The United Nations World Urban Forum is convening in Baku, Azerbaijan, this month to address the escalating global housing crisis [1].
This gathering represents a critical effort to prevent a humanitarian collapse in urban centers. With rapid city growth outpacing infrastructure, the forum aims to establish sustainable frameworks for affordable living before urban instability becomes irreversible.
Organized by UN-Habitat, the event brings together a massive assembly of policymakers and urban planners. While estimates on attendance vary, reports suggest between 28,000 [2] and more than 40,000 [1] participants are expected to attend the sessions in Baku.
UN-Habitat has issued a stark warning regarding the current state of global residency. The organization said that 3 billion people currently lack adequate housing [1]. This deficit creates a precarious environment for billions of residents who face insecurity, and poor living conditions.
The forum's urgency is underscored by long-term projections for the world's poorest urban areas. UN-Habitat said that populations living in slums could triple by 2050 [1]. Such a surge would place unprecedented pressure on municipal services and public health systems across the globe.
Delegates in Baku are tasked with finding scalable solutions to these trends. The discussions focus on how to stop the expansion of slums and provide secure land tenure to marginalized populations. The forum serves as the primary vehicle for UN-Habitat to coordinate international responses to urban poverty—a challenge that intersects with climate change and economic inequality.
By centering the conversation on the housing crisis, the forum seeks to move beyond temporary shelters toward permanent, dignified housing solutions. The outcome of the May 2026 meetings will likely shape the urban development goals for the next decade [1].
“3 billion people currently lack adequate housing”
The projection that slum populations could triple by 2050 indicates that current urban development models are failing to keep pace with migration and population growth. By convening in Baku, the UN is attempting to shift housing from a market commodity to a fundamental human right, acknowledging that failure to stabilize urban residency will likely lead to increased global instability and public health crises.
