Global Slum Population Estimate

The World Bank estimated 1 billion people lived in slums or informal settlements in 2012, about 31% of the global urban population. Numbers are projected to rise with urbanization. Slums feature inadequate housing, lack of water/sanitation, high crime, and disease risk. Drivers include housing shortages, poor urban planning, and poverty. Solutions: increase affordable housing, extend basic services, improve planning/regulation, support residents with microfinance and job training.