Common core document forming part of the reports of States parties
Brasil *
[Date received: 30 April 2020]
I.General information about the State
A.Demographic, economic, social, and cultural characteristics
i.Demographic characteristics
1.Brazil is divided into five major Regions (North, Northeast, Midwest, Southeast, and South) with very diverse demographic, climatic, cultural, and social characteristics.
2.According to the latest National Census, carried out in 2010, Brazil had a population of 190,755,799 people. The series of Brazilian censuses attest to consecutive increases in population, which has grown almost 20 times since the first census carried out in the country, in 1872. Compared to the results of the 2000 census, the Brazilian population grew 12.3%, an average annual growth of 1.17%, the lowest rate observed in the series under examination.
Table 1
Resident population and geometric average annual growth rate. Brazil, 1980 to 2010
1980 |
1991 |
2000 |
2010 |
|
Total population |
119 002 706 |
146 825 475 |
169 799 170 |
190 755 799 |
Average annual growth rate |
2.48* |
1.93 |
1.64 |
1.17 |
Source: Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), 1980/2010 Demographic Census.
* In comparison with the total population reported in 1970, which was of 93,139,037.
3.According to data of the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics – IBGE, in August 2017, the Brazilian population was estimated at 207,660,929 million.
4.The 2010 Census confirmed a trend for reduction in the absolute number of births in the country. The total fertility rate has decreased from 2.38 children/women, in 2000, to 1.95, in 2010. Additionally, women giving birth have become, on average older, with a reduction from 23.5% to 19.3% of mothers who are less than 20 years old, and an increase of those who are 30 years old or more (from 22.5% to 27.9%), from 2000 to 2010.
5.The gross birth rate, on its turn, during the period from 2000 to 2015, had a descending trend, decreasing from 20.3 to 14.2.
Table 2
Gross Birth Rate (for each 1,000 inhabitants). Brazil, regions, and Federative Units (UF), 2000 to 2015
2000 |
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
|
Brazil |
20.3 |
19.5 |
18.7 |
18.2 |
17.9 |
17.5 |
17 |
16.6 |
16.3 |
16 |
15.8 |
15.5 |
15.1 |
14.8 |
14.5 |
14.2 |
Source: General Coordination Office for Epidemiological Information and Analyses of the Health Surveillance Secretariat of the Ministry of Health (CGIAE/SVS/MS), Busca Ativa and IBGE ’ s Brasil em Síntese website.
* Numbers estimated for 2011.
6.The gross mortality rate, on its turn, showed a decrease from 2000 to 2006, maintaining its level until 2015, as shown below.
Table 3
Gross General Mortality Rate (for each 1,000 inhabitants). Brazil, regions, and UF, 2000 to 2015
2000 |
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
|
Brazil |
6.7 |
6.6 |
6.4 |
6.4 |
6.3 |
6.2 |
6.1 |
6.1 |
6.1 |
6.1 |
6.0 |
6.0 |
6.0 |
6.0 |
6.1 |
6.1 |
Source: IBGE, 2013 Brazilian Population Projection, and Brasil em Síntese .
7.With respect to the distribution of Brazilian population by domicile, over the last 60 years, the country has been through an extreme process of urbanization. As of 2000, the number of urban inhabitants increased by almost 23 million. In 2010, 84% of the Brazilian population lived in urban settlements.
Table 4
Composition of the total population in demographic censuses. Brazil, 1980 to 2010
1980 |
1991 |
2000 |
2010 |
|||||
Total |
% |
Total |
% |
Total |
% |
Total |
% |
|
Brazil |
121 150 573 |
146 917 459 |
169 590 693 |
190 755 799 |
||||
Urban |
82 013 375 |
68% |
110 875 826 |
75% |
137 755 550 |
81% |
160 925 792 |
84% |
Rural |
39 137 198 |
32% |
36 041 633 |
25% |
31 835 143 |
19% |
29 830 007 |
16% |
Source: IBGE, 2010 Demographic Census.
8.Regarding the demographic density, the following evolution was observed throughout the national censuses.
Table 5
Demographic Density in Demographic Censuses. Brazil, 1960 to 2010
1960 |
1970 |
1980 |
1991 |
2000 |
2010 |
|
Brazil |
8.34 |
11.10 |
14.23 |
17.26 |
19.92 |
22.43 |
Source: IBGE, 1960, 1970, 1980, 1991, 2000 and 2010 Demographic Censuses.
