The informal settlement of Makoko in Nigeria's capital Lagos

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Informal Living

Around one billion people live in informal settlements worldwide. Stereotypes of these dwellings often reduce them to poverty and deprivation. How are the people living in these places really doing?

Around one billion people worldwide live in informal settlements without an official address. From favelas and slums to shanty towns, these places are as diverse as their names.

People live here in precarious conditions - often without access to water and electricity and without key infrastructure. However, stories aboutIndia's largest informal settlement and the Expo Favela, a business fair for companies from Brazil's informal settlements, show that informal settlements are also extremely resilient in the face of hardship and offer innovative solutions for everyday life.

Despite this, “the struggles of slum dwellers for recognition and gradual improvement of their intentionally developed but unofficial communities go unheard”, explains the South African urbanist Marie Huchzermeyer.

Their concerns are ignored by politicians. This is partly because informal settlements are still stigmatised and often overlooked by broader society.

Rapper 19Tyger from Thailand sings: “You look down on the slum and the poor people/ I'm sick of your insults.” He has compiled a playlist of music reflecting his youth in the Khlong Toei district of Bangkok.

How are people in informal settlements really doing? What changes are needed to politically and socially to improve everyday life there?

January 2025

Discover the printed issue

In addition to our dossier “The limits of growth”, our I/2025 issue contained more reports, interviews and news items from around the world: 

Writing up close: Nigerian author Helon Habila processes his political experiences in his books

Politainment for all: Arun Chaudary was Barack Obama's “First Cameraman”. Today, he advises political parties worldwide on their digital strategies

Fashion and identity: the fashion label ZN ALI combines tradition with modern aesthetics 

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