Sustainable Development Goal 11
"Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable"
Linkage with other SDGs
Ensuring cities and human settlements are inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable is crucial, as urban areas are home to over half of the global population. Sustainable cities are central to economic growth, social equity, and environmental protection, making this goal a linchpin for sustainable development.
The following direct and indirect interlinkages exist between SDG 11 and all other SDGs:
SDG 1 - No Poverty: Inclusive urban development ensures equitable access to housing, services, and economic opportunities, lifting marginalised populations out of poverty. Example: Slum upgrade programs in Brazil have provided affordable housing and improved infrastructure in low-income areas, reducing poverty.
SDG 2 - Zero Hunger: Urban agriculture and food distribution systems are essential for addressing hunger in cities. Sustainable urban planning ensures food security for all residents. Example: Urban farming initiatives in Kampala, Uganda, have helped reduce food insecurity among city dwellers.
SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being: Sustainable cities promote access to healthcare facilities, clean air, and recreational spaces, improving overall health outcomes. Reducing urban pollution decreases respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Example: Clean air initiatives in Tokyo have significantly reduced air pollution, improving public health in the city.
SDG 4 - Quality Education: Inclusive cities ensure access to schools and educational facilities, especially for marginalised communities. Digital connectivity enhances learning opportunities for urban students. Example: Broadband access programs in Jakarta, Indonesia, have enabled students in urban areas to benefit from online learning resources.
SDG 5 - Gender Equality: Gender-sensitive urban planning prioritises safety and access for women, empowering them to participate in economic and social activities without fear of violence. Example: Public transportation safety initiatives in Mexico City have improved mobility and access for women.
SDG 6 - Clean Water and Sanitation: Urban water management ensures equitable access to clean water and sanitation, reducing health risks and improving the quality of life. Example: Water distribution networks in Cape Town, South Africa, have improved access to clean drinking water for underserved urban populations.
SDG 7 - Affordable and Clean Energy: Energy-efficient urban infrastructure reduces greenhouse gas emissions and ensures affordable access to electricity for all residents. Example: Smart energy grids in Copenhagen, Denmark, provide affordable and renewable electricity to urban residents.
SDG 8 - Decent Work and Economic Growth: Cities are hubs of economic activity, driving job creation and innovation. Sustainable urban planning promotes inclusive economic opportunities for all. Example: Economic zones in Shenzhen, China, have boosted urban employment and industrial growth while prioritising environmental sustainability.
SDG 9 - Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: Resilient urban infrastructure supports transportation, energy, and communication systems, fostering innovation and connectivity. Example: Singapore’s efficient transportation infrastructure has enhanced mobility and reduced carbon emissions.
SDG 10 - Reduced Inequalities: Sustainable cities reduce urban-rural disparities by improving access to services and opportunities for marginalised communities. Urban planning ensures equity across neighbourhoods. Example: Medellín, Colombia, has implemented inclusive urban development policies, reducing inequality and transforming former slum areas.
SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production: Sustainable cities drive circular economies through waste management, recycling programs, and resource efficiency, reducing environmental impacts. Example: Curitiba, Brazil, is a global model for sustainable waste management systems.
SDG 13 - Climate Action: Cities are critical for climate mitigation and adaptation. Urban planning incorporating green spaces and renewable energy solutions reduces emissions and enhances resilience. Example: Amsterdam’s commitment to becoming a carbon-neutral city includes expanded bike infrastructure and renewable energy use.
SDG 14 - Life Below Water: Reducing urban wastewater pollution protects marine ecosystems, benefiting coastal communities and global biodiversity. Example: Wastewater treatment plants in Manila, Philippines, have reduced pollution in nearby coastal areas, safeguarding marine life.
SDG 15 - Life on Land: Urban green spaces and reforestation projects within cities preserve biodiversity and improve resilience to natural disasters like floods and heatwaves. Example: Urban greening initiatives in Nairobi, Kenya, have restored local ecosystems and provided urban residents with recreational areas.
SDG 16 - Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions: Inclusive urban governance fosters social cohesion and reduces inequalities, strengthening trust in institutions and ensuring peaceful communities. Example: Participatory urban planning processes in Stockholm, Sweden, have improved citizen engagement and reduced conflicts over land use.
SDG 17 - Partnerships for the Goals: Achieving sustainable cities requires collaboration between governments, private sectors, and civil society. Partnerships drive innovation, financing, and knowledge-sharing for urban development. Example: The Cities Alliance initiative has supported sustainable urban development projects in low-income countries.
Consquence of failing to reach targets
Failure to create sustainable cities and communities results in widespread challenges:
- Rising poverty (SDG 1) and inequality (SDG 10) as marginalized populations remain excluded from economic opportunities and basic services.
- Health crises (SDG 3) caused by pollution, overcrowding, and lack of sanitation infrastructure.
- Resource inefficiencies (SDG 12) as waste mismanagement damages ecosystems and biodiversity.
- Climate risks (SDG 13) exacerbated by unsustainable urban sprawl and emissions.
Sustainable cities are essential for achieving global development goals, offering solutions to complex challenges across social, economic, and environmental dimensions.
SDG 11: Targets, Indicators, Progress and Data
By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services and upgrade slums.
11.1.1: Proportion of urban population living in slums, informal settlements or inadequate housing.
