Population living in slums — all countries

Population living in slums — Low-income countries

Population living in slums in low-income countries in 2022 — 60.6%. Since 2000, the indicator has fallen by 6.2 pp.

2022 60.6% +0.9 pp vs 2020
World rank —
Period maximum 74.7%2002
Period minimum 59.6%2020

Trend over time

2000–2022 · % of urban population

Population living in slums — Low-income countries, 2000–20225560657075200020032006200920122015201820212000: 66.8%2002: 74.7%2004: 73%2006: 71%2008: 68.8%2010: 66.8%2012: 64.6%2014: 62.9%2016: 61.6%2018: 60.5%2020: 59.6%2022: 60.6%
Change over the period: −6.2 pp Annual average: -0.28 pp

Comparison, 2022

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Low-income countries

Low-income countries 60.6%
World 23.2%
Population living in slums — Low-income countries, by year Low-income countries All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2022 60.6 —
2020 59.6 —
2018 60.5 —
2016 61.6 —
2014 62.9 —
2012 64.6 —
2010 66.8 —
2008 68.8 —
2006 71 —
2004 73 —
2002 74.7 —
2000 66.8 —

About the indicator

The share of the urban population living in slums, as defined by the UN Human Settlements Programme. A household counts as a slum household if it lacks at least one of five things: access to clean water, access to sanitation, sufficient living space, durable housing, or protection against forced eviction. The definition works through deprivations rather than appearance — which is why solidly built neighborhoods without sewerage are counted as slums too.

Important: The aggregate for groups of countries is weighted by urban population rather than by the whole population: the indicator is calculated against the urban population. The data are collected irregularly, so the years are patchy.

Source: World Development Indicators (World Bank), license CC BY 4.0.