Number of the week

Brazil will postpone its census for yet another year

Last year, the pandemic stopped the 2020 survey from taking place. This year, the Bolsonaro administration blames a lack of funds

Census is the best way for a government to know its population. Photo: Bruno Concha/Secom/SSA — Censuses are the best way for a government to know its population. Photo: Bruno Concha/Secom/SSA

By Gustavo Ribeiro

Apr 24, 2021 11:36 2 min read

96%: budget cut to Brazil's statistics agency

Welcome to “Number of the Week,” where we choose a single figure that helps understand what is going on in Brazil. This week’s number explains the damaging consequences of putting off Brazil’s census for yet another year.

Almost four full months into the year, Brazil finally has a budget for 2021. President Jair Bolsonaro reached an agreement with Congress according to which a massive amount of money will remain allocated to budgetary grants (chunks of the budget over which congresspeople have discretion). The budget also gave...