11 Important Brazil Poverty Facts That You Should Know

Sridevi Tolety
Nov 02, 2022 By Sridevi Tolety
Originally Published on Dec 02, 2021
Edited by Lara Simpson
Fact-checked by Gowri Rao
Let's learn more about Brazil poverty facts.
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Age: 3-18
Read time: 5.9 Min

Brazil is the longest country in both South and Latin America.

Brazil is a multifaceted country. Its inhabitants share a common language and an understanding of Brazil's cultural contours.

Ancestors of Brazil came from all over the world, and they worship a dozen gods. Brazil is known for its world-famous carnival festival and outstanding soccer players such as Pelé and Neymar. Brazil is also recognized for its beautiful waterfalls, tropical beaches, and the Amazon jungle.

If you enjoy reading such interesting facts, check out the articles on Austria facts and Belgium facts.

Social Issues In Brazil

Latin American is still considered one of the most unequal countries in the world. There are a few major social issues in Brazil: poverty, crime, education, and infant mortality.

The government of Brazil is looking for new partners in different countries who can assist in spreading the message of social gastronomy and address various global issues. Because food influences all of our lives, it is a simple way to aid people in finding solutions to societal difficulties such as hunger, poverty, malnutrition, economic inequality, and unemployment.

The crime rate is also high in Brazil; it includes murders, mugging, corruption, domestic violence, drug trafficking, and robberies. The government has established the National Public Security Force to act in situations of emergencies.

Brazil Poor Areas

The rich and poor in Sao Paulo have a massive gap in income disparity. As per the research conducted by the University of Sao Paulo in 2000, half of the state's population earned only 15% of the state's overall revenue. They require skilled workers in industries for a rapidly growing economy.

Favela, also called Favella, is a slum or poor area on the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro.

Brazil has 7 million units of housing deficit, with 20% of the population living in substandard housing. Those who have taken up residence in these slums must effectively live without access to essential services. The majority of favelas lack adequate sewage infrastructure, potable water, and waste management systems.

They built a shelter for their families with scrap materials and wood with no basic sanitation, electricity, or water. There are more than 50 million Brazilians who live in inadequate housing.

A program called Minha Casa, Minha Vida (My House, My Life) supports house improvements and slum rehabilitation where the parents can guarantee a better future for their children with a safe and healthy home.

People who live in urban areas lack access to drinking water. There is a program called Cisternas, which supports rainwater harvesting and other social technologies for water access.

It is part of the Water For All program, which involves the construction of concrete cisterns for water storage. In the semi-arid region, the stored water is used by households, businesses, and rural schools.

Few authorities are working along with the government to build houses for vulnerable families, relieving income inequality.

The land tenure initiative was established to help women and other vulnerable groups in Recife, Pernambuco, escape urban poverty by improving their access to secure land tenure and property rights.

Does Brazil have high poverty rates?

Most Brazilian families earn less than the minimum wage, which is around $300 per month. In the previous 15 years, Brazil has moved 28 million people out of poverty.

Brazil's six wealthiest persons own the same amount of money as the poorest half of the population (about 100 million people). Hence reducing the poverty rate by 10% and out of which the wealthiest 10% accounted for 61% of economic growth.

According to IBGE (Brazil's government statistics bureau), the whole population of this country was living on less than 3.20 US dollars per day. The poverty rate has continuously increased in the last few years.

In 2014, President Rousseff introduced Brazil Without Misery program, a multibillion-dollar social aid program aimed at eradicating extreme poverty. The important or the central part of The Bolsa Familia cash transfer program is to provide low-income families with cash payments ranging from $15 to $95 per month depending on per capita income which began in 2003.

Families agree to send their children to local schools in exchange. Cost is different for different cities, from smaller cities to large cities.

The program's second step ensures that more people have access to health care, education for children, and public infrastructure benefits.

The third step is to assist the poorest who are isolated due to geological or informational factors.

In 2021, Brazil's poverty rate increased from 6.1% to 9.6% compared to the previous years due to the pandemic.

Former President Luiz da Silva continues to lead opinion polls ahead of next year's presidential election. His campaign promises to refocus on the disadvantaged and usher in a new era of prosperity.

Brazil, one of the largest countries in South America, faces the most severe poverty problems.

How is Brazil affected by poverty?

Brazil spends more money on social programs, making it difficult to alleviate poverty. In Brazil, we can see vast differences in quality and standard of life between wealthy and low-income families.

The financial condition of the citizens depicts the unequal distribution of wealth among them. It is a common scenario to watch out for ultra-luxurious apartments residing the poor slum areas. Let's explore the facts of how poverty affects Brazil's financial condition and its citizens.

The poverty of any country affects drastically in its social and economic growth. Due to the vicious effect of the pandemic, the poverty in Brazil tripled, and most of Brazil's population, almost 17 million, was sunk into the poverty line. The percentage of the poverty line decreased in the 90s compared to before the decade.

The factors that affected Brazil's bankruptcy are lack of primary education for children, unemployment, housing and pandemic, and the lockdown effect.

Poverty in Brazil impacts many aspects of the country. Poverty in Brazil mainly affects the young and those who live in the northeast. Out of the total population, 16.2 million people, or 8.5% of the population, live on less than $45 per month. 4.8 million of the 16.2 million people living in poverty have no income at all.

Poverty is disproportionately affecting the children in Brazil. There are over 40% of children live in poverty. Hence, there is no option for children but to participate in child labor.

When poverty and age are combined, it becomes clear that the poorer sectors have a higher share of children and adolescents (40.2%). This shows how vulnerable children are to poverty in this country.

The number of people below the poverty line rose in 2017, and the world bank describes Brazil as extremely poor, those with a daily income. However, the World Bank has aided Brazil in funding numerous conservation programs sponsored by governmental and non-governmental organizations.

The World Bank has promoted health care projects focused on chronic diseases in Brazil, such as the Piauí Pillars of Growth and Social Inclusion Project, and provided essential social services during the pandemic lifting millions of Brazilians.

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Written by Sridevi Tolety

Bachelor of Science specializing in Botany, Master of Science specializing in Clinical Research and Regulatory Affairs

Sridevi Tolety picture

Sridevi ToletyBachelor of Science specializing in Botany, Master of Science specializing in Clinical Research and Regulatory Affairs

With a Master's degree in clinical research from Manipal University and a PG Diploma in journalism from Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Sridevi has cultivated her passion for writing across various domains. She has authored a wide range of articles, blogs, travelogues, creative content, and short stories that have been published in leading magazines, newspapers, and websites. Sridevi is fluent in four languages and enjoys spending her spare time with loved ones. Her hobbies include reading, traveling, cooking, painting, and listening to music.

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Fact-checked by Gowri Rao

Bachelor of Arts specializing in Economics

Gowri Rao picture

Gowri RaoBachelor of Arts specializing in Economics

With a bachelor's degree in Economics from Krea University, Gowri is a highly skilled data analyst and an expert in regression and causation modeling. Her interests in economic trends, finance, and investment research complement her professional expertise. In addition to her professional pursuits, Gowri enjoys swimming, running, and playing the drums, and she is also a talented tutor.

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