In 1950, only 7 percent of Rio de Janeiro's population lived in favelas; in the present day this number has grown to 24–25 percent or about one in four people living in a favela.

Rio de Janeiro is infamous for their favelas, which are more commonly known as slums. The first favelas appeared in the late 19th century and were built by soldiers who had nowhere to live.

Jan 16, 2026 · According to the 2022 census in Brazil, more than 16 million people (about 8 percent of the country’s population) lived in favelas. Rio de Janeiro is home to more than 1,000 favelas, …

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — After decades of delay and pressure, Brazil announced Tuesday that it will henceforth use “favelas and urban communities” to categorize thousands of poor, urban …

Aug 21, 2025 · We take a look into the history of Rio de Janeiro's infamous favelas, and get to grips with why they are there and which ones are safest for tourists.

4 days ago · The "often-stigmatised territories" of Rio de Janeiro are experiencing a tourist boom, and it's pumping cash into low-income communities.

Many favelas were located on precious inner city land in Rio’s most affluent neighborhoods, making them ripe territory for lucrative commercial and residential construction ventures.

There are over 1000 favelas in Rio. They range from newer or more challenged communities with slum-like conditions and a desire to resettle, to functional, vibrant neighborhoods determined to maintain …

Rio de Janeiro often conjures up images of its iconic beaches and the Christ the Redeemer statue. But there is a different side to the city on display, too.

The second-largest city in Brazil and one of the most visited tourist destinations in the world, is also home to hundreds of Rio de Janeiro favelas. These communities, often referred to as slums, have for …