Population living in slums — all countries

Population living in slums — Middle East & North Africa

Population living in slums in Middle East & North Africa in 2022 — 31.9%. Since 2000, the indicator has fallen by 19.1 pp.

2022 31.9% −2.1 pp vs 2020
World rank —
Period maximum 51%2000
Period minimum 31.9%2022

Trend over time

2000–2022 · % of urban population

Population living in slums — Middle East & North Africa, 2000–2022303540455055200020032006200920122015201820212000: 51%2002: 50.2%2004: 48.4%2006: 44.6%2008: 42.5%2010: 40.6%2012: 38.3%2014: 35.6%2016: 34.6%2018: 34.2%2020: 34%2022: 31.9%
Change over the period: −19.1 pp Annual average: -0.87 pp

Comparison, 2022

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Middle East & North Africa

Middle East & North Africa 31.9%
World 23.2%
Population living in slums — Middle East & North Africa, by year Middle East & North Africa All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2022 31.9 —
2020 34 —
2018 34.2 —
2016 34.6 —
2014 35.6 —
2012 38.3 —
2010 40.6 —
2008 42.5 —
2006 44.6 —
2004 48.4 —
2002 50.2 —
2000 51 —

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.