Despite an unmatched passion for soccer, Brazil is racked by unrest as the World Cup opens within its borders this week. Protesters say that the billions spent on the tournament should have been used to improve basic public services, like schools, hospitals, public transportation and housing.
Here’s a look at the numbers:
Date Brazil was announced as the 2014 World Cup host, after bidding unopposed: Oct. 30, 2007
Cost of building stadiums, airports and transportation in preparation for the World Cup, in billions of U.S. dollars: 11.5
Percent of that cost that came from public funds: 85
Number of foreign tourists expected to attend the World Cup in Brazil: 600,000
Amount each visitor is expected to spend, in U.S. dollars: 2,500
Amount Brazil has spent per visitor to host the tournament, in U.S. dollars: 18,000
Number of Brazilian stores, bars and shops allowed to use an image of the World Cup mascot not sold by FIFA, the sport’s governing body: 0
Width of the exclusion zone around stadiums within which FIFA controls the movement of people and may forbid the sale of products, in kilometers: 2
Number of street vendors in South Africa who lost their incomes during the 2010 World Cup: 100,000
Percent of Brazilians who oppose hosting the World Cup because it takes money from schools, healthcare and other public services: 61
Rank of Brazil, among nations with the highest income inequality: 17
Percent of the Brazilian population below poverty line, defined as living on $2 or less per day: 11
Estimated annual cost of corruption by Brazilian government officials, as a percentage of GDP: 1.4 - 2.3
Public spending on health, as a percentage of GDP: 3.8
Miles of traffic jams in São Paulo recently when subway workers went on strike for higher wages: 125
Amount FIFA will profit from the 2014 World Cup, mainly by selling television and marketing rights, in billions of U.S. dollars: 2
Amount of taxes Brazil waved for FIFA, in millions of U.S. dollars: 250
