MAPPING THE INTERSECTION OF SUSTAINABILITY AND AFFORDABILITY IN HOUSING: A BIBLIOMETRIC REVIEW

Abstract

The intersection of sustainability and affordability in housing has become an increasingly critical area of research, driven by the dual challenges of rising urban housing demand and the global commitment to sustainable development. Despite the increase in studies on either sustainability or affordability, limited bibliometric evidence exists that systematically maps their overlap and research evolution. To address this gap, this study applies a bibliometric approach to examine global publication trends and knowledge structures in the field. Data were collected from the Scopus database using advanced searching with the keywords “sustainable housing,” “affordable housing,” “green building,” “low-cost housing,” “housing construction,” “housing sustainability,” and “housing affordability,” resulting in a final dataset of 973 publications. The dataset was refined and harmonized using OpenRefine to ensure consistency and accuracy. Statistical analysis and graphical trends were generated using the Scopus Analyzer, while VOSviewer software was employed to conduct keyword co-occurrence, citation, and co-authorship network visualizations. The analysis revealed a strong growth track in research output, with publications rising significantly after 2019, reflecting heightened global attention to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), particularly SDG 11 on sustainable cities and communities. Country-level analysis identified the United States (US), the United Kingdom (UK), India, China, and Australia as leading contributors, while Malaysia and South Africa emerged as notable contributors from the Global South. The co-occurrence analysis highlighted five major clusters of research themes: energy efficiency and renewable technologies, construction materials and building performance, urban planning and policy frameworks, socio-economic equity and affordability, and decision-making tools for housing sustainability. This study concludes that while the field has achieved substantial growth and interdisciplinary breadth, gaps remain in integrating technical innovation with social equity and affordability concerns. The findings provide a comprehensive knowledge map to guide future research, policy, and practice in sustainable, affordable housing.