Slum (informal urban settlement)

Typical characteristics

Physical and service deficiencies are common: intermittent or absent running water, unstable electricity, shared or missing toilets, and limited access to communication such as telephones. Municipal amenities—paved roads, waste removal and drainage—are often inadequate or absent (municipal services).

• Overcrowding and substandard housing.
• Insecure land tenure and informal ownership.
• Limited access to safe water, sanitation and power.
• Vulnerabilities to floods, fires and disease.

Social and economic aspects

Slum communities frequently suffer high rates of unemployment or underemployment and restricted access to formal education (education) and basic health care. At the same time, they sustain extensive informal economies—street vending, small workshops and home‑based enterprises—that are vital to urban life.

Origins and development

Slums emerge for many reasons: rapid urbanization, migration from rural areas, shortages of affordable housing, and historical planning failures. They are common in many low‑ and middle‑income countries often labeled in older literature as the Third World, though informal settlements exist everywhere. Some areas are called by local names—favelas, bidonvilles or shanty towns—reflecting regional differences in form and history.

Responses, distinctions and notable facts

Urban policy responses range from eviction and clearance to in‑place upgrading, provision of services, legalizing tenure and community‑driven projects. Distinctions are important: "slum" is a descriptive term, while "informal settlement" emphasizes legality and governance. Many communities show resilience and social networks that support local initiatives despite hardships.

Understanding slums requires attention to infrastructure, rights, livelihoods and participatory planning. Sustainable improvement typically combines health interventions, infrastructure investment and secure land rights implemented with resident involvement.