Population living in slums — all countries

Population living in slums — Western Africa

Population living in slums in Western Africa in 2022 — 50.5%. Since 2000, the indicator has fallen by 20.7 pp.

2022 50.5% +2.9 pp vs 2020
World rank —
Period maximum 71.1%2000
Period minimum 47.6%2020

Trend over time

2000–2022 · % of urban population

Population living in slums — Western Africa, 2000–20224050607080200020032006200920122015201820212000: 71.1%2002: 68.9%2004: 66.5%2006: 64%2008: 61.6%2010: 59.2%2012: 56.7%2014: 54.2%2016: 51.8%2018: 49.6%2020: 47.6%2022: 50.5%
Change over the period: −20.7 pp Annual average: -0.94 pp

Comparison, 2022

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

Western Africa 50.5%
World 23.2%
Population living in slums — Western Africa, by year Western Africa All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2022 50.5 —
2020 47.6 —
2018 49.6 —
2016 51.8 —
2014 54.2 —
2012 56.7 —
2010 59.2 —
2008 61.6 —
2006 64 —
2004 66.5 —
2002 68.9 —
2000 71.1 —

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.