Poverty in Brazil

Poverty and economic inequality are social problems that affect most of the countries nowadays. Poverty exists in all countries, rich or poor, but economic inequality is a problem that affects mainly undeveloped countries.

Poverty in Brazil is most visually represented by the favelas, which are slums in the country's metropolitan areas that suffer with poverty and low standards of living. In an attempt to erase this problem, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva launched the "Fome Zero" program in 2003. He also launched the "Bolsa Família" program, a cash transfer program that gives money to poor families under the condition that they keep their kids vaccinated and in school.

President Lula has reduced the rate of poverty by nearly 20% with those programs. In June 2006, the rate of misery was 18% of the population.

The rate of poverty is mainly attributed by the country's economic inequality. Brazil ranks among the world's highest nations in economic inequality. Although the country has developed in recent years, there is still much to be done by the government in order to eradicate poverty from the country once and for all.