Population living in slums — all countries

Population living in slums — Low-income countries

Population living in slums in low-income countries in 2022 — 60.6%. Since 2000, the indicator has fallen by 6.2 pp.

2022 60.6% +0.9 pp vs 2020
World rank
Period maximum 74.7%2002
Period minimum 59.6%2020

Trend over time

2000–2022 · % of urban population

Population living in slums — Low-income countries, 2000–20225560657075200020032006200920122015201820212000: 66.8%2002: 74.7%2004: 73%2006: 71%2008: 68.8%2010: 66.8%2012: 64.6%2014: 62.9%2016: 61.6%2018: 60.5%2020: 59.6%2022: 60.6%
Change over the period: −6.2 pp Annual average: -0.28 pp

Comparison, 2022

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Low-income countries

Low-income countries 60.6%
World 23.2%
Population living in slums — Low-income countries, by year Low-income countries All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2022 60.6
2020 59.6
2018 60.5
2016 61.6
2014 62.9
2012 64.6
2010 66.8
2008 68.8
2006 71
2004 73
2002 74.7
2000 66.8

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.