Urban poverty

Urban poverty is a type of poverty that occurs due to insufficient income necessary to live in an urban area. Urban poverty is the type of poverty that occurs in cities (urban areas). This occurs due to the growth of cities, which encompasses rural territories and suburban areas that have lower income levels.

In this way, given that the income levels required for the urban territory are higher, a situation of inequality occurs that ends up leading to what is known as urban poverty. Thus, this type of poverty is a very common type of poverty in large cities around the world.

Difference between rural poverty and urban poverty

In this sense, rural poverty is precisely the opposite. That is, it is the type of poverty found in rural areas. This is due to the poor development of rural areas, as well as the lack of infrastructure.

Also, rural areas, being destined for tasks with little added value, have a lower level of income generation. Therefore, many people who live in rural areas have a lower standard of living than those in urban areas.

On the other hand, urban poverty is poverty that occurs in urban areas or urban centers. This type of poverty tends to occur frequently throughout the planet, since all large urban centers have districts and geographic areas in which people with lower income levels are concentrated.

Causes of urban poverty

Among the causes that end up generating poverty situations like this, the following should be highlighted:

• Urbanization and development of cities.
• Economic inequality.
• High levels of unemployment.
• High levels of inflation.
• Uneven economic growth.
• Poor distribution of resources.
• Social fragmentation.

These, among others, are some of the causes that end up causing situations of poverty in urban areas.

Consequences of urban poverty

Among the main consequences of poverty in urban areas, the following should be highlighted:

• Social exclusion.
• Malnutrition.
• Illiteracy.
• High levels of vandalism and crime.

• Unequal societies.

Main sources of urban poverty

As its name indicates, among the main sources of poverty it is worth highlighting those cities that, by their nature, present higher levels of inequality. That is, cities that have been growing, annexing rural territories to the urban area. Thus, according to the UN, the geographical areas with the greatest urban poverty are:

• Africa.
• Asia.
• Latin America and the Caribbean.

These three continents, due to their high levels of inequality and their emerging nature, present higher levels of urban poverty than, in contrast, developed economies.