In the last twenty years Rio de Janeiro has seen huge improvements in infrastructure, safety, social-economic development and while there is still work to be done, successful implementation of a broad variety of policies has resulted in improved living conditions for its citizens - a necessary requirement for lasting stability and progress.

while improvements are widespread and easily identifiable, brazil's socio-economic contradictions may be evident in rio de janeiro - social conditions in the city are complex, and disparities in the distribution of wealth are being adressed - although rio ranks among the most important economic centers in brazil and south america, a proportion of the city's inhabitants are still to fully benefit from the overall growth and development.

Due to the unique social composition of Rio many public leisure activities are shared by people from different socio-economic backgrounds, who can often be found jointly enjoying natural wonders of Rio like the beach, or urban spaces like shopping malls and sports courts - Because of that, the results of poverty might be more visible, which is not necessarily an indication of the severity of it.