Brazil is going gray fast, new Census data shows

A vast demographic shift is already a reality and will reshape Brazil. The country's fast-paced aging process is a major challenge for Brazil's healthcare and pension systems

Brazil is going gray fast, new Census data shows — Photo: StunningArt/Shutterstock

By Cedê Silva and Gustavo Ribeiro

Oct 27, 2023 16:00 2 min read (Updated: Oct 27, 2023 17:21)

The proportion of Brazilians aged 65 or older rose to 10.9 percent in 2022 from 7.4 percent in 2010, according to new Census data released Friday by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE).

The analysis also confirmed Brazil’s total population at slightly over 203 million, with a small increase of about 18,000 people since the last revision, but about 10 million less than an estimate published in 2021. The figure ranks Brazil as the 7th most populous country in the world.

In a statement, the IBGE said the increase in the elderly population...