Despite global efforts to improve housing and reduce urban poverty, slums remain a defining feature of many fast-growing cities in the developing world.
- Slums persist as a major issue in many fast-growing cities within developing nations.
- Over 800 million people globally reside in slum conditions, primarily in low- and middle-income countries.
- India leads with approximately 262 million slum inhabitants, followed by other nations such as Nigeria, Bangladesh, and Pakistan.
These slums, characterized by overcrowding, substandard housing, and inadequate access to basic services, are expanding rapidly in regions where urban growth is not matched by infrastructure or affordable housing development.
According to the latest available data from UN-Habitat, World Bank reports, and early 2025 population estimates from Worldometer, over 800 million people globally are still living in slum conditions.
The majority of these individuals reside in low- and middle-income countries, particularly in parts of South Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Southeast Asia.
This ranking is based on absolute slum population figures rather than percentage share, offering a clearer view of where the largest numbers of people are affected.
Countries with the largest urban populations and the biggest gaps in public housing provision dominate the list.
Global slum population
Many of these countries have experienced prolonged rural-to-urban migration, strained housing systems, and limited policy implementation on slum upgrading.
| Rank | Country | 2025 Population Estimate | Slum Population Estimate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | India | 1.46 billion | 262 million |
| 2 | Nigeria | 237.5 million | 64 million |
| 3 | Bangladesh | 175.7 million | 41 million |
| 4 | Pakistan | 255.2 million | 40 million |
| 5 | Indonesia | 285.7 million | 33 million |
| 6 | Brazil | 212.8 million | 32 million |
| 7 | DR Congo | 112.8 million | 31 million |
| 8 | Ethiopia | 135.5 million | 22 million |
| 9 | Philippines | 115.0 million | 21 million |
| 10 | Kenya | 57.5 million | 10 million |
Together, these ten countries account for over 550 million slum dwellers, more than two-thirds of the global total. India alone is home to around 262 million, underscoring the scale of its urban housing challenge.
Nigeria follows distantly with an estimated 64 million slum residents, driven by rapid urbanization in cities like Lagos, where housing demand far exceeds supply.
South Asian countries dominate the upper ranks, with Bangladesh and Pakistan each recording slum populations above 40 million. Despite various upgrading programs, cities such as Dhaka and Karachi continue to struggle with managing unplanned settlements.
In Southeast Asia and Latin America, Indonesia and Brazil still report slum populations above 30 million, even as they pursue redevelopment schemes.
Meanwhile, DR Congo’s slum numbers have grown significantly, reflecting poor infrastructure planning amid one of the world’s fastest urbanization rates.
Ethiopia, the Philippines, and Kenya complete the list with slum populations between 10 and 22 million. In all three cases, rapid population growth has not been matched by corresponding improvements in affordable housing or basic services.
The data shows a clear trend: the countries with the largest slum populations are not always the poorest, but rather those where urban expansion has outpaced government capacity to provide structured housing, water, sanitation, and legal land tenure.
Without sustained investment and reform, these slum populations are expected to continue growing in the years ahead.
Fathia Olasupo
