Brazilian population reaches 203 million according to Census, registering lowest growth since 1882

Compared to the survey conducted in 2010, there was a population growth of 6.45%. However, this number was below projections that predicted a population of more than 207.7 million inhabitants in the country.

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According to Demographic Census 2022, carried out more than a decade after the previous survey, the population of Brazil is 203,062,512 inhabitants. The Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) released the first results of this survey on Wednesday (28).

The agency revised its previous projections, since the number of inhabitants was below expectations. In the forecast for 2021, it was predicted that the country would have at least 213 million inhabitants. However, in December 2022, based on preliminary data from the survey, the IBGE adjusted the estimate to 207.7 million, that is, 4.7 million people less than the previously estimated final calculation.

Census

The Census is a survey controlled by IBGE with the objective of comprehensively collecting information about the population of Brazil. This survey makes it possible to create a socioeconomic profile of the country, as it records the number of inhabitants in the national territory, identifies its characteristics and reveals aspects of Brazilian life.

Surveying plays a crucial role, as it allows the identification of necessary information for the development and implementation of public policies, as well as for both public and private investments. It influences, for example, the allocation of financial transfers from the Union to states and municipalities, in addition to helping to identify priority areas for investment in health, education, housing, transport and energy.

Census result

The data provided in the survey released this Wednesday refer to July 31, 2022 and are the first results of the 2022 Demographic Census, Addressing Population and Households. According to the IBGE, these data include basic information on the total number of inhabitants in households in the country, at different geographic levels and different cutouts. In addition, they also include various indicators derived from this information, such as the average number of residents per household, population density and the annual population growth rate.

The available information indicates the country's population count on August 1, 2022. In the specific case of Brazil, there was an increase of 6.45% in relation to the previous survey carried out in 2010, which had registered a total of 190,755,799 individuals. In absolute terms, this increase corresponded to 12,262,757 inhabitants. Over these 12 years, the annual growth rate was 0.52%, representing the lowest level recorded in the historical series.

Regions

O population growth in Brazil was driven by the South and Southeast regions. The Southeast region registered an increase of 4,482,777 people, while the South had an increase of 2,546,424 inhabitants. During the period from 2010 to 2012, 3,168 Brazilian municipalities, representing 56.9% of the total 5,570 municipalities, experienced an increase in their population. On the other hand, 2,399 municipalities, corresponding to 43% of the total, had a decrease in the number of inhabitants between 2010 and 2022.

São Paulo, is the most populous city in the country, and has a population of 11,451,245 inhabitants. Then come Rio de Janeiro and Brasilia. In Brazil, there are three cities with less than a thousand inhabitants: Serra da Saudade, in Minas Gerais, with 833 inhabitants; Borá, in São Paulo, with 907 inhabitants; and Anhanguera, in Goiás, with 924 inhabitants. Population growth was more significant in the interior of the country than in the capitals, since 66.58% of the new inhabitants were concentrated in regions outside these large urban centers.

Around 5% of cities in Brazil are home to approximately 56% of the country's total population. These 319 cities, which correspond to only 2.79 people per household on average, are home to 115.6 million individuals, representing about 56.95% of the Brazilian population. This proportion shows a reduction in the average number of residents per residence, which decreased from 3.31 to 2.79.

Data from the 2022 Census

Visits by census takers were carried out in all 5,568 Brazilian cities, along with two districts (Fernando de Noronha and the Federal District), totaling 5,570 locations. According to the IBGE, 106.8 million addresses were visited in an area of ​​8.5 million square kilometers.

Responses from 79,160,207 people were registered, of which 88.9% answered 26 questions and 11.1% answered 77 questions. In total, 98.88% of the interviews were conducted in person, while the rest were conducted over the internet or telephone. In addition to accurately determining population size, the Census collects data on resident characteristics such as age, gender, ethnicity, religion, education level, and income. Information is also obtained on the basic sanitation of the residences.

Delay

According to the legislation, it is established that the survey must take place every ten years. Considering that the previous edition was held in 2010, the next one should have been held in 2020. However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, its realization was suspended. In 2021, the Census faced another delay due to budget constraints imposed by the government of Jair Bolsonaro. After a determination by the Federal Supreme Court (STF), the federal government finally allocated the resources requested by the IBGE, in the amount of R$ 2.3 billion, allowing the work to begin on August 1, 2022.