LEDC Liveability
Liveability refers to the quality of life in a place. Liveability is influenced by factors such as safety, access to services, environmental quality, infrastructure, and community. Liveability is a measure of how well peoples needs are being met.
An LEDC is a Less Economically Developed Country. LEDC’s have lower income levels, limited industrialisation, and less developed infrastructure and services. LEDCs often face challenges such as poverty, inadequate healthcare and education, and slower economic growth. Examples include Ethiopia, Nepal, and Cambodia.
Liveability in LEDC cities is often challenged by inadequate infrastructure, and limited access to essential services such as electricity, water and sanitation. Many residents live in slums without reliable water, sanitation, or healthcare. Pollution, traffic congestion, and high unemployment further reduce liveability.
To do: questions
Define an LEDC with two example countries.
Define essential services. Can you think of another example?
List the unliveability issues faced by people living in slums in LEDC’s.
Extra: Watch the documentary and identify 10 unliveability issues.
1. Dhaka - a less liveable city
Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh is the world' fastest growing city with a population of 25 million in 2025.
Dhaka is ranked as the world's third least liveable city.
The issues that make Dhaka unliveable include the following:
Overcrowding and the rapid growth of informal settlements (slums)
Limited access to clean water and sanitation
Poor waste management and pollution
Unreliable public transport and road infrastructure
High unemployment and poverty
Inadequate healthcare and education services
To do: The challenge of making a city like Dhaka liveable
Why do LECD countries like Bangladesh struggle to provide adequate housing and services such as water and sanitation?
Why is unreliable public transport such a problem for people living in slums?
List 5 problems caused by poor waste management
Discussion: Why do people move to slums?
Activity 1: (Un)liveability in Dhaka. Bangladesh
What are the challenges of living in the worlds third least liveable city?
To do: Living in Dhaka, Bangladesh folio
Use the following information to complete a Dhaka folio that explores the challenges to liveability in an LEDC megacity.
Use photos of Dhaka to illustrate your investigation.
1. A map of Bangladesh
Showing the location of Dhaka and a satellite image of Dhaka.
How would you describe the distribution pattern of the buildings? Clustered, scattered or linear?
2. Development Indicators
Research the following data for Bangladesh and Australia.
Life expectancy
Infant mortality rate
Expected years of schooling
GDP per capita
Population in multidimensional poverty
Total population
3. Street view images of Dhaka
Have a walk around and snip photos of daily life in Dhaka to illustrate your folio. Dhaka Street View
What are most people doing?
What are the houses made of?
Do people have electricity?
How can you tell?
4. Health
The government in Bangladesh cannot spend much money on health and there is a shortage of medicine and hospital beds. As a result many children and babies die of preventable diseases.
The under five mortality rate for Bangladesh is an indicator of the general health of the population.
Record the rate for Bangladesh and include a graph to show the trend.
What is the mortality rate resulting from unsafe water and poor sanitation?
Mortality rate as a result of unsafe water and poor sanitation
Dhaka is one of the worlds most polluted cities.
What is the Dhaka air pollution score today?
5. Education
Literacy has been improving in Bangladesh but the number of students who finish year 12 is still quite low.
Why do you think most children don't finish high school?
What is the literacy rate in Australia?
Use the link to find and record the following information: Adult literacy rate
6. Housing.
Use the link to find and record the following information. Use a graph to show the trend
What is the % of the urban population living in slums in Bangladesh?
2. (Un)Liveability in a refugee camp
Refugee camps provide emergency shelter for people fleeing conflict or disaster, but they often face serious liveability challenges. Overcrowding, poor sanitation, limited access to food, water, healthcare, and education, along with safety concerns and emotional stress, make daily life difficult and can affect refugees’ health, wellbeing, and future opportunities.
Challenges to Liveability in Refugee Camps
Overcrowding – cramped shelters and health problems.
Lack of Clean Water – health problems due to lack of safe water for drinking, cooking, or washing.
Poor Toilets and Hygiene (sanitation) – Inadequate toilets and waste systems increase the risk of disease.
Limited Healthcare – Medical help is often basic or hard to access.
Not Enough Food – Food supplies can be low or not meet people’s nutritional needs.
Unsafe Conditions – People, especially women and children, may face violence or feel unsafe.
Few Jobs or Schools – It’s hard to find work or attend school, which affects long-term wellbeing.
Stress and Trauma – Refugees have often escaped conflict and may feel sad, scared, or anxious.
Harm to the Environment – Large camps can damage local land and use up natural resources.
Activity 2: Refugee camp liveability plan
Zaatari is a refugee camp in Jordan. The camp is home to 76,349 refugees and is Jordan's 4th biggest city
The camp emerged as a result of the Syrian Civil War that started in 2012.
To do: Improve liveability at Zaatari refugee camp
You and your partner have been asked to create a liveability plan for the Zaatari refugee camp.
You will need to consider the factors that make a settlement liveable and make recommendations for Zaatari.
Use the following steps as a guide for your Zaatari Liveability Report
A map of the where the camp is in Jordan - what is the surrounding landscape like?
A map of the camp - highlight existing liveability factors like soccer fields and mosques
List the factors that are contributing to a lack of liveability
Make recommendations for strategies to improve liveability
Use a satellite image or map of the camp to show where you will locate your proposals
Inside Jordan's Zaatari refugee camp - Al Jazzerra
At its peak, Zaatari housed around 150,000 Syrian refugees, becoming the fourth-largest city in Jordan. Now, the refugee camp houses around 79,000 Syrians and is divided into 12 districts. The camp is only around 12km from the Syrian border.
Zaatari fast facts
Nearly 20% of residents are under five, 23% are women.
19,243 children are enrolled in 32 schools
There are 58 community centres
30% of refugees are in female households.
3,997 refugees volunteer inside the Camp.
There are 9,001 weekly health consults
13,406 refugees have active work permits.