Population living in slums — all countries

Population living in slums — Central America

Population living in slums in Central America in 2022 — 18.7%. Since 2000, the indicator has fallen by 15.1 pp.

2022 18.7% +0.4 pp vs 2020
World rank
Period maximum 33.9%2002
Period minimum 18.3%2020

Trend over time

2000–2022 · % of urban population

Population living in slums — Central America, 2000–20221520253035200020032006200920122015201820212000: 33.7%2002: 33.9%2004: 32.2%2006: 30.5%2008: 28.6%2010: 26.7%2012: 23.1%2014: 21.2%2016: 19.5%2018: 18.8%2020: 18.3%2022: 18.7%
Change over the period: −15.1 pp Annual average: -0.69 pp

Comparison, 2022

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Central America

Central America 18.7%
World 23.2%
Population living in slums — Central America, by year Central America All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2022 18.7
2020 18.3
2018 18.8
2016 19.5
2014 21.2
2012 23.1
2010 26.7
2008 28.6
2006 30.5
2004 32.2
2002 33.9
2000 33.7

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.