Share of urban population living in slums in China

China: Share of urban population living in slums was 26.3% in 2024. ▼ Falling

Latest (2024)
26.3%
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
78th
of 214 countries
All-time high
42.9%
in 2000
All-time low
26.3%
in 2012
Years of data
13
2000–2024

Share of urban population living in slums in China, 2000–2024

0102030402000201220242000: 42.9 %2002: 40.1 %2004: 37.4 %2006: 34.6 %2008: 31.9 %2010: 29.1 %2012: 26.3 %2014: 26.3 %2016: 26.3 %2018: 26.3 %2020: 26.3 %2022: 26.3 %2024: 26.3 %

Source: United Nations Human Settlements Programme – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.

Analysis

The most recent figure for share of urban population living in slums in China is 26.3%, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 13 years on record.

The figure is unchanged over ten years.

Over the whole period, share of urban population living in slums in China peaked at 42.9% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 26.3%, in 2012.

China ranks 78th of 214 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 13 years of available data.

Share of urban population living in slums in China, year by year

Annual values for Share of urban population living in slums in China, 2000 to 2024.
Year % Change
2000 42.9%
2002 40.1% -6.4%
2004 37.4% -6.9%
2006 34.6% -7.4%
2008 31.9% -8.0%
2010 29.1% -8.7%
2012 26.3% -9.5%
2014 26.3% +0.0%
2016 26.3% +0.0%
2018 26.3% +0.0%
2020 26.3% +0.0%
2022 26.3% +0.0%
2024 26.3% +0.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 37.4% 31.9% 42.9% 5
2010s 26.9% 26.3% 29.1% 5
2020s 26.3% 26.3% 26.3% 3

Countries ranked near China

  1. 75 Senegal 27.7% compare
  2. 76 Azerbaijan 26.9% compare
  3. 77 Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of 26.4% compare
  4. 79 North Korea 23.0% compare
  5. 80 Papua New Guinea 22.1% compare
  6. 81 Albania 20.8% compare

See the full ranking of 214 places →

More population data for China

All data for China →

Frequently asked questions

What is share of urban population living in slums in China?
Share of urban population living in slums in China was 26.3% in 2024, according to United Nations Human Settlements Programme – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest share of urban population living in slums recorded in China?
The highest recorded value was 42.9% in 2000.
What is the lowest share of urban population living in slums recorded in China?
The lowest recorded value was 26.3% in 2012.
How does China rank for share of urban population living in slums?
China ranks 78th out of 214 countries with data for 2024.
Is share of urban population living in slums rising or falling in China?
Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this China data come from?
The figures come from United Nations Human Settlements Programme – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of urban population living in slums. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Share of urban population living in slums in China. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Human Settlements Programme – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 29 August 2026, from https://population.statizoid.com/stat/share-of-urban-population-living-in-slums/china/

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About this data

Indicator
Share of urban population living in slums
Unit
%
Source
United Nations Human Settlements Programme – processed by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
214 places, 2,632 data points, 2000–2025
Last refreshed

Proportion of urban population living in slums (%).