What Are Squatter Camps Called?

Squatter camps are also known as:

• Shanty towns
• Slums
• Informal settlements
• Favelas (Brazil)
• Gecekondus (Turkey)
• Bidonvilles (Francophone Africa)
• Villas miseria (Argentina)

Characteristics: informal land occupation, self-built housing, lack of services (water, sanitation, electricity), overcrowding, tenure insecurity. Found mainly in rapidly urbanizing Global South cities.