9.In regard to the Brazilian population ratio according to sex, the 2010 Census demonstrated that there are 96 men for every 100 women, resulting in an excess of 3,941,819 women in comparison with total number of men. This ratio was observed in all regions of the country, except for the North Region, where the male population is bigger than the female population.
Table 6
Composition of the total resident population, by sex. Brazil, 1991 to 2010
1991 |
2000 |
2010 |
||||
Total |
% |
Total |
% |
Total |
% |
|
Men |
72 485 122 |
49.37 % |
83 576 015 |
49.22 % |
93 406 990 |
48.97 % |
Women |
74 340 353 |
50.63 % |
86 223 155 |
50.78 % |
97 348 809 |
51.03 % |
Source: IBGE, 2010 Demographic Census.
10.Regarding the population structure by sex and age groups, as of 2010, the proportion of younger age groups up to the age of 25 is lower in the total population than in 2000. The percentages for other age groups increased in the last decade. Accordingly, the absolute growth of the Brazilian population, between 2000 and 2010, was mainly due to the growth in the adult population, with emphasis to the increase in the percentage of elderly population.
Table 7
Composition of the total resident population, by sex and age group. Brazil, 1991 to 2010
Age group |
Total |
Percentage |
|||||
1991 |
2000 |
2010 |
1991 |
2000 |
2010 |
||
Men |
10 to 19 years old |
16 092 194 |
17 811 833 |
17 284 703 |
14.30 |
13.00 |
10.70 |
20 to 29 years old |
12 890 684 |
14 862 766 |
17 086 455 |
11.40 |
10.90 |
10.60 |
|
30 to 39 years old |
9 995 546 |
12 320 626 |
14 485 258 |
8.86 |
9.00 |
8.94 |
|
40 to 49 years old |
6 839 786 |
9 328 845 |
12 012 693 |
6.06 |
6.81 |
7.41 |
|
50 to 59 years old |
4 534 941 |
5 999 884 |
8 738 383 |
4.02 |
4.38 |
5.40 |
|
60 to 69 years old |
3 014 225 |
3 787 425 |
5 257 992 |
2.67 |
2.77 |
3.25 |
|
70 years old or more |
1 879 763 |
2 740 205 |
3 892 197 |
1.67 |
2.00 |
2.40 |
|
Women |
10 to 19 years old |
15 969 905 |
17 491 139 |
16 869 220 |
14.20 |
12.80 |
10.40 |
20 to 24 years old |
6 838 280 |
8 094 476 |
8 613 199 |
6.06 |
5.91 |
5.32 |
|
25 to 29 years old |
6 458 451 |
7 033 192 |
8 644 127 |
5.72 |
5.14 |
5.34 |
|
30 to 39 years old |
10 526 994 |
12 969 295 |
15 147 549 |
9.32 |
9.48 |
9.36 |
|
40 to 49 years old |
7 157 396 |
9 944 567 |
12 830 450 |
6.35 |
7.26 |
7.92 |
|
50 to 59 years old |
4 879 560 |
6 514 747 |
9 680 371 |
4.33 |
4.76 |
5.98 |
|
60 to 69 years old |
3 397 427 |
4 404 173 |
6 098 083 |
3.01 |
3.22 |
3.76 |
|
70 years old or more |
2 384 426 |
3 607 185 |
5 340 618 |
2.12 |
2.63 |
3.3 |
Source: IBGE, 2010 Demographic Census.
11.According to data from 2015, the total dependency ratio is currently 54.7. Significant growth is expected for the next decades regarding the proportion of persons aged 60 years or more. As of 2010, the Brazilian indicator begins to approach the numbers projected for developed countries. In 2015, the estimated proportion was 11.7%, with projections of increase in the indicator to 23.5% until 2039.
Table 8
Youth, elderly and total dependency ratio and aging rate. Brazil, 2015
Brazil |
Dependency ratio |
Proportion of persons aged 60 or over |
||
Youth |
Elderly |
Total |
||
32.5 |
22.2 |
54.7 |
11.7 |
Source: IBGE, 2015 National Household Sample Survey (PNAD).
