IBGE Census Details Severe Infrastructure Shortfalls in Brazil’s Favelas

Overview

• Brazil counts 12,348 favelas with about 16.3 million residents across 656 municipalities, or roughly 8% of the population.
• About 64.6% of favela residents live on streets with no trees, with stark contrasts such as 3.5% arborization in Rio das Pedras and roughly 70% in Sol Nascente.
• Vehicle access is constrained for many residents, with 19.2% limited to foot, motorcycle or bicycle access and 38% on streets where trucks cannot pass, hindering garbage collection and emergency response.
• Sidewalks are absent for 46.1% of residents, only 3.8% live by obstacle‑free sidewalks, and ramps for wheelchair users reach just about 2.4% versus 18.5% outside favelas.
• Drainage is missing for 54.6% of residents, 78.3% live by paved streets, and public lighting reaches 91.1%, with IBGE stressing the results as an observational baseline for planning and climate resilience efforts.