Journal of Iranian Social Studies

Abstract Urbanization in Iran has experienced rapid and accelerated growth, which has led to numerous problems and challenges for Iranian cities. Given the significance of informal settlements and their impact on various levels of society, this study aims to conduct a meta-analysis of research articles on the consequences of informal settlements in urban areas during the period 1991–2022. The research method is applied in terms of purpose, quantitative in terms of data collection, and employs a descriptive meta-analysis approach. The statistical population includes all registered studies in national research and information databases that have addressed the issue of informal settlements. A systematic review of journal databases was conducted to identify relevant studies. Out of 250 initially selected articles, 39 met all the required criteria based on the established protocol. These were then analyzed using the CMA2 software. The findings indicate that the consequences of informal settlements include physical and non-physical domestic violence, social deviance, child labor and street children, and a general sense of social insecurity. Failure to address the root causes of these issues can lead to their re-emergence in different forms, ultimately threatening sustainable urban development from environmental, social, cultural, and economic perspectives.