Migration and Gender in Indian Slums: Findings From a Large Household Survey in Three Indian Cities

Harlan Downs-Tepper , Duke University Sanford School of Public Policy
Emily Rains, Duke University

By 2050, the global urban population is projected to increase by 60%, with most of this increase expected in resource-poor cities in the Global South. As Asia and Africa become majority-urban, virtually all of the population increase is expected to accrue to slums. The population increase has two main sources: growing families of current slum residents, and migration. Drawing on a new 10,000 household survey in 300 slums in three Indian cities, we examine current slum demographics along two dimensions: migrant status and gender. We find significant variation along these two dimensions, corresponding to differences in economic and health outcomes. Notably, we find substantial differences compared to official government statistics.

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 Presented in Session 7. Migration & Urbanization