Society

Brazilian data production faces “uncertain future” as census is postponed

Brazil was once lauded for its ability to produce reliable statistical data, but successive funding cuts have thrown this reputation into jeopardy

census data production
An isolated home in Manaus: the Census is the only government effort that reaches every single household in Brazil. Photo: Raphael Alves/Amazônia Real

After months of delays and political squabbles over Brazil’s 2021 federal budget, the financial plan for this year has claimed its first victim: the nationwide census, postponed for yet another year. Originally scheduled to take place in 2020 but pushed back due to the coronavirus pandemic, Brazil’s census will no longer take place in the second half of this year, due to massive funding cuts for the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE).

The announcement was made by Waldery Rodrigues Júnior, a special aide to Economy Minister Paulo Guedes. Mr. Rodrigues Júnior was fired on Tuesday morning.

After reaching an agreement with Congress, President Jair Bolsonaro finally signed off the 2021 budget, which foresees massive quantities allocated to congressional budgetary grantsand little room for other non-mandatory expenditures. 

In doing so, the government slashed IBGE’s funding by 96 percent, meaning the funds destined for the census fell from BRL 2 billion (USD 364 million) to just BRL 71 million. IBGE President Susana Cordeiro Guerra...

Don't miss this opportunity!

Interested in staying updated on Brazil and Latin America? Subscribe to start receiving our reports now!