Key Countries with High Homeless Populations
Here are some of the countries often cited as having very high counts of homelessness (or people without stable housing) — along with contributing factors:
| Country | Estimated Homeless Population / Key Insights |
|---|---|
| Pakistan | ~8 million homeless. Sources cite poverty, rapid urbanization, and informal settlements. |
| Syria | ~5.3 million. Much of this is due to war, displacement, and damaged housing. |
| Bangladesh | ~5 million. Urban migration, slums, and climate-related disasters contribute. |
| Nigeria | ~4.5 million. Economic inequality and lack of affordable housing are major drivers. |
| Philippines | ~4.5 million. Natural disasters and poverty play a key role. |
| Uganda | ~4 million. Poverty, land disputes, and informal settlements are factors. |
| Argentina | ~3.6 million. Economic crisis and inflation contribute to housing instability. |
| Sudan | ~3 million. Political instability, conflict, and displacement are major causes. |
| China | ~2.58 million. Migrant populations and rural-to-urban movement contribute to homelessness. |
| Nepal | ~2.5 million. Poverty, natural disasters (e.g., earthquakes), and lack of housing support. |
| Iraq | ~2 million. Conflict, displacement, and war have caused homelessness. |
| India | ~1.77 million (in some estimates). |
| United States | ~567,000–650,000 (in OECD/homelessness-report data) according to OECD data. |
| United Kingdom / EU | According to FEANTSA and OECD: In Europe (including UK), close to 1 million people are homeless nightly in visible forms. |
Why These Numbers Are Hard to Compare
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Definition Differences
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“Homelessness” can mean street sleeping, staying in shelters, living in temporary accommodation, or couch-surfing. What counts in one country may not count in another.
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Data Collection Methods
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Some countries do point-in-time counts (a snapshot). Statista
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Others collect annual data, or use different definitions.
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In many poorer countries, data may be less precise due to limited resources.
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Political / Conflict Factors
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In war-torn countries (like Syria, Sudan, Iraq), much “homelessness” is due to displacement.
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Natural disasters, large-scale migration, and refugee crises distort “people without homes” statistics.
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Urban vs Rural
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In some nations, “homelessness” is more of an urban issue (slums, informal settlements), not just street homelessness.
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Observations & Insights
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Developing nations tend to dominate the lists when looking at absolute numbers of homeless people — due to large populations, poverty, and weaker social infrastructure.
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Conflict zones (like Syria, Sudan) have very high homelessness because of displacement.
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High-income countries also report homelessness, but often in different forms (shelters, temporary housing) rather than just street homelessness.
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Policy responses matter: Nations with strong social housing policies or “housing-first” initiatives tend to manage visible homelessness better.
Conclusion
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Top countries by homelessness (in absolute terms) include Pakistan, Syria, Bangladesh, Nigeria, and the Philippines, among others.
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However, comparisons are tricky because definitions, data quality, and living situations differ widely.
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Homelessness is a global issue, not just limited to developing or rich countries — but its nature and scale vary significantly.