What is the WHO recommendation for green space per resident?

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The World Health Organisation Recommends a Minimum of 9 Square Metres of Green Space Per Resident

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has established a guideline recommending a minimum of 9 square metres of green space for each resident to foster a healthy society. This recommendation addresses the growing concern of urbanisation and its impact on the availability of natural environments within densely populated areas. As global urban populations are projected to increase significantly, ensuring adequate green spaces becomes a critical factor in maintaining the liveability of cities.
Global Urbanisation Trends and Green Space Allocation

With half of the world's 7.5 billion population currently residing in cities, town planners face challenges in allocating sufficient green areas. Projections by the United Nations Population Division indicate this figure will rise to 70 per cent by 2050, meaning seven out of every ten people will live in urban settings. This trend places a significant question mark over the long-term liveability of many urban environments.
Green Space as a Liveability Metric

The quantity of green space available per resident is a key component in assessing a city's liveability. For instance, Vienna, which ranked second in a recent Global Liveability Report, provides an extensive 120 square metres of green space per resident. Similarly, Singapore, despite having one of the highest population densities globally, offers 66 square metres per resident, surpassing larger cities like Tokyo, Buenos Aires, and Istanbul in this regard.
Local Community Advocacy for Green Spaces

Across Malaysia, urban communities are increasingly voicing demands for the preservation of green spaces and forest reserves. These calls are often spearheaded by ordinary citizens through local non-governmental organisations, neighbourhood associations, and grassroots movements. Such community-led initiatives provide a powerful counterpoint to traditional top-down development policies that often prioritise rapid urbanisation. Examples include the Save Taman Rimba Kiara campaign in TTDI, which protested the proposed construction of a highway and apartments on land intended for a public park, and the Tanjung Bungah Residents Association's opposition to the North Coastal Paired Road (NCPR) due to its potential encroachment on forest reserves.

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What is the WHO recommendation for green space per resident?

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