Population living in slums — all countries

Population living in slums — Middle East & North Africa

Population living in slums in Middle East & North Africa in 2022 — 31.9%. Since 2000, the indicator has fallen by 19.1 pp.

2022 31.9% −2.1 pp vs 2020
World rank
Period maximum 51%2000
Period minimum 31.9%2022

Trend over time

2000–2022 · % of urban population

Population living in slums — Middle East & North Africa, 2000–2022303540455055200020032006200920122015201820212000: 51%2002: 50.2%2004: 48.4%2006: 44.6%2008: 42.5%2010: 40.6%2012: 38.3%2014: 35.6%2016: 34.6%2018: 34.2%2020: 34%2022: 31.9%
Change over the period: −19.1 pp Annual average: -0.87 pp

Comparison, 2022

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Middle East & North Africa

Middle East & North Africa 31.9%
World 23.2%
Population living in slums — Middle East & North Africa, by year Middle East & North Africa All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2022 31.9
2020 34
2018 34.2
2016 34.6
2014 35.6
2012 38.3
2010 40.6
2008 42.5
2006 44.6
2004 48.4
2002 50.2
2000 51

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.