Survey of slums and squatter settlements

In 1970, six years before Habitat: United Nations Conference on Human Settlements, there were just over three and a half billion people in the world. By the end of this century there will be about six and a quarter billion, half of them living in urban areas. During the same period, the population of developing countries is expected to double, and the urban population of developing countries is certain to treble. Although, in quantitative terms, the main problems deriving from this increase in population will be associated with the process of urbanization, the increase in the numbers of rural people in developing regions will still be dramatic, and a billion more people than at present are expected to be subsisting or otherwise making a living in the rural areas of developing countries. Many of the people born in rural areas will move to towns and cities, and about as many again will be born in those same towns and cities.