Share of urban population living in slums in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Share of urban population living in slums was 42.6% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Share of urban population living in slums in Sri Lanka, 2000–2024
Source: United Nations Human Settlements Programme – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Sri Lanka recorded 42.6% for share of urban population living in slums in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 13 years on record.
That represents a change of down 4.6% on the previous year and down 13.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of urban population living in slums in Sri Lanka peaked at 57.6% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 42.6%, in 2024.
Sri Lanka ranks 49th of 214 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 13 years of available data.
Share of urban population living in slums in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 57.6% | — |
| 2002 | 56.4% | -2.1% |
| 2004 | 55.1% | -2.3% |
| 2006 | 54.0% | -1.9% |
| 2008 | 52.9% | -2.2% |
| 2010 | 51.7% | -2.3% |
| 2012 | 50.5% | -2.3% |
| 2014 | 49.2% | -2.5% |
| 2016 | 48.0% | -2.4% |
| 2018 | 46.8% | -2.5% |
| 2020 | 45.7% | -2.5% |
| 2022 | 44.7% | -2.2% |
| 2024 | 42.6% | -4.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 55.2% | 52.9% | 57.6% | 5 |
| 2010s | 49.2% | 46.8% | 51.7% | 5 |
| 2020s | 44.3% | 42.6% | 45.7% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
More population data for Sri Lanka
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.5555 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 0.0083 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.5555 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -1.29 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 21,815 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.1332 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.6507 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth -0.6% (2100)
- Population density 343.51 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 901,396 people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of urban population living in slums in Sri Lanka?
- Share of urban population living in slums in Sri Lanka was 42.6% 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 Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 57.6% in 2000.
- What is the lowest share of urban population living in slums recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 42.6% in 2024.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for share of urban population living in slums?
- Sri Lanka ranks 49th out of 214 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of urban population living in slums rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 13.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sri Lanka 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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About this data
Proportion of urban population living in slums (%).