12.Regarding the distribution of the Brazilian population by color or race, most of population is composed of brown (pardos) and blacks. There is a great variation of this composition throughout the different regions of the country.
Table 9
Resident population by color or race. Brazil, 1991 to 2010
1991 |
2000 |
2010 |
||||
Color or race |
Total |
% |
Total |
% |
Total |
% |
Total |
146 815 815 |
100 |
169 872 856 |
100 |
190 755 799 |
100 |
White |
75 704 922 |
51.56 |
91 298 042 |
53.74 |
90 621 281 |
47.51 |
Black |
7 335 130 |
5 |
10 554 336 |
6.21 |
14 351 162 |
7.52 |
Yellow |
630 658 |
0.43 |
761 583 |
0.45 |
2 105 353 |
1.1 |
Pardos |
62 316 085 |
42.45 |
65 318 092 |
38.45 |
82 820 452 |
43.42 |
Indigenous |
294 148 |
0.2 |
734 127 |
0.43 |
821 501 |
0.43 |
Undeclared |
534 872 |
0.36 |
1 206 675 |
0.71 |
36 051 |
0.02 |
Source: IBGE, 2010 Demographic Census.
13.Regarding the indigenous population, the 2010 Census was the first to investigate the number of indigenous ethnicities, finding a total of 305 ethnicities The tikúna community is the biggest in Brazil, representing 6.8% of the indigenous population in the country.
14.The 2010 Census also indicated that the Brazilian households are composed of an average of 3.3 residents, which is lower than the 2000 average, of 3.8. With respect to the composition of the family arrangements based on the reference person by sex, on its turn, there was an increase in the proportion of women heading family units from 2004 to 2014. For units formed by couples with children, the proportion of women heads of family went from 3.6% to 15.1%; for units formed by couples without children, it went from 3.4% to 10.9%. In the single-parent families, women have always been a majority.
Table 10
Percentage distribution of the family arrangements with children residing in private residences, by type of arrangement and sex of the reference person. Brazil, 2004 to 2014
Couples with no children |
Couples with children |
Single parents with children |
||||
Man |
Woman |
Man |
Woman |
Man |
Woman |
|
2004 |
48.0 |
3.4 |
67.7 |
3.6 |
3.1 |
25.6 |
2014 |
40.4 |
10.9 |
54.9 |
15.1 |
3.4 |
26.6 |
Source: IBGE, 2005 and 2015 National Household Sample Survey (PNAD).
ii.Economic characteristics
15.Brazil has experienced, in the last decades, an important process of growth and consolidation of its economy. After a period characterized by high inflation rates in the ‘80s and in the early ‘90s, the country implemented the Plano Real, in 1994, which established a new monetary standard.
16.This process of economic growth and stabilization starts to form solid bases over the 2000s, when the country increased the volume of its international reserves and adopted measures of financial and political stability and transparency.
17.The success of the macroeconomic measures adopted enabled the country to become, over the last few years, one of the strongest economies in the world; reaching the sixth position in the worldwide ranking in 2011. In 2017, the International Monetary Fund – IMF expected that Brazil would once again have the eighth highest Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the world.
18.In 2016, the service sector was responsible for the 73.3% the Brazilian GDP, followed by the industrial sector, which was responsible for 21.2%, while the agricultural sector represented 5.5%. In the services sector, commerce and public administration, health, and education represented, respectively, 12.5% and 17.5%, only lower than the miscellaneous services category.
19.In the agricultural sector, the main products exported by the country are: soybeans, meat, forest products, coffee, ethanol, and sugar. The industrial sector, on its turn, is based on the manufacture of textile products, footwear, chemicals, cement, timber, iron ore, tin, steel, aircraft, vehicles and auto parts, among other machinery and equipment. The service sector is mostly focused on transportation services, information services, financial and insurance brokerage, real estate and rental services, and public administration.
Macroeconomic indicators
20.The table below shows the evolution of the main Brazilian economic indicators from 2000 to 2015.
