Population living in slums — all countries

Population living in slums — Sub-Saharan Africa

Population living in slums in Sub-Saharan Africa in 2022 — 53.7%. Since 2000, the indicator has fallen by 8.9 pp.

2022 53.7% +2.7 pp vs 2020
World rank —
Period maximum 65.1%2002
Period minimum 51%2020

Trend over time

2000–2022 · % of urban population

Population living in slums — Sub-Saharan Africa, 2000–20225055606570200020032006200920122015201820212000: 62.6%2002: 65.1%2004: 63.3%2006: 61.8%2008: 60.1%2010: 58.5%2012: 56.8%2014: 55.2%2016: 53.5%2018: 52.2%2020: 51%2022: 53.7%
Change over the period: −8.9 pp Annual average: -0.41 pp

Comparison, 2022

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Sub-Saharan Africa

Sub-Saharan Africa 53.7%
World 23.2%
Population living in slums — Sub-Saharan Africa, by year Sub-Saharan Africa All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2022 53.7 —
2020 51 —
2018 52.2 —
2016 53.5 —
2014 55.2 —
2012 56.8 —
2010 58.5 —
2008 60.1 —
2006 61.8 —
2004 63.3 —
2002 65.1 —
2000 62.6 —

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.