as many capital cities in developing nations are witnessing the wide appearance of favelas, recent studies are focusing on the fascinating coexistence of rio's diverse communities and neighborhoods - so dramatically different, yet so geographically close to one another.

Success stories of people living in favelas and establishing thriving businesses are becoming more and more common, as many cariocas look to change their lives for the better. Rio de Janeiro's Human Development Index (HDI) rose significantly from the year 2000 to 2010 - from 0.716 to 0.7999 - meaning that there are more opportunities for city residents.