Table 11
Macroeconomic Indicators. Brazil, 2000 to 2015
Year |
Real Variaton % |
GDP Nominal at 2015 prices (R$ millions) |
Gross National Income (GNI)* (in R$ millions) |
Exchange rate Average (US$) |
GDP (US$) |
Per capita GDP US$ thousands (at current prices) |
Global GDP growth (%) |
GDP growth in Latin America (% at current prices) |
2000 |
4.4 |
3 916 915 |
1 146 893 |
1.83 |
655 707 |
3.780 |
4.39 |
4.1 |
2001 |
1.4 |
3 971 356 |
1 256 632 |
2.35 |
559 563 |
3.181 |
1.966 |
0.7 |
2002 |
3.1 |
4 092 620 |
1 425 886 |
2.92 |
508 101 |
2.850 |
2.163 |
0.6 |
2003 |
1.1 |
4 139 310 |
1 644 806 |
3.07 |
559 465 |
3.097 |
2.881 |
1.9 |
2004 |
5.8 |
4 377 733 |
1 883.017 |
2.92 |
669 340 |
3.659 |
4.449 |
6.0 |
2005 |
3.2 |
4 517 914 |
2.085.653 |
2.43 |
892 033 |
4.818 |
3.848 |
4.5 |
2006 |
4.0 |
4 696 913 |
2.310.899 |
2.17 |
1 107 131 |
5.910 |
4.338 |
5.4 |
2007 |
6.1 |
4 982 009 |
2.606.535 |
1.94 |
1 396 797 |
7.373 |
4.26 |
5.7 |
2008 |
5.1 |
5 235 803 |
2.960.429 |
1.83 |
1 693 147 |
8.841 |
1.829 |
4.0 |
2009 |
-0.1 |
5 229 215 |
3.175.327 |
1.99 |
1 672 625 |
8.643 |
-1.704 |
-1.2 |
2010 |
7.5 |
5 622 882 |
3.822.332 |
1.76 |
2 209 751 |
11.304 |
4.327 |
6.3 |
2011 |
3.9 |
5 842 693 |
4.300.773 |
1.67 |
2 612 855 |
13.237 |
3.117 |
4.7 |
2012 |
1.9 |
5 954 755 |
4.649.425 |
1.95 |
2 459 022 |
12.342 |
2.413 |
2.9 |
2013 |
3.0 |
6 134 207 |
5.079.831 |
2.34 |
2 461 436 |
12.243 |
2.535 |
2.9 |
2014 |
0.1 |
6 140 597 |
5.434.786 |
2.66 |
2 415 916 |
11.914 |
2.727 |
1.1 |
2015 |
-3.8 |
5 904 331 |
6.001.000 |
3.90 |
1 768 770 |
8.651 |
2.717 |
- |
Sources: IBGE and the Ministry of Economy.
* Data from 2010 to 2015, based on preliminary data of the Brazilian Quarterly National Accounts.
21.Inflation oscillated over the last decade, as can be observed in the data for the Extended National Consumer Price Index (IPCA), which measures the variation of the cost of living for families with a monthly income between 1 and 40 monthly minimum wages.
Table 12
Accrued variation (%) of the IPCA Index. Brazil, 2000 to 2016
Year |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
Real number |
General Index |
5.69 |
3.14 |
4.46 |
5.90 |
4.31 |
5.91 |
6.50 |
5.84 |
5.91 |
6.41 |
10.67 |
6.29 |
463.22 |
Sources: IBGE, Consumer Price Index National System.
22.The food and beverage industry was responsible for putting pressure on the IPCA, followed by housing and transportation expenses.
Table 13
Accrued IPCA Index in 2016 and average weight of the groups of products and services in the composition of the IPCA. Brazil, 2016
Group |
2016 Accrued IPCA |
2016 Average IPCA |
Food and beverages |
8.62% |
25.83 |
Housing |
2.85% |
15.37 |
Household goods |
3.41% |
4.18 |
Clothing |
3.55% |
5.96 |
Transportation |
4.22% |
17.95 |
Health and personal care |
11.04% |
11.62 |
Personal expenses |
8.00% |
10.73 |
Education |
8.86% |
4.65 |
Communication |
1.27 % |
3.70 |
Source: IBGE, Consumer Price Index National System.
23.External debt and government debt showed the following evolution from 2000 to 2015, according to data from the Central Bank.
