Key facts
- Global housing shortages and rising rents are forcing people into small living spaces.
- Micro-apartments are becoming a symbol of the housing affordability crisis.
- These small units are often called 'coffin homes' or 'mosquito units.'
- Cities like Los Angeles and Seoul are experiencing this trend.
- The crisis reflects a struggle for affordable and adequate housing in urban areas.
Global housing shortages and persistently rising rents are compelling individuals worldwide to accept uncomfortably small living spaces. These micro-apartments, frequently labeled as 'coffin homes' or 'mosquito units,' serve as a visible indicator of the intensifying housing affordability crisis affecting numerous cities. Photos emerging from metropolises such as Los Angeles and Seoul illustrate the reality of these compact living arrangements. The proliferation of such tiny dwellings underscores a significant challenge in providing accessible and reasonably priced housing for a growing urban population. This situation reflects a broader economic trend where the cost of basic necessities, particularly shelter, is outpacing wage growth for many.