10 Cities With The Highest Homeless Population In The World
In this article, we will look at the 10 cities with the highest homeless population in the world.
Homelessness Across the Globe: An Overview
Homelessness is a significant humanitarian concern across the globe. Although the exact number of homeless people around the globe is tricky to estimate, the World Economic Forum estimates that around 150 million people were homeless in 2021, which amounts to around 2% of the world’s population. The United Nations also documented that there are approximately 1.6 billion people with poor housing conditions worldwide, with about 15 million people forcibly evicted every year.
COVID-19 increased this number to alarming levels, with the United States alone having over 653,000 people experiencing homelessness in 2023. According to the 2023 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report (AHAR) released by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, this number increased by 12% between 2022 and 2023, adding roughly 70,650 people to the list and highlighting a serious concern growing to record highs.
Almost every city in the world has people who sleep on benches, roads, or parks because homelessness affects people regardless of age, race, and gender. However, there are certain observable trends. Homelessness in families with children increased by 16% in the US, while that in individuals rose by 11%. In addition, Black people made up 50% of the total number of families with children experiencing homelessness, and 37% of all the people facing this problem. Asians and Asian Americans experienced the highest increase in homelessness, undergoing a 40% increase between 2022 and 2023 and adding around 3,313 more people to the list.
Homelessness: Causes and Remedies
Some of the primary reasons behind the rise in homelessness are increasing rents and a decrease in affordable housing. A report released by Harvard’s Joint Center for Housing Studies revealed that nearly 50% of all renters in the US faced unaffordable housing in 2022. It also showed that median rent in 2022 was 21% higher than in 2001, whereas renters’ income increased by only 2% in the same time period. The increasing gaps between income and housing costs have caused more and more households to struggle with housing affordability. The number of renters spending more than 30% of their total income on house rent and utilities reached a record 22.4 million in 2022. Climate change is another prominent reason behind growing homelessness across the world, with people living in regions prone to natural disasters finding it increasingly hard to grapple with the drastic outcomes.
In contrast, developed nations such as the United States are undertaking efforts to tackle the growing homelessness in the country and offer resources to increase the availability of affordable housing options. American Homes 4 Rent (NYSE:AMH), also known as AMH, is a prominent example. This American real estate investment trust (REIT) manages the renovation, leasing, acquisition, and management of single-family homes, renting them out as residential properties.
The company plays a crucial role in providing adequate housing options to combat homelessness, and owned 52,552 homes in 22 states in 2019. Its major establishments are concentrated in North Carolina, Charlotte, Atlanta, and Dallas-Fort Worth. Operating since 2012, the company now manages more than 60,000 rentals across the US, offering a roof to approximately 200,000 people. AMH specializes in simplifying the leasing experience with maintenance support and professional management.
On July 10, the company announced its official 10,000th home built, promoting high-quality housing options in the US through this benchmark. It also has a land pipeline of more than 10,000 lots standing at various developmental stages, ranging from raw land to areas entitled to vertical construction. AMH also announced that its research indicated a trend where a majority of renters prioritize amenities and space. By employing such observable trends in its developmental capabilities, the company is constantly evolving its homes according to rental preferences. It reported that its functioning is set to deliver around 2,200-2,400 additional homes by this year.
With companies like American Homes 4 Rent (NYSE:AMH) committed to positively contributing to the American housing landscape, constructive efforts are underway to tackle the country’s growing homelessness.
While we acknowledge the potential of AMH as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter time frame.
With that, let’s take a look at the 10 cities with the highest homeless population in the world.
10 Cities with the Highest Homeless Population in the World
10. Stockholm, Sweden
Estimated Number of People Experiencing Homelessness: 33,269
The 10th spot on our list of the cities with the highest homeless population in the world is held by Stockholm, the capital and the most populous city in the Kingdom of Sweden. It is also the largest urban area in all the Nordic countries. More than 1.6 million people live in its urban area, while the metropolitan area houses around 2.4 million people.
9. Bogota, Colombia
Estimated Number of People Experiencing Homelessness: 34,091
The high-altitude, sprawling city of Bogota is the capital and most populous city of Colombia. The country has around 34,091 people experiencing homelessness as of 2018, its most recently available number.
8. Toronto, Canada
Estimated Number of People Experiencing Homelessness: 40,713
The capital of the Canadian province of Ontario, Toronto ranks eighth on our list of the 10 cities with the highest homeless population in the world. Located along the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario, Toronto is a metropolis with a combination of soaring skyscrapers and dynamic constructions.
7. Bratislava, Slovakia
Estimated Number of People Experiencing Homelessness: 71,076
More than 71,000 people experienced homelessness in the Slovak Republic in 2023, highlighting this serious problem in the country. Bratislava, its capital and most populous city, ranks seventh on our list.
6. Rome, Italy
Estimated Number of People Experiencing Homelessness: 96,197
The famous capital of Italy, Rome, ranks sixth on our list. Rome is also the capital of the Lazio region and is the center of the Metropolitan City of Rome Capital. Located on the Tiber River, its landscape is dotted with historical remnants dating back several centuries.
5. Auckland, New Zealand
Estimated Number of People Experiencing Homelessness: 102,123
Auckland is the capital and most populous city in the country, making up more than 32% of the country’s total population. New Zealand is an island country located in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. Auckland ranks fifth on our list.
4. Prague, Czech Republic
Estimated Number of People Experiencing Homelessness: 104,818
Nicknamed “the City of a Hundred Spires,” Prague is the most populous city and capital city of the Czech Republic and is the historical capital of Bohemia. The Czech Republic had around 104,818 people experiencing homelessness in 2023.
3. Sydney, Australia
Estimated Number of People Experiencing Homelessness: 122,494
The third spot on our list of the 10 cities with the world’s highest homeless population is Sydney, the capital and most populous city in Australia. It is also the capital of New South Wales and had a population of more than 5 million people in 2019.
2. Berlin, Germany
Estimated Number of People Experiencing Homelessness: 262,600
Berlin is the capital and largest city in Germany, both by population and area. It houses around 3.645 million people as of 2019, according to estimates by Eurostat. Berlin’s historical standing dates back to the 13th century, with remnants of its turbulent past dotting the city. It ranks second on our list.
1. Paris, France
Estimated Number of People Experiencing Homelessness: 333,000
Paris, the capital of France and the fashion capital of the world, ranks first on our list of the 10 cities with the highest homeless population in the world. The city is undoubtedly one of the most glamorous cities in the world, and yet expensive housing and the widening gap between income and affordability have riddled its streets with homeless people. Located along the Seine River, Paris houses more than 2 million people and is the largest city in France. It also holds cultural, economic, and artistic significance across the globe, making it one of the most important European cities.
