Proportion of urban population living in slums in South Africa
South Africa: Proportion of urban population living in slums was 10.5% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Proportion of urban population living in slums in South Africa, 2016–2024
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2024, proportion of urban population living in slums in South Africa stood at 10.5%. That is the lowest value across all 5 years on record.
That represents a change of down 2.8% on the previous year and down 16.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, proportion 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 103rd of 210 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Proportion of urban population living in slums in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 12.6% | — |
| 2018 | 12.0% | -4.8% |
| 2020 | 11.2% | -6.7% |
| 2022 | 10.8% | -3.6% |
| 2024 | 10.5% | -2.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 12.3% | 12.0% | 12.6% | 2 |
| 2020s | 10.8% | 10.5% | 11.2% | 3 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More infrastructure data for South Africa
- Mobile cellular subscriptions 114.79 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions 179.34 per 100 people (2024)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions 1.01 million (2024)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions 1.58 per 100 people (2024)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions, per capita 0.0158 units per person (2024)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions, annual growth rate -25.13 % change on previous year (2024)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions, gaps filled 1.01 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions, per capita 1.79 units per person (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0.0003 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is proportion of urban population living in slums in South Africa?
- Proportion of urban population living in slums in South Africa was 10.5% in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest proportion of urban population living in slums recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 12.6% in 2016.
- What is the lowest proportion 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 proportion of urban population living in slums?
- South Africa ranks 103rd out of 210 countries with data for 2024.
- Is proportion 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 United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Proportion of urban population living in slums (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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