Slums—informal urban settlements often marked by poverty, overcrowding, and inadequate access to essential services—are home to over 1 billion people worldwide. These areas represent not just housing problems but also humanitarian crises. While some slums have become hubs of informal economies and cultural resilience, others struggle with rampant disease, crime, and environmental degradation.
In this article, we explore the top 10 global slum areas, based on size, population, and significance. These slums, located across Africa, Asia, and Latin America, illustrate the vast scale of global urban poverty and the need for sustainable development.
1. Dharavi – Mumbai, India
Population: ~1 million
Area: 2.1 square kilometers
Overview:
Dharavi is one of the most densely populated slums in the world. Situated in the heart of Mumbai, Dharavi is often called the "city within a city." Homes are crammed together with little access to clean water or sanitation, yet the slum is also an economic hub, housing over 5,000 businesses and producing over $1 billion annually in informal economic activity.
Challenges:
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Poor sanitation and hygiene
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Frequent disease outbreaks
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Risk of eviction due to redevelopment projects
2. Kibera – Nairobi, Kenya
Population: ~250,000 to 500,000
Area: 2.5 square kilometers
Overview:
Kibera is Africa’s largest slum, located just outside Nairobi. It is characterized by overcrowded tin-roof homes, open sewage, and unreliable electricity. Despite these conditions, Kibera is a lively place with schools, churches, and a strong sense of community.
Challenges:
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Lack of clean water
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Open defecation
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Limited access to formal education and jobs
3. Orangi Town – Karachi, Pakistan
Population: ~2.5 million
Area: 57 square kilometers
Overview:
Orangi Town is one of the world’s largest slum areas by population. Unlike many slums, Orangi is known for its community-led sanitation system. Residents have self-financed sewage and waste disposal infrastructure, showcasing one of the most successful examples of grassroots urban planning.
Challenges:
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Informal housing and lack of land rights
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Inadequate health and education facilities
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Crime and gang activity in certain areas
4. Rocinha – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Population: ~70,000 (unofficial estimates suggest up to 200,000)
Area: 1.5 square kilometers
Overview:
Rocinha is Brazil’s largest favela and is located on the hillsides of Rio. While it has better infrastructure than many other slums—such as electricity, cable TV, and even banks—it still suffers from poverty and drug-related violence.
Challenges:
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Gang violence and drug trafficking
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Risk of landslides due to steep terrain
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Social inequality and exclusion
5. Neza-Chalco-Itza – Mexico City, Mexico
Population: ~4 million
Area: Spans across multiple municipalities
Overview:
Once the largest informal settlement in the world, Neza-Chalco-Itza is now largely integrated into the city of Mexico City. However, parts of it still suffer from slum-like conditions, with inadequate infrastructure, crime, and housing shortages.
Challenges:
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High crime rates
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Environmental degradation
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Limited access to public services
6. Mukuru Kwa Njenga – Nairobi, Kenya
Population: ~100,000
Area: 1.5 square kilometers
Overview:
Located near Nairobi’s industrial area, Mukuru Kwa Njenga is a densely packed slum known for its poor sanitation and high poverty levels. NGOs are actively involved in upgrading housing and sanitation in the area.
Challenges:
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Inadequate water and sanitation
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Vulnerability to fires and floods
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Poor waste management
7. Ciudad Neza – Mexico City, Mexico
Population: ~1.2 million
Area: 63 square kilometers
Overview:
Part of the Neza-Chalco-Itza conglomerate, Ciudad Neza has grown into a municipality but originated as an informal slum on the dried-up lakebed of Lake Texcoco. It has made major strides toward urban integration but still faces challenges typical of slum areas.
Challenges:
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Urban overcrowding
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Pollution and poor drainage
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Water scarcity
8. Cité Soleil – Port-au-Prince, Haiti
Population: ~400,000
Area: 22 square kilometers
Overview:
Cité Soleil is Haiti’s most notorious slum, often described as one of the poorest and most dangerous areas in the Western Hemisphere. The area lacks almost all basic infrastructure and is frequently plagued by political violence and gang wars.
Challenges:
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Extreme poverty
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High rates of violence
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No formal sewage or waste management system
9. Ajegunle – Lagos, Nigeria
Population: ~500,000
Area: 3 square kilometers
Overview:
Ajegunle, meaning “a place where wealth dwells,” ironically is one of the most poverty-stricken areas in Lagos. The slum has produced famous musicians and athletes, showing resilience and talent despite harsh conditions.
Challenges:
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Poor sanitation and flooding
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High youth unemployment
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Overcrowded living conditions
10. Dandora – Nairobi, Kenya
Population: ~300,000
Area: 3 square kilometers
Overview:
Dandora is infamous for housing Nairobi’s largest dumpsite. Many residents survive by scavenging recyclables. The area is heavily polluted and prone to health hazards, particularly among children.
Challenges:
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Toxic waste exposure
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Poor air and water quality
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Limited healthcare access
Common Challenges Across Global Slum Areas
While these slums differ by geography, culture, and size, they share many similar issues:
a. Lack of Basic Infrastructure
Water, sanitation, electricity, and roads are either missing or unreliable in most slums.
b. Overcrowding
High population density leads to shared living spaces, increasing the risk of disease and reducing privacy and dignity.
c. Health Risks
Malnutrition, respiratory infections, and waterborne diseases are widespread due to unhygienic conditions.
d. Unemployment and Informal Economy
Formal jobs are scarce, leading to reliance on informal labor, often without rights or benefits.
e. Education Barriers
Many children in slums do not attend school or drop out early due to economic pressures.
Global Efforts Toward Slum Improvement
Efforts are being made around the world to improve life in slum areas:
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UN-Habitat's Participatory Slum Upgrading Programme (PSUP) helps governments and communities upgrade living conditions in a sustainable, inclusive manner.
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Affordable Housing Initiatives by local governments and NGOs aim to build safer homes for low-income families.
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Grassroots Movements such as those seen in Orangi Town empower residents to manage their own infrastructure.
However, many efforts are hindered by corruption, lack of political will, and insufficient funding.