Brazilian population ticks up, but at historically low rates

The pace of population growth in Brazil has never been lower, according to data unveiled on Wednesday by the 2022 Census. 

As of August 2022, the Brazilian population stood at just over 203 million people, a slight 6.4 percent increase from 2010, when the previous census was conducted — a yearly average of 0.5 percent population growth. 

The Brazilian population increased steadily from 1872 until the 1960s but growth rates have narrowed ever since. The population gain since the last count stands at 12.3 million, which is more than the entire population of Bolivia or Belgium, but still represents the lowest growth between censuses.

The results came below most expectations — and surprised even the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) itself. In January, the IBGE published preliminary census data, when it estimated that the Brazilian population had reached the mark of 207.7 million.

The surprise result may be the byproduct of a lack of more regular counts between censuses, delays in the 2022 survey, and the effects of the pandemic (which claimed at least 703,000 lives in Brazil — although the real figure may be much higher). 

The number of deaths recorded in the country between 2020 and 2022 exceeded expectations by 1.1 million. 

Besides Covid, the overload of health services, as well as outbreaks of other mosquito-borne diseases, such as dengue, zika, and chikungunya, are thought to be leading causes. Additionally, Brazil experienced its two worst recessions on record since the 2010 Census — and academic research has linked GDP drops...