ABSTRACT
Urbanization is a shift in the distribution of population from rural hinterlands to non-agricultural agglomerated locations. The level of urban development in Ethiopia is quite low. Fewer than one person in five is a city or town dweller. However, the rates at which the country's urban areas are growing are among the highest in Africa. Many social, economic, and environmental problems have accompanied urbanization in Ethiopia and have been ignored for too long. Urban environments in the country have become dilapidated to the extent that they comprise major causes of ill-health. Urban areas are faced with problems of unremitting shortage of housing, inadequate transportation systems and a range of other physical infrastructure, unemployment, and ineffective and corrupt management. Overall, urbanization is taking place with little or no planning controls.
