The COVID-19 pandemic and urban density: a systematic literature review

Abstract

The role of density in the spread of the coronavirus pandemic is among the most critical concerns of urban designers and planners. To clarify this role, this systematic literature review is conducted on urban density and the COVID-19 infection and mortality rates in the context of urban design and planning. The studies were searched through three databases including Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science in March 2022 and were screened and reviewed based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. In total, 58 of the 3344 studies had pre-defined criteria. The results were categorised into four sections: population density, building density, built environment factors, and sociodemographic factors. Finally, directions are provided for future studies due to research gaps.