Population living in slums — all countries

Population living in slums — Lower-middle-income countries

Population living in slums in lower-middle-income countries in 2022 — 41.9%. Since 2000, the indicator has fallen by 10.7 pp.

2022 41.9% +2.5 pp vs 2020
World rank
Period maximum 52.6%2000
Period minimum 25.9%2018

Trend over time

2000–2022 · % of urban population

Population living in slums — Lower-middle-income countries, 2000–20222030405060200020032006200920122015201820212000: 52.6%2002: 51.8%2004: 50.2%2006: 48.2%2008: 46.5%2010: 44.7%2012: 42.6%2014: 40.5%2016: 39%2018: 25.9%2020: 39.4%2022: 41.9%
Change over the period: −10.7 pp Annual average: -0.49 pp

Comparison, 2022

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

Lower-middle-income countries 41.9%
World 23.2%
Population living in slums — Lower-middle-income countries, by year Lower-middle-income countries All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2022 41.9
2020 39.4
2018 25.9
2016 39
2014 40.5
2012 42.6
2010 44.7
2008 46.5
2006 48.2
2004 50.2
2002 51.8
2000 52.6

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.