Table 14
External debt and public sector debt. Brazil, 2000 to 2015
Year |
External debt US$ (million) |
Net public sector debt R$ (million) |
2000 |
236 156 |
563 163 |
2001 |
226 067 |
677 431 |
2002 |
227 689 |
892 292 |
2003 |
235 414 |
932 138 |
2004 |
220 182 |
982 509 |
2005 |
187 987 |
1 040 046 |
2006 |
199 372 |
1 120 053 |
2007 |
240 495 |
1 211 762 |
2008 |
262 910 |
1 168 238 |
2009 |
277 563 |
1 362 711 |
2010 |
351 941 |
1 475 820 |
2011 |
404 117 |
1 508 547 |
2012 |
441 667 |
1 550 083 |
2013 |
312 517 |
1 626 335 |
2014 |
352 684 |
1 883 147 |
2015 |
334 636 |
2 136 888 |
Source : Central Bank of Brazil.
iii.Social characteristics
The Brazilian model of social protection and promotion
24.The Brazilian Federal Constitution of 1988 established an important legal framework. It reaffirms and extends the protection fundamental rights, providing a solid foundation for building a social welfare system supported by the principles of universal coverage and assistance, based on comprehensive welfare and citizenship, aiming at providing protection and autonomy to individuals.
25.The Brazilian social protection and promotion system encompasses an extensive network of social policies, programs, and services intended to ensure better living conditions for the population.
Social Expenditure
26.Over the last two decades, there was a significant prioritization of the Federal Social Spending (GSF). This concept includes all Federal Government expenditures with general social security, benefits for public servants, health, social assistance, food and nutrition, housing and urban planning, sanitation, work and income support, education, agricultural development, and culture.
27.The volume of resources allocated to federal social policies grew both in absolute and proportionate terms compared to GDP. For the period between 2002 and 2015, the GSF showed a 3.1 percentage point increase as a proportion of the GDP, increasing from 12.6% to 15.7%. An extensive Social Security reform was recently adopted by the National Congress to balance social expenditures.
Table 15
Federal Social Spending, GDP, GSF/GDP, IPCA. Brazil, 2002 to 2015
Year |
GSF (%) |
GDP (R$ million)* |
GSF/GDP (%) |
2002 |
60 |
1 425 886 |
12.6 |
2003 |
64 |
1 644 806 |
12.4 |
2004 |
64 |
1 883 017 |
12.8 |
2005 |
64 |
2 085 653 |
13.4 |
2006 |
64 |
2 310 899 |
13.6 |
2007 |
64 |
2 606 535 |
13.6 |
2008 |
62 |
2 960 429 |
13.3 |
2009 |
66 |
3 175 327 |
14.4 |
2010 |
65 |
3 822 332 |
14.0 |
2011 |
66 |
4 300 773 |
14.0 |
2012 |
68 |
4 649 425 |
14.5 |
2013 |
69 |
5 079 831 |
14.6 |
2014 |
68 |
5 434 786 |
15.2 |
2015 |
67 |
6 001 000 |
15.7 |
Source: Ministry of Economy and IBGE.
* Data from 2010 to 2015, based on preliminary data of the Brazilian Quarterly National Accounts.
28.There was strong growth of GSF as a percentage of GDP from 2008 to 2009 (from 13.3% to 14.4%), followed by a period of stability from 2010 to 2011 (remaining at 14.0%), and, then, by another important growth from 2013 to 2015 (reaching 15.7%).
29.Considering the proportion of this growth by field, there was a 1.3% increase in social security, while in social assistance (income transfers) and in education and culture, it was of 1.0%, amounting to a 4.7 percentage points increase in the GSF, from 2002 to 2015.
