Urbanization in Rio de Janeiro Brazil
The City of God:
Urbanization’s Impact on Rio de Janeiro
The City of God:
Urbanization’s Impact on Rio de Janeiro
As civilization continues to develop, the rural characteristics of various towns and areas
continue to be removed. This removal is resulting in the immense growth of cities all across the
world. Urbanization is a process that has previously occurred and continues to take place in
nearly every part of the world that humans have inhabited. With a metropolitan population of
more than twelve million people in two thousand two, Rio de Janeiro Brazil is the eighteenth
largest metropolitan area in the world, larger than Chicago, Paris and London (Brym, Lie,
Rytina, 2003: 599). It is a city that appears appealing to many with its alluring climates and,
more importantly, its numerous occupational opportunities. Although there are various reasons
for the increasing population in the city of Rio de Janeiro, it is clear that urbanization plays the
largest role in the overpopulation that has taken place over the past few decades. There are a
plethora of problems that this rapid urbanization is causing for the city, however, the pull factors
drawing people to the city and the push factors pushing those same people away from their rural
areas seem to outweigh the risks of migrating to an overcrowded metropolis.
There are certainly a variety of factors pulling those living in rural areas of Brazil to
migrate to Rio de Janeiro. One of the most obvious is that many see the city as an ultimate land
of opportunity. In other words, it will be much easier for people to find work when they live in
such a large area with a greater number of opportunities. Overall, those outside of Rio de Janeiro
see a vast convenience in simply moving there. A BBC article on urbanization suggests that
“access to education, health, social services and cultural events is much
Urbanization’s Impact on Rio de Janeiro
The City of God:
Urbanization’s Impact on Rio de Janeiro
As civilization continues to develop, the rural characteristics of various towns and areas
continue to be removed. This removal is resulting in the immense growth of cities all across the
world. Urbanization is a process that has previously occurred and continues to take place in
nearly every part of the world that humans have inhabited. With a metropolitan population of
more than twelve million people in two thousand two, Rio de Janeiro Brazil is the eighteenth
largest metropolitan area in the world, larger than Chicago, Paris and London (Brym, Lie,
Rytina, 2003: 599). It is a city that appears appealing to many with its alluring climates and,
more importantly, its numerous occupational opportunities. Although there are various reasons
for the increasing population in the city of Rio de Janeiro, it is clear that urbanization plays the
largest role in the overpopulation that has taken place over the past few decades. There are a
plethora of problems that this rapid urbanization is causing for the city, however, the pull factors
drawing people to the city and the push factors pushing those same people away from their rural
areas seem to outweigh the risks of migrating to an overcrowded metropolis.
There are certainly a variety of factors pulling those living in rural areas of Brazil to
migrate to Rio de Janeiro. One of the most obvious is that many see the city as an ultimate land
of opportunity. In other words, it will be much easier for people to find work when they live in
such a large area with a greater number of opportunities. Overall, those outside of Rio de Janeiro
see a vast convenience in simply moving there. A BBC article on urbanization suggests that
“access to education, health, social services and cultural events is much
References: Brym, R., Lie, J., Rytina, S. (2003). Sociology Your Compass For a New World. Toronto: Thomson Canada Limited. Godfrey, B. (1991). Modernizing the Brazilian City. Chicago: Geographical Review. Hall, M. (1995). “Rio de Janeiro” Colliers Encyclopedia. New York: International Addition. Howden, D. (2007). The Tipping Point. Hamilton Spectator, D13. Retrieved January 12, 2008, from Canadian Reference Centre database. McCann, B. (2006). The Political Evolution of Rio de Janeiro’s Favelas. Latin American Research Review, vol. 41. Retrieved January 10, 2008, from Academic Search Premier database. Monteirol, M. (2004). Brazilian Favelas. Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, vol. 58. Retrieved January 12, 2008, from Academic Search Premier database. Pearlman, J. (1999). The Myth of Marginality: Urban Poverty and Politics in Rio de Janeiro. Los Angeles: University of California Press. Santos, M., Illanes, C., Founaro, A., Pedrotti, J., (2007). Acid Rain in Downtown Brazil. Water, Air and Soil Pollution; Focus, vol. 7. Retrieved January 11, 2008, from Academic Search Premier database. Urbanization. (2002). BBC. Retrieved January 12, 2008, from http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/.