M by 2030
Urban Population by Region
Global Slum Distribution (1.1B Total)
SDG 11 Target Progress Overview
11.1 Housing & Slums
35%
11.2 Sustainable Transport
52%
11.3 Inclusive Urbanization
41%
11.4 Cultural Heritage
58%
11.5 Disaster Impact Reduction
67%
11.6 Environmental Impact
44%
11.7 Green Public Spaces
40%
Overall SDG 11 Progress
48%
Key Urban Statistics by Region (2024)
| Region | Urban Rate % | Slum % of Urban | Transport Access | Green Space m²/cap | Air Quality | DRR Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North America | 82.6% | 2.1% | 78% | 42 | Good | Advanced |
| Europe | 74.9% | 3.2% | 81% | 38 | Good | Advanced |
| East Asia & Pacific | 64.8% | 23.5% | 62% | 18 | Moderate | Strong |
| Latin America & Caribbean | 81.2% | 20.4% | 54% | 22 | Moderate | Developing |
| MENA | 65.2% | 18.8% | 48% | 12 | Moderate | Developing |
| South Asia | 36.6% | 31.2% | 38% | 8 | Poor | Developing |
| Sub-Saharan Africa | 43.5% | 53.6% | 29% | 6 | Poor | Critical |
Global Cities Database
Comprehensive urban sustainability metrics for 328 major cities worldwide
328 Cities
| City | Country | Region | Population | Urban % | Sustainability Score | C40 | Status |
|---|
Housing & Slums Analysis
Global housing affordability, slum conditions, and improvement programs | Source: UN-Habitat 2024
Critical Alert: 1.1 billion people currently live in slums or informal settlements. By 2030, 3 billion people will need adequate and affordable housing. Urban sprawl is expanding 3.7x faster than urban densification.
1.1B
Global Slum Population
24%
Of Urban Pop. in Slums
3B
Need Housing by 2030
$4.5T
Annual Investment Needed
Slum Population by Region (Millions)
Housing Affordability Index
Regional Slum Statistics
| Region | Slum Population | % of Urban Pop | Change (2015-2024) | Key Challenges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| East & Southeast Asia | 362 million | 23.5% | -4.2% | Rapid urbanization, informal settlements |
| Central & South Asia | 334 million | 31.2% | -1.8% | Density, basic services access |
| Sub-Saharan Africa | 265 million | 53.6% | +2.1% | Population growth, infrastructure |
| Latin America & Caribbean | 105 million | 20.4% | -3.8% | Land tenure, upgrading programs |
| North Africa & Western Asia | 28 million | 18.8% | -0.9% | Conflict displacement, affordability |
Transport & Mobility
Public transportation access, sustainable mobility, and urban connectivity | Source: UN Statistics 2024
50%
Global Public Transport Access
40%
Access in LDCs
81%
Access in Europe
62%
Cycling Modal Share (Copenhagen)
Public Transport Access by Region
Modal Share in Leading Cities
Major Urban Transit Systems
| City | Metro Lines | Stations | Daily Ridership | Coverage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tokyo | 13 | 285 | 8.7M | 304km |
| Shanghai | 20 | 508 | 12.4M | 831km |
| Beijing | 27 | 472 | 10.5M | 807km |
| London | 11 | 272 | 5.0M | 402km |
| New York | 27 | 472 | 3.9M | 399km |
| Paris | 16 | 308 | 4.2M | 226km |
| Singapore | 6 | 140 | 3.4M | 230km |
Air Quality Monitor
Urban air pollution tracking and improvement trends | Source: WHO, C40 Cities 2024
Progress Update: 27% of C40 cities now meet WHO interim PM2.5 targets (<10 μg/m³), up from 11% in 2002. Beijing has achieved a 44% reduction in PM2.5 levels since 2014.
27%
Cities Meeting WHO Interim Target
44%
PM2.5 Reduction (Beijing 2014-2022)
20%
Cities with Very Unhealthy Air
5 μg/m³
WHO Healthy Air Target
PM2.5 Levels by City (μg/m³)
Air Quality Improvement Trends
Disaster Resilience
Sendai Framework implementation and urban disaster risk reduction | Source: UNDRR 2024
131
Countries with DRR Strategies
↑ from 57 in 2015
160
Countries Reporting to Sendai
49%
Disaster Death Reduction
1.62 to 0.82 per 100K
$280B
Annual Disaster Economic Loss
DRR Strategy Adoption by Region
Sendai Framework Targets Progress
A: Reduce disaster mortality
67%
B: Reduce affected people
52%
C: Reduce economic losses
38%
D: Reduce infrastructure damage
45%
E: National DRR strategies
68%
F: International cooperation
54%
G: Early warning systems
61%
Cultural Heritage
UNESCO World Heritage Sites and cultural preservation | Source: UNESCO 2024
1,199
UNESCO World Heritage Sites
933
Cultural Sites
227
Natural Sites
82
Countries Tracking Heritage Spending
↑ tripled in 5 years
Heritage Sites by Type
Heritage Sites by Region
| Region | Cultural | Natural | Mixed | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Europe & N. America | 468 | 69 | 12 | 549 |
| Asia & Pacific | 215 | 73 | 14 | 302 |
| Latin America & Caribbean | 100 | 40 | 8 | 148 |
| Africa | 56 | 41 | 5 | 102 |
| Arab States | 94 | 4 | 0 | 98 |
Green Spaces
Urban green space access and environmental quality | Source: UN-Habitat 2024
Challenge: Only 40% of city dwellers worldwide have easy access to green public spaces. Urban sprawl is expanding 3.7x faster than urban densification (2000-2020).
