Population living in slums — all countries

Population living in slums — South Asia

Population living in slums in South Asia in 2022 — 53.5%. Since 2000, the indicator has fallen by 12.5 pp.

2022 53.5% −0.3 pp vs 2020
World rank
Period maximum 66%2000
Period minimum 5.4%2019

Trend over time

2000–2022 · % of urban population

Population living in slums — South Asia, 2000–2022020406080200020032006200920122015201820212000: 66%2002: 64.7%2004: 63.3%2006: 62%2008: 60.6%2010: 59.3%2012: 58.2%2014: 57%2016: 55.9%2018: 11.4%2019: 5.4%2020: 53.8%2022: 53.5%
Change over the period: −12.5 pp Annual average: -0.57 pp

Comparison, 2022

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

South Asia 53.5%
World 23.2%
Population living in slums — South Asia, by year South Asia All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2022 53.5
2020 53.8 +48.4 pp
2019 5.4 −6 pp
2018 11.4
2016 55.9
2014 57
2012 58.2
2010 59.3
2008 60.6
2006 62
2004 63.3
2002 64.7
2000 66

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.