Global Evolution of Research in Urban Environment and Human Health: A Bibliometric Study

Rapid urbanization is transforming nations worldwide, with projections indicating that nearly 70% of the global population will inhabit urban areas by 2050. This unprecedented demographic shift has driven the development of clean, green, smart, and sustainable cities to be a top policy priority for governments globally. Achieving these ambitious urban sustainability goals, however, requires a better understanding of the complex interactions between urban ecological and social systems. This study applies bibliometric methods to analyze academic literature, focusing on trends related to the relationship between urban environment and human health. Data were collected from the Scopus database and VOSviewer and R-Studio were employed to create co-authorship and co-occurrence maps, identifying key themes in the literature. The results indicate a significant rise in research on urban health, with prominent topics including urban heat islands, health risk assessments, public health and the impact of environmental factors on mental and physical health. Emerging research areas show a growing focus on climate resilience, health promotion and environmental justice. This bibliometric review systematically identifies the key areas of scholarly interest and evolving themes in urban health, emphasizing the importance of understanding the effects of urbanization on human well-being, particularly in rapidly growing urban centers. The findings reveal the increasing interdisciplinary nature of urban health research, underscoring the need for continued global collaboration to address the com-plex health challenges posed by urban environments.