Rio de Janeiro's Population and Favelas

Questions and Answers

settlements

favelas

favela

<p>70,000</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>favelas</p> Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Rio de Janeiro is one of Brazil's largest settlements with a population of approximately 6.7 million people.

The rapid growth of Rio de Janeiro's population has led to severe crowding and a shortage of housing, resulting in the growth of shanty towns, known as favelas.
Rocinha, located in the southern zone of the city, is the largest favela in Brazil and is home to approximately 70,000 people (officially), but unofficial estimates suggest a much bigger population of up to 180,000 people.

Over 1.2 million people in Rio live in favelas, surviving on less than £1 per day.
Residents lack access to basic public services, including healthcare, education, and recreational spaces.
Infant mortality rates in favelas are high, at 50 per 1000, compared to a national rate of 15 per 1000.
Life expectancy in Rio's favelas is up to 13 years lower than in the city's wealthier areas (as of 2011).
Malnutrition, diarrhoea, and other diseases are prevalent, and organized crime and gang violence are common.
Unemployment rates are high, reaching up to 50% in 2016, with many people working in the informal, poorly paid sector.
Many children are forced to work to support their families, with a 1995 survey finding that almost five million children between 10 and 14 years old were working.
18% of children in Rocinha do not attend school, and lack of education and low literacy levels make it difficult to find better-paid work.