KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Farah city, the capital of western Afghanistan’s Farah province, has expanded five times in size over the past 24 years, the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) said on Wednesday.
In a post on X, UN-Habitat said that urban expansion can drive development when guided by proper planning and smart investment. “That’s how cities deliver better services, reduce inequality, and stay healthy homes for all,” the agency added.
UN-Habitat emphasized the need to build standardized and sustainable cities to accommodate growing populations.
UN-Habitat has previously raised concerns about unplanned urban growth in Kabul, Herat, Firozkoh, Balkh, and other major cities across Afghanistan, noting that uncontrolled expansion often leads to informal settlements, overburdened infrastructure, and rising inequality.
Currently, about 25% of Afghanistan’s population lives in urban areas, but UN-Habitat projects that this figure could rise to 50% by 2060 due to population growth and migration from rural areas. The agency warned that without coordinated planning, this rapid expansion could further strain public services and worsen living conditions.
Kabul, the country’s largest city, faces particularly severe challenges. Hosting more than 40% of Afghanistan’s urban population, the capital has seen a sharp decline in groundwater levels, threatening the water supply for some six million residents. Experts say the city could face critical water shortages within five years if no action is taken.
