Popogbe Oluwaseyi OmowunmiAkinleye Oludiran SimeonOke David Mautin2025-05-142025-05-142020-09Popogbe, O.O, Akinleye, O.S. and Oke, D.M. (2020). Understanding the Degree of Social Exclusion in Selected Slums in Lagos State, Nigeria. Yobe Journal of Economics (YOJE),6(2);150-169.https://repository.crawforduniversity.edu.ng/handle/123456789/132Social exclusion is a key "capability failure" experienced by slum dwellers in major cities ofthe world. This study seeks to examine the degree of social exclusion suffered by slum dwellers in Lagos State, one of the fastest growing cities in Africa. This study adopted an analytical approach by constructing a Social Exclusion Index (SEI) for five major coastal slums (Makoko, Ilaje, Iwaya, Amukoko and Ijora-Badia) in Lagos State, Nigeria. Through the use of a structured schedule as well as interview with some of the respondents, data was elicited from 393 respondents in the selected slums. The descriptive analysis shows that majority of the respondents have large household members and earned very low income. The Social Exclusion Index shows that all the communities have very high degree of social exclusion index implying severe social exclusion. Notably, in the three dimensions analysed, Makoko had the lowest indexes in social relations and political participation while Amukoko had the lowest index in labour market participation. The study further provided a breakdown of the indicators measured under each dimension giving an insight into the factors that contribute to social exclusion across the communities. We recommend that labour laws should be favourable for artisans and small-scale businesses who largely are labour market players in the slums. This would improve their productivity and overall well-being. Also, human capital development through education, training and skill acquisition need to be intensified in order to enhance labour market inclusion of residents. This would in turn advance the standard ofliving of slum residents.enArticle