Population living in slums — all countries

Population living in slums — South Africa

Population living in slums in South Africa in 2022 — 24.2%. Ranked 108 in the world out of 181. Since 2000, the indicator has fallen by 3.4 pp.

2022 24.2% +0 pp vs 2020
World rank 108of 181
Period maximum 27.6%2000
Period minimum 24.2%2018

Trend over time

2000–2022 · % of urban population

Population living in slums — South Africa, 2000–20222425262728200020032006200920122015201820212000: 27.6%2002: 27.2%2004: 26.8%2006: 26.5%2008: 26.1%2010: 25.7%2012: 25.3%2014: 24.9%2016: 24.6%2018: 24.2%2020: 24.2%2022: 24.2%
Change over the period: −3.4 pp Annual average: -0.15 pp

Comparison, 2022

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: South Africa

South Africa 24.2%
World 23.2%
Southern Africa computed 25.3%
Population living in slums — South Africa, by year South Africa All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2022 24.2 —
2020 24.2 —
2018 24.2 —
2016 24.6 —
2014 24.9 —
2012 25.3 —
2010 25.7 —
2008 26.1 —
2006 26.5 —
2004 26.8 —
2002 27.2 —
2000 27.6 —

Southern Africa, 2022

The same indicator for neighboring countries — with links to their pages

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.