Study shows ‘favelization’ of Brazil

SEJUP (Servico Brasileiro de Justica e Paz), News from Brazil, No. 433, 12 January 2001

A recent study released by the IBGE (Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics) shows the favelization (an increase in the number of favelas, or shanty towns) of the country.

According to the study, Brazil now has 3,905 favelas, an increase of 22.5% since the 1991 Census. Nearly 40% of these favelas (1,548) are in the state of Sao Paulo, where the number increased 22% since 1991. The greatest increase in favelas, however, was in the state of Para, which had a 418.5% increase (from 27 to 140). Following is the state of Paraiba with a 224% increase (from 25 to 81).

According to the preliminary results of the 2000 Census, there was a marked increase in the urban population—81.2% of the population now live in cities—especially in metropolitan areas. There was a very rapid growth in urban population and not one state government prepared for this. Not economically, not by increasing jobs, not by creating housing policies, said sociologist Alba Zaluar.

Later this year, IBGE will release its estimate of the number of people living in favelas.