Rio de Janeiro

24%

Residents in favelas

1,000+

Favelas

95%

Children literate

$1bn

Annual tourism revenue

Key facts — from Seaford 2025–27 case study notes

Healthcare: Free healthcare · 70% have access · higher life expectancy than rest of Brazil
Education: 1,000 primary schools · 400 secondary schools · 6 universities · 95% literacy rate
Water: 96% of city has safe piped water
Economy: Brazil's second most important industrial centre — 5% of national GDP · banking, pharmaceuticals, tourism
Tourism: 6 million visitors/year · £1 billion/year generated · 2016 Olympics hosted
Migration: Attracted skilled workers from across Brazil and internationally

Favelas: 1,000+ favelas housing 24% of residents · high crime, drug gangs · infant mortality 50 per 1,000
Infrastructure in favelas: 12% no running water · 30% no electricity · 50% no sewage
Water: 1/3 of water lost through leaky pipes, fraud and illegal access
Traffic congestion: Car ownership rising · insufficient public transport
Air quality: Pollution from vehicles and industry

Government project to upgrade favelas rather than demolish them
Improvements included: new water and sewage connections · paved roads · electricity · healthcare and education centres
Community involvement — residents helped plan improvements
Aimed to integrate favelas into the formal city

Exam questions — 3 questions · 12 marks

1 markFavela proportion

What proportion of Rio de Janeiro's residents live in favelas?

A About 5%

B About 24%

C About 50%

D About 75%

4 marksOpportunities and challenges

Describe the social opportunities and social challenges facing Rio de Janeiro. (4 marks)

Hint: Cover social opportunities AND challenges. Use specific statistics for both.

+40 XP

4 marksFavela Bairro Project

Describe the Favela Bairro Project and evaluate its success in improving quality of life. (4 marks)

Hint: Describe WHAT the project involved, then evaluate its SUCCESS and LIMITATIONS. Use specific improvements as evidence.

+40 XP