40%
Urban Dwellers with Green Access
120m²
Vienna (Best per capita)
3m²
Lagos (Among lowest)
47%
Singapore Tree Cover
Green Space per Capita by City (m²)
C40 Cities Network
Global network of mayors taking urgent climate action | 97 member cities representing 920 million people
97
Member Cities
920M
Combined Population
51
Countries Represented
23%
Of Global Economy
Impact: C40 cities have reduced per capita emissions by 7.5% (2015-2024) compared to 1.5% global average. 16 million green jobs created, targeting 50 million by 2030.
C40 Focus Areas
Emissions Reduction by Region
C40 Member Cities
UN-Habitat Programs
United Nations Human Settlements Programme initiatives worldwide
193
Countries Covered
$298M
Annual Budget
320+
Cities in Prosperity Initiative
2,000+
Active Projects
Key UN-Habitat Programs
| Program | Focus | Countries | Budget | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City Prosperity Initiative | Urban data & planning | 75 | $45M | Active |
| Participatory Slum Upgrading | Informal settlements | 40 | $68M | Active |
| Urban Resilience Programme | Climate adaptation | 55 | $82M | Active |
| Global Land Tool Network | Land tenure | 85 | $28M | Active |
| Urban Basic Services | Water, sanitation, energy | 62 | $55M | Active |
Partner Organizations
Key stakeholders advancing SDG 11 globally
| Organization | Type | Focus Areas | Coverage | Budget |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UN-Habitat | UN Agency | Urban planning, housing, resilience | 193 countries | $298M |
| C40 Cities | City Network | Climate action, sustainability | 97 cities | $45M |
| ICLEI | Local Gov Network | Local sustainability | 125 countries | $32M |
| World Bank Urban | MDB | Urban infrastructure finance | 189 countries | $7.2B |
| UNDRR | UN Office | Disaster risk reduction | 193 countries | $62M |
| Habitat for Humanity | NGO | Affordable housing | 70 countries | $425M |
| WRI Ross Center | Research | Urban research & mobility | 50 cities | $28M |
Urban Investment
Sustainable urban infrastructure financing and investment flows
$4.5T
Annual Investment Needed
$2.5T
Current Investment
$82B
Green Bonds (2024)
$1.6B
C40 Finance Facility
Investment by Sector
Investment Sources
Major Projects
Transformative urban development initiatives worldwide
| Project | Location | Investment | Timeline | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Paris Express | Paris, France | €42B | 2024-2030 | In Progress |
| Mumbai Coastal Road | Mumbai, India | $2.1B | 2018-2025 | Ongoing |
| Singapore Green Plan | Singapore | $5.8B | 2021-2030 | Active |
| Jakarta MRT Phase 2 | Jakarta, Indonesia | $3.4B | 2019-2028 | Ongoing |
| São Paulo Green Bond | São Paulo, Brazil | $1.2B | 2023-2030 | Active |
| Cairo Metro Line 4 | Cairo, Egypt | $2.8B | 2024-2030 | Planning |
SDG 11 Targets
Detailed tracking of all SDG 11 targets and indicators
Target 11.1
35% Progress
Safe and Affordable Housing
By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services and upgrade slums.
Target 11.2
52% Progress
Sustainable Transport Systems
By 2030, provide access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all.
Target 11.3
41% Progress
Inclusive Urbanization
By 2030, enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for participatory planning.
Target 11.4
58% Progress
Cultural and Natural Heritage
Strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world's cultural and natural heritage.
Target 11.5
67% Progress
Disaster Impact Reduction
By 2030, significantly reduce deaths, people affected and economic losses from disasters.
Target 11.6
44% Progress
Environmental Impact
By 2030, reduce adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including air quality.
Target 11.7
40% Progress
Green Public Spaces
By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible green and public spaces.
Regional Analysis
Comparative urban sustainability metrics by world region
43.5%
Urbanization Rate
53.6%
Slum Population
29%
Transport Access
55%
DRR Adoption
Key African Cities
| City | Country | Population | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lagos | Nigeria | 21.3M | 42.5 |
| Cairo | Egypt | 20.9M | 58.2 |
| Kinshasa | DRC | 14.3M | 35.8 |
| Johannesburg | South Africa | 5.8M | 68.4 |
| Nairobi | Kenya | 4.4M | 54.6 |
64.8%
Urbanization Rate
23.5%
Slum Population
62%
Transport Access
85%
DRR Adoption
74.9%
Urbanization Rate
3.2%
Slum Population
81%
Transport Access
92%
DRR Adoption
81.2%
Urbanization Rate
20.4%
Slum Population
54%
Transport Access
69%
DRR Adoption
82.6%
Urbanization Rate
2.1%
Slum Population
78%
Transport Access
94%
DRR Adoption
Case Studies
Successful urban transformation stories from around the world
🇨🇴 Medellín, Colombia
Challenge: Violence, inequality, informal settlements
Solution: Metrocable system connecting hillside communities, integrated urban planning
Results: 66% crime reduction, improved mobility for 230,000 daily riders
Transport Innovation🇸🇬 Singapore
Challenge: Limited land, rapid growth
Solution: Comprehensive public housing (HDB), integrated transport
Results: 80% in public housing, 94% transport access, 47% tree cover
Compact City Model🇩🇰 Copenhagen
Challenge: Carbon emissions, livability
Solution: Cycling infrastructure, district heating, green spaces
Results: Carbon neutral target 2025, 62% cycling modal share
Carbon Neutral🇷🇼 Kigali
Challenge: Post-conflict rebuilding, urbanization
Solution: Monthly community clean-up (Umuganda), plastic bag ban
Results: Africa's cleanest city, model urban governance
Community Action