In 2022, 24.8% of the urban population lived in slums or slum-like conditions, slightly lower than 25% in 2015, but higher than 24.2% in 2020. The total number of slum dwellers was 1.12 billion in 2022, 130 million more than in 2015. Over 85% of slum dwellers were concentrated in Central and Southern Asia (334 million), Eastern and South-Eastern Asia (362 million), and subSaharan Africa (265 million). Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest percentage of urban population living in slums, at 53.6%. Projections suggest that sub-Saharan Africa will experience the greatest proportional increase in slum dwellers, with an additional 360 million expected by 2030. This emphasises the urgent need for a comprehensive approach to address the urban housing crisis, including providing varied housing options and equitable access to basic services.
By 2030, provide access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all, improving road safety, notably by expanding public transport, with special attention to the needs of those in vulnerable situations, women, children, persons with disabilities and older persons.
11.2.1: Proportion of population that has convenient access to public transport, by sex, age and persons with disabilities.
Data collected in 2023 from 2,039 cities across 188 countries shows that 6 out of 10 urban residents globally have convenient public transport access, with notable gaps between developed and developing regions. In LDCs, only 4 out of 10 people have access, compared to 8 out of 10 in more developed regions. Urgent investments are needed to expand access, especially in impoverished urban areas in developed countries.
By 2030, enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanisation and capacity for participatory, integrated and sustainable human settlement planning and management in all countries.
11.3.1: Ratio of land consumption rate to population growth rate.
11.3.2: Proportion of cities with a direct participation structure of civil society in urban planning and management that operate regularly and democratically.
Data from 1217 cities across 185 countries shows that cities are sprawling faster than they are densifying. Between 2000 and 2020, cities expanded up to 3.7 times faster than they densified. Globally, sprawl averaged 5.6% annually, while densification was only 1.5%. Despite a slight decline in sprawl rates from 2010 to 2020, they still exceeded densification rates, displacing ecologically valuable lands. Balancing people, prosperity, and the planet by 2030 requires concerted efforts to curb urban sprawl locally, sub-nationally, and nationally.
Strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage.
11.4.1: Total per capita expenditure on the preservation, protection and conservation of all cultural and natural heritage, by source of funding (public, private), type of heritage (cultural, natural) and level of government (national, regional, and local/municipal).
No progress reported on the UN SDG website.
By 2030, significantly reduce the number of deaths and the number of people affected and substantially decrease the direct economic losses relative to global gross domestic product caused by disasters, including water-related disasters, with a focus on protecting the poor and people in vulnerable situations.
11.5.1: Number of deaths, missing persons and directly affected persons attributed to disasters per 100,000 population.
11.5.2: Direct economic loss attributed to disasters in relation to global domestic product (GDP).
11.5.3: (a) Damage to critical infrastructure and (b) number of disruptions to basic services, attributed to disasters.
On average, 104,049 critical infrastructure units and facilities were destroyed or damaged by disasters annually from 2015 to 2022. Furthermore, disasters disrupted over 1.6 million basic services, including educational and health services, each year.
No data available
By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management.
11.6.1: Proportion of municipal solid waste collected and managed in controlled facilities out of total municipal waste generated, by cities.
11.6.2: Annual mean levels of fine particulate matter (e.g. PM2.5 and PM10) in cities (population weighted).
A comparison of air pollution five-year average before and after the development of the SDGs showed a significant decrease of 9% in fine particulate matter global levels and current alignment with the WHO Air Quality Guideline (AQG) Interim Target 1 value of 35 ug/m3.
By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces, in particular for women and children, older persons and persons with disabilities.
11.7.1: Average share of the built-up area of cities that is open space for public use for all, by sex, age and persons with disabilities.
11.7.2: Proportion of persons victim of non-sexual or sexual harassment, by sex, age, disability status and place of occurrence, in the previous 12 months.
Data from 1,365 cities across 187 countries reveals that access to open public spaces is notably deficient in LDCs, where fewer than 3 in 10 people can conveniently reach such areas. Conversely, in high-performing regions like Australia and New Zealand, North America, and Europe, approximately 6 to 7 out of 10 urban residents enjoy convenient access to open public spaces, highlighting the prevalent global challenge.
No data available
Support positive economic, social and environmental links between urban, peri-urban and rural areas by strengthening national and regional development planning.
11.A.1: Number of countries that have national urban policies or regional development plans that (a) respond to population dynamics; (b) ensure balanced territorial development; and (c) increase local fiscal space.
No information provided on the UN SDG website.
By 2020, substantially increase the number of cities and human settlements adopting and implementing integrated policies and plans towards inclusion, resource efficiency, mitigation and adaptation to climate change, resilience to disasters, and develop and implement, in line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, holistic disaster risk management at all levels.
11.B.1: Number of countries that adopt and implement national disaster risk reduction strategies in line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030.
11.B.2: Proportion of local governments that adopt and implement local disaster risk reduction strategies in line with national disaster risk reduction strategies.
In 2023, local-level risk governance has improved in recent years, with 106 countries cumulatively reporting having local disaster risk reduction strategies in place and in line with national strategies. On average, 72% of the local governments in reporting countries have specified having local disaster risk reduction strategies.
Support least developed countries, including through financial and technical assistance, in building sustainable and resilient buildings utilizing local materials
No indicators
No progress reported