Population living in slums — all countries

Population living in slums — South America

Population living in slums in South America in 2022 — 18.9%. Since 2000, the indicator has fallen by 13 pp.

2022 18.9% +0.9 pp vs 2014
World rank —
Period maximum 32%2000
Period minimum 18.1%2014

Trend over time

2000–2022 · % of urban population

Population living in slums — South America, 2000–20221520253035200020032006200920122015201820212000: 32%2002: 29.6%2004: 27.3%2006: 25.2%2008: 21.7%2010: 19.9%2012: 18.3%2014: 18.1%2022: 18.9%
Change over the period: −13 pp Annual average: -0.59 pp

Comparison, 2022

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

South America 18.9%
World 23.2%
Population living in slums — South America, by year South America All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2022 18.9 —
2014 18.1 —
2012 18.3 —
2010 19.9 —
2008 21.7 —
2006 25.2 —
2004 27.3 —
2002 29.6 —
2000 32 —

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.