Brazil is a country driven by the power of its favelas—and the numbers make this abundantly clear. According to the Data Favela Institute (2025), there are 12,348 favelas, home to 17.2 million people. If they were a state, they would be the fourth largest in the country in terms of population. And when it comes to the economy, they are not far behind: together, these communities generate R$ 300 billion per year, surpassing the annual consumption of entire countries such as Paraguay and Bolivia, and exceeding the GDP of 22 of the 27 Brazilian states.
These data say much more than just numbers: they show that favelas are an economic, social, and cultural engine that the world needs to take seriously.
That is precisely why, between December 11 and 14, Rio de Janeiro will once again host the World Forum of Favelas, an initiative created by CUFA (Central Única das Favelas). The 2025 edition arrives independently—and even bigger—bringing together representatives from more than 70 countries to discuss global solutions from the perspective of those who live, create, and transform the peripheries every day.
A global agenda that starts from the grassroots
The Forum comes at a time when the whole world is dealing with increasingly evident urban inequalities. According to UN-Habitat, 1.1 billion people live in slums or informal settlements. Considering other forms of inadequate housing, this number reaches 2.8 billion.
In other words, we are talking about a global reality—and a global power.
For this reason, the event is organized in two phases:
December 11 and 12—National Slum Forum: activities at the headquarters of CUFA Madureira and CUFA Penha.
December 13 and 14 — World Forum: international stage at the Museum of Tomorrow, in Praça Mauá.
From the G20 agenda to the world: a permanent movement
The first edition of the Forum, in 2024, put the issue of slums on the official agenda of the G20 Social, marking a historic moment of recognition.
Now, the event returns independently, but even stronger, reaffirming the construction of a global movement that transcends governments and institutions: it is guided by the favela itself.
The idea took shape in 2022, when Celso Athayde, founder of CUFA, received the Global Impact and Innovation Entrepreneur Award from the World Economic Forum in Davos. From there arose the desire to create an international cooperation network—and today that network is a reality, with national forums taking place in several countries throughout the year.
The Museum of Tomorrow as a backdrop for the present
The global stage takes place at the Museum of Tomorrow, one of Rio’s most symbolic cultural landmarks. The space, which recently hosted the Earthshot Prize — Prince William’s global initiative — has established itself as a venue for major international debates.
Now, it opens its doors to an essential discussion: the future of cities as seen by those who drive them.
“The favela is not deprivation — it is market, culture, and innovation.”
This quote from Celso Athayde sums up the spirit of the event. The favela creates trends, drives economies, generates original solutions, and reinvents the relationship between community and city every day. This forum exists so that this protagonism is heard, respected, and incorporated into public policies, private initiatives, and social projects.
In 2025, the event will welcome delegations from countries in Africa, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East, including Cape Verde, Mexico, Benin, Ghana, Spain, Palestine, Cuba, Senegal, and Zambia, among others. All connected by the search for solutions created from the margins.
A collective construction that became a global movement
The 2025 World Forum of Favelas is organized by Favela Holding, produced by InFavela, and in social partnership with CUFA Global. It has institutional support from various agencies and is promoted by media outlets such as TV Globo, FM O Dia, Eletromidia, and other strategic partners.
The event is an affirmation that favelas are historical agents and intellectual and economic powerhouses. And they are building their own future on a global scale.
Service
Event: World Forum of Favelas
Dates: December 11-14, 2025
Locations:
12/11: CUFA Madureira – R. Francisco Batista, 01 – Madureira
12/12: CUFA Penha – Estrada José Rucas, 1266 – Penha
13 and 14/12: Museum of Tomorrow – Praça Mauá, 01 – Centro do Rio de Janeiro/RJ
Official Networks:
@worldforumoffavelas • www.worldforumoffavelas.com
