RIO - Urban Issues and Challenges

• Population

  6.4 million in the city, 12.5 million in surrounding area
• Location


  City on the South East, Atlantic Coast of Brazil
• Economy

  Newly Emerging
• Capital

  Was capital of Brazil until 1960 when Brasilia became the capital but it remains the most important city in terms of culture
• Geography

  Grown up around a large natural bay called Guanabara Bay
• Infrastructure

  Has 5 ports and 3 airports
• Rio's Regional Importance

  • 11 public universities (e.g. Federal Uni of Rio de Janeiro), 105 hospitals, opportunities for employment
• Rio's National Importance

  • Rio is the second biggest city in Brazil (home to 40% of its population) and produces over 5% of its total income, manufactures chemicals, pharmaceuticals and clothing
• Rio's International Importance


  • Rio have held the World Cup and The Olympics, they are one of the largest exporters of sugar, coffee and iron and is home to the Christ the Redeemer statue (one of the 7 wonders of the world)
• From 1950 to 2030, the population of Rio is expected to have increased by 11 million
• The most rapid period of growth was between 1950 and 1980, when the population tripled
• Population growth in Rio is best described as rapid until 1980 when it slowed down
• The population of Rio in 2018 is estimated to be 13 million
• Reasons for Rio's population growth

  • Rural-Urban Migration
  • International Migration
  • Natural Increase
• Rural-Urban Migration

  From other parts of Brazil such as the Amazon basin for jobs in the tourist, commercial and administrative sectors. The construction of hydroelectric power in rural areas has also forced people to migrate
• International Migration

  From Argentina and Bolivia (neighbouring countries) to find work, from Portugal due to colonial links and shared language and also skilled workers from TNCs in industry, the USA and UK for jobs
• Natural Increase

  Accounts for 35% of urban growth. Youthful population and improved health care means lower death rates and higher rate of natural increase
• Social Opportunities when moving to Rio

  • Health - 105 hospitals, life expectancy is 77 (higher than 73 average in Brazil) and infant mortality rates are low (10/1000)
  • Education - Free, high quality schools for children including those the slums (although only AM or PM), 6 major universities
  • Water - 95% of the population has mains water supply, 7 new water treatment plants and 300km of new water pipes
  • Energy - 99% have access to the power grid (poorest have to illegally tap into mains supplies), big nuclear generator and hydroelectric power station
• Economic Opportunities when moving to Rio


  • Rio is the second greatest industrial sector in Brazil and has a large financial sector and port which contribute to its development. Growing the rest of the world e.g. Land Rover recently opened a £240 million car manufacturing plant in Rio employing 300 people. Developments like these have created a range of new economic opportunities in the formal economy (bringing improved services, transport, roads, health etc.). Urban industrial areas can be a stimulus for economic development.
  • Other jobs available include: finance and banking, port industries, retail, construction, steel industry, tourism and oil refining.
  • However, many of the new migrants end up working in the informal economy, making a living however they can - these jobs aren't regulated, they're cash in hand' so there is no tax paid to the government and are often irregular and poorly paid e.g. street vendors. The informal economy is estimated to be worth £170 billion to Rio's economy.
• Challenges caused by urban growth in Rio

  • Slums + Squatter Settlements (Favelas)
  • Managing Environmental Issues
  • Providing Clean Water, Sanitation Systems and Energy
  • Reducing Unemployment and Crime
  • Providing Access To Services
• Slums + Squatter Settlements (Favelas)


  There are over 600 favelas in Rio: they are illegal settlements built on unowned land, areas of deprivation which are crowded, informal and built in undesirable locations with steep slopes. In Rocinha, (largest favela in Rio) there are over 100,000 people
• Managing Environmental Issues - Water Pollution

  Using overseas aid: 12 new sewage works have been built, ships are fined for discharging fuel into the bay and 5km of new sewage pipes have been installed around badly polluted areas.
• Managing Environmental Issues - Air Pollution

  Expansion of the metro system under Guanabara Bay, new toll roads into the city centre to reduce congestion and making coast roads one way during rush hour.
• Favela-Bairro Project


  The Favela Bairro project ran from 1995-2008 and involved 500,000 people in 73 favelas. However, after 20 years, it benefitted only 140 of Rio's 600 different favela communities (the US$300 million budget wasn't enough to cover them all).
• Improvements from the Favela-Bairro Project

  • Social Improvements - Rundown areas turned into football pitches and community centres to improve community feel, Adult education classes - more job opportunities if they are literate, Services to help with drug or alcohol addictions, Improved water and electricity access
  • Economic Improvements - Helping people get legal ownership of their properties, Training schemes to help find better jobs and a free daily cable car to the commercial centre of Ipanema so people can access jobs in the richer areas, Local businesses in favelas have doubled (even a McDonalds now)
  • Environmental Improvements - Wooden buildings are being replaced with more stable brick, Streets have been tidied up, widened and paved (rubbish collection is more possible now), New sewage canals
• UPP (police) has been set up to clear the favelas of drug gangs (murder rate has also dropped by 40%)
• Managing environmental issues: Waste Disposal

  • 3.1 million tonnes of waste is generated in Rio every year and most of this goes to landfills, in favelas, there is a lack of waste collection lorries due to steep slopes so much of the waste is dumped and pollutes the water system as well as encouraging rats. Only one waste treatment plant is fully in operation.
• Managing environmental issues: Air and traffic congestion and water pollution

  • Air and Traffic Congestion: Heavy traffic congestion on roads causes build up of exhaust fumes, high crime levels means people prefer to travel by car and the increasing populations = more traffic = air pollution = 5000 deaths per year in Rio.
  • Water Pollution: Guanabara Bay is polluted with raw sewage and industrial waste (250 tonnes/day flowing in), ships empty fuel tanks into the bay and oil spills are frequent.