Though Ethiopia is one of the least urbanized countries of the world, its urban areas are expanding rapidly. Woldia, which is a Zonal town is no exception to this trend and situation. As a result of its rapid horizontal expansion and growth, Woldia is currently confronted with different types of urban problems. The emergence and growth of informal settlements is one of these challenges. To that end, this paper investigates the foremost demographic and socio-economic triggering factors that played key roles for the growth of informal settlements at the peri-urban areas of Woldia. In order to achieve the objective of the study, a questionnaire survey covering a total of 244 sample households was carried out in addition to in-depth interviews, FGDs and key informants. Accordingly, the income disparity; the rise in the lease price of urban land, and the meager compensation paid to peri-urban farmers during their lands expropriation are among the key economic drivers for the growth of informal settlements. Similarly, ever-increasing urban population and inefficient land provision, and lack of housing affordability compounded by the rise in the rental accommodation are the other triggers factors. All these factors, among others, point to the fact that socio-economic and demographic factors are all tied to the immediate growth of such settlements. Thus, lands at the periphery are misused and the situation has greatly contributed to the unlawful and rapid expansion of built-up areas in the city administration.

中文翻译：

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沃尔迪亚城郊地区非正规住区的驱动因素：对人口和社会经济触发因素的评估

尽管埃塞俄比亚是世界上城市化程度最低的国家之一，但其城市地区正在迅速扩大。Woldia，这是一个带状城镇，也不例外这种趋势和情况。由于其快速的横向扩张和增长，Woldia 目前面临着不同类型的城市问题。非正规住区的出现和增长就是这些挑战之一。为此，本文调查了在沃尔迪亚城郊地区非正规住区的发展中发挥关键作用的最重要的人口和社会经济触发因素。为实现研究目的，除深度访谈、FGDs和关键知情人外，还对244户样本户进行了问卷调查。相应地，收入悬殊；城市土地租赁价格上涨，在土地征用期间向城郊农民支付的微薄补偿是非正规住区增长的主要经济驱动力之一。同样，不断增加的城市人口和低效的土地供应，以及住房负担能力的缺乏加上租赁住房的增加是其他触发因素。除其他外，所有这些因素都表明，社会经济和人口因素都与此类定居点的直接增长有关。因此，周边的土地被滥用，这种情况极大地助长了城市管理中建成区的非法和快速扩张。不断增加的城市人口和低效的土地供应，以及住房负担能力不足加上出租房屋的增加是其他触发因素。除其他外，所有这些因素都表明，社会经济和人口因素都与此类定居点的直接增长有关。因此，周边的土地被滥用，这种情况极大地助长了城市管理中建成区的非法和快速扩张。不断增加的城市人口和低效的土地供应，以及住房负担能力不足加上出租房屋的增加是其他触发因素。除其他外，所有这些因素都表明，社会经济和人口因素都与此类定居点的直接增长有关。因此，周边的土地被滥用，这种情况极大地助长了城市管理中建成区的非法和快速扩张。