Articles | Volume 18, issue 8
https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-18-5969-2026
https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-18-5969-2026
Data description article
 | 
25 Aug 2026
Data description article |  | 25 Aug 2026

Geospatial micro-estimates of slum populations in 129 Global South countries using machine learning and public data

Dan Li, Laixiang Sun, Yang Yu, and Peipei Tian

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Cited articles

Abascal, A., Rothwell, N., Shonowo, A., Thomson, D.R., Elias, P., Elsey, H., Yeboah, G., and Kuffer, M.: “Domains of deprivation framework” for mapping slums, informal settlements, and other deprived areas in LMICs to improve urban planning and policy: A scoping review, Comput. Environ. Urban Syst., 93, 101770, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compenvurbsys.2022.101770, 2022. 
Angeles, G., Lance, P., Barden-O'Fallon, J., Islam, N., Mahbub, A., and Nazem, N. I.: The 2005 census and mapping of slums in Bangladesh: design, select results and application, Int. J. Health Geogr., 8, 1–19, https://doi.org/10.1186/1476-072x-8-32, 2009.  
Azzari, G. and Lobell, D.: Landsat-based classification in the cloud: An opportunity for a paradigm shift in land cover monitoring, Remote Sens. Environ., 202, 64–74, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rse.2017.05.025, 2017. 
Banerjee, A., Banerji, R., Berry, J., Duflo, E., Kannan, H., Mukerji, S., Shotland, M., and Walton, M.: From proof of concept to scalable policies: Challenges and solutions, with an application, J. Econ. Perspect., 31, 73–102, https://doi.org/10.1257/jep.31.4.73, 2017. 
Baynes, J., Neale, A., and Hultgren, T.: Improving intelligent dasymetric mapping population density estimates at 30 m resolution for the conterminous United States by excluding uninhabited areas, Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 14, 2833–2849, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-14-2833-2022, 2022. 
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Short summary
We develop a generalized bottom-up framework for producing spatially explicit estimates of slum populations in data-sparse environments. The resulting dataset provides the first comprehensive inventory at an approximate spatial resolution of 6.72 km across 129 Global South countries. It addresses the underestimation in prior studies and supports national- and regional-scale assessments of urban sustainability and vulnerable populations, with potential applications for improving human well-being.
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