Rural households face sharper housing hardship, survey data shows

ISLAMABAD: Housing conditions in Pakistan show a pronounced divide between urban and rural areas, with survey findings indicating that rural households face weaker homeownership levels, poorer construction quality, greater overcrowding and more limited access to basic services.

According to Gallup Pakistan’s Household Integrated Economic Survey (HIES) data cited in the report, 52% of households in urban centres own their homes, compared with 39% of households in rural areas. This gap has left many rural families in a more insecure position, particularly renters, whose vulnerability has been worsened by recent floods that displaced families and damaged homes.

The data also points to major differences in the quality of housing materials. 63% of rural homes are made from low-durability materials, including mud and thatch, while 85% of urban homes are built with concrete or brick. These differences leave rural residents more exposed to weather-related damage and repeated repair or rebuilding costs.

Overcrowding remains another area of concern. The survey found that 22% of rural households live in overcrowded conditions, compared with 15% in urban areas. High-density living places additional pressure on household resources and affects daily life in communities already facing limited infrastructure.

Access to essential amenities also varies sharply between the two settings. According to the survey data, 85% of urban households have access to clean drinking water, while the figure for rural households stands at 50%. 35% of rural homes do not have electricity, compared with 5% in urban areas.

The survey also highlighted the burden of housing costs. It found that 22% of rural households spend more than 40% of their income on housing, against 17% of urban households. Such spending pressures can force families to reduce expenditure on other necessities, including food, healthcare and education.

Housing shortfall exceeds 10 million units

Alongside the Gallup Pakistan findings, assessments by the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation were cited as showing a broader structural imbalance in the country’s housing sector. According to those assessments, Pakistan’s housing deficit is more than 10 million units.

The shortfall is increasing by around 400,000 homes each year amid population growth and urban expansion. The scale of the deficit reflects unmet housing demand across the country and reinforces the disparities identified in the survey, especially for underserved and rural populations.

The findings underscore the need for measures aimed at narrowing the rural-urban gap in housing. These include expanding opportunities for homeownership, encouraging the use of more durable construction materials, improving access to clean water and electricity, and addressing affordability pressures, particularly in rural areas.

The survey data presents a picture of unequal living conditions across Pakistan, with urban households generally in a stronger position on ownership, infrastructure and housing quality, while rural families continue to face greater exposure to fragile housing, overcrowding and higher cost pressures.