Dhaka, Jan 2 (IANS): Dhaka has become one of the most crowded cities on earth, with a population density of 43,000 per square kilometre, making life harder for the residents.

Spread across 350 sq km, today Dhaka is home to more than 15 million people. The high population growth has made life difficult for the residents.

The loss of the green cover has led to more pollution and congestion, thus taking a heavy toll on people's health.

Unplanned industrialization, urbanization, and coupled with lack of public amenities like transport, and footpaths have compounded the problem, Xinhua reported Tuesday.

Experts blame the government's economic policy for the population growth in Dhaka, which saw a massive influx of people from the rural areas looking for jobs.

Hundreds of brick kilns on city outskirts also contributed to air pollution.

"This is the fastest growing megacity, but at the same time, this is also the most unlivable city," said A.K.M. Nurun Nabi, a professor with Dhaka University.

Dhaka has been recently ranked as the least livable city among 140 cities surveyed by the Economist Intelligence Unit.

It was ranked based on five categories: Stability, health-care, culture and environment, education and infrastructure.