Population living in slums — all countries

Population living in slums — Sub-Saharan Africa

Population living in slums in Sub-Saharan Africa in 2022 — 53.7%. Since 2000, the indicator has fallen by 8.9 pp.

2022 53.7% +2.7 pp vs 2020
World rank
Period maximum 65.1%2002
Period minimum 51%2020

Trend over time

2000–2022 · % of urban population

Population living in slums — Sub-Saharan Africa, 2000–20225055606570200020032006200920122015201820212000: 62.6%2002: 65.1%2004: 63.3%2006: 61.8%2008: 60.1%2010: 58.5%2012: 56.8%2014: 55.2%2016: 53.5%2018: 52.2%2020: 51%2022: 53.7%
Change over the period: −8.9 pp Annual average: -0.41 pp

Comparison, 2022

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Sub-Saharan Africa

Sub-Saharan Africa 53.7%
World 23.2%
Population living in slums — Sub-Saharan Africa, by year Sub-Saharan Africa All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2022 53.7
2020 51
2018 52.2
2016 53.5
2014 55.2
2012 56.8
2010 58.5
2008 60.1
2006 61.8
2004 63.3
2002 65.1
2000 62.6

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.