Share of urban population living in slums in South Africa
South Africa: Share of urban population living in slums was 10.5 in 2024. ▼ Falling
Share of urban population living in slums in South Africa, 2000–2024
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of urban population living in slums in South Africa is 10.5, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 13 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.8% on the previous year and down 16.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of urban population living in slums in South Africa peaked at 12.6 in 2016 and was at its lowest, 10.5, in 2024.
South Africa ranks 107th 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 South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 27.61 | — |
| 2002 | 27.23 | -1.4% |
| 2004 | 26.85 | -1.4% |
| 2006 | 26.47 | -1.4% |
| 2008 | 26.09 | -1.4% |
| 2010 | 25.71 | -1.5% |
| 2012 | 25.32 | -1.5% |
| 2014 | 24.94 | -1.5% |
| 2016 | 12.6 | -49.5% |
| 2018 | 12 | -4.8% |
| 2020 | 11.2 | -6.7% |
| 2022 | 10.8 | -3.6% |
| 2024 | 10.5 | -2.8% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 10.5 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 14.7, 71% of the median. (54 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 10.5 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 48.34, 22% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Share of urban population living in slums in South Africa changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | -49.5% | 24.94 | 12.6 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 26.85 | 26.09 | 27.61 | 5 |
| 2010s | 20.11 | 12 | 25.71 | 5 |
| 2020s | 10.83 | 10.5 | 11.2 | 3 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More population data for South Africa
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.2264 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -0.7997 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.2264 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.1847 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 73,530 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.8824 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.0148 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate 0.23 (2100)
- Population density 77.75 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 5.55 million (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of urban population living in slums in South Africa?
- Share of urban population living in slums in South Africa was 10.5 in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of urban population living in slums recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 12.6 in 2016.
- What is the lowest share of urban population living in slums recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.5 in 2024.
- How does South Africa rank for share of urban population living in slums?
- South Africa ranks 107th out of 214 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of urban population living in slums rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 16.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Share of urban population living in slums. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 13 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).