Table 16
Trajectory of the Federal Social Spending by field of operation in % of GDP. Brazil, 2002 to 2015
Fields of operation |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
Social assistance |
0.5 |
0.6 |
0.8 |
0.9 |
1.0 |
1.0 |
1.0 |
1.3 |
1.3 |
1.3 |
1.4 |
1.5 |
1.5 |
1.5 |
Education and culture |
1.7 |
1.6 |
1.5 |
1.6 |
1.6 |
1.7 |
1.8 |
2.0 |
2.1 |
2.2 |
2.3 |
2.3 |
2.6 |
2.7 |
Agrarian Organization |
0.2 |
0.2 |
0.3 |
0.3 |
0.3 |
0.3 |
0.2 |
0.2 |
0.1 |
0.2 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
0.2 |
Work and employment |
0.5 |
0.5 |
0.5 |
0.6 |
0.7 |
0.7 |
0.7 |
0.9 |
0.8 |
0.8 |
0.8 |
0.9 |
1.4 |
1.2 |
Social securtity |
8.0 |
8.2 |
8.3 |
8.9 |
8.9 |
8.6 |
8.3 |
8.9 |
8.5 |
8.4 |
8.7 |
8.7 |
8.9 |
9.3 |
Sanitation and Housing |
0.1 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
0.2 |
0.2 |
0.2 |
0.3 |
0.4 |
0.4 |
0.5 |
0.5 |
Health |
1.8 |
1.6 |
1.8 |
1.7 |
1.8 |
1.8 |
1.8 |
2.0 |
1.9 |
1.9 |
2.0 |
2.0 |
2.1 |
2.1 |
GSF Total |
12.8 |
12.6 |
13.2 |
13.9 |
14.2 |
14.2 |
14.1 |
15.4 |
14.9 |
15.0 |
15.8 |
15.8 |
17.0 |
17.5 |
Source: Ministry of Economy and IBGE.
Table 17
Percentage share of each field of operation in the total Federal Social Spending. Brazil, 2002 to 2015
Fields of operation |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
Social Assistance |
3.7 |
4.4 |
6.0 |
6.4 |
6.9 |
7.2 |
7.4 |
8.6 |
9.0 |
8.7 |
8.9 |
9.3 |
8.9 |
8.8 |
Education and culture |
13.2 |
12.3 |
11.5 |
11.2 |
11.3 |
12.2 |
13.0 |
13.0 |
13.7 |
14.3 |
14.7 |
14.7 |
15.3 |
15.4 |
Agrarian Organization |
1.5 |
1.2 |
2.1 |
2.0 |
1.9 |
1.8 |
1.2 |
1.2 |
0.8 |
1.0 |
0.8 |
0.8 |
0.5 |
1.2 |
Work and Employment |
4.1 |
4.1 |
3.8 |
4.0 |
4.6 |
4.9 |
5.0 |
5.6 |
5.4 |
5.4 |
5.4 |
5.5 |
8.0 |
6.8 |
Social Security |
62.3 |
64.7 |
62.7 |
63.7 |
62.4 |
60.6 |
59.3 |
57.4 |
57.1 |
56.1 |
54.9 |
54.7 |
52.3 |
53.2 |
Sanitation and Housing |
1.1 |
0.5 |
0.6 |
0.5 |
0.5 |
0.7 |
1.2 |
1.5 |
1.3 |
2.1 |
2.6 |
2.7 |
2.7 |
2.8 |
Health |
14.0 |
12.8 |
13.4 |
12.2 |
12.4 |
12.6 |
12.8 |
12.7 |
12.6 |
12.3 |
12.7 |
12.3 |
12.2 |
11.8 |
Source: Ministry of Economy and IBGE.
30.However, the GSF does not exhaust the federal expenditure with social policies, as its methodology for calculation does not include crosscutting policies, related to gender equality, racial equality, children and teenagers, youth, and the elderly, for example. Many of the crosscutting policies are deemed to operate from a perspective of institutional integration with other thematic policies.
31.It is important to highlight that the revenues arising from states and cities directed to social policies are not included in the GSF calculation.
Education
32.The Brazilian Constitution establishes education as a basic right that must be ensured to all persons, both by the Government and by the family, and it must be promoted and encouraged with the collaboration of society, aiming at the full development of the individual, his/her preparation to exercise social responsibility and his/her qualification to work. The Brazilian Government has been currently working to promote more involvement of parents in the education and their presence at school, including the possibility to implement house schooling.
33.Based on the federal pact, a structure of responsibilities and competences of each government level was established for the provision and funding of educational services in Brazil. Thus, the municipalities are responsible for early education and for elementary and middle school, the states are responsible for elementary, middle, and high school, and the Federal Government is responsible for higher education and for complementary and supplementary support to states and cities in their actions in primary education.
34.The Brazilian Federal Constitution also establishes that education policies should be based on a 10 year National Education Plan (PNE), aiming at integrating the national education system in a collaborative regime between municipalities, states and the Union. The PNE defines guidelines, objectives, goals, and strategies for implementation in order to promote and develop education in its several levels, stages, and categories, through integrated actions of the public authorities of the different government levels.
Illiteracy
35.Illiteracy in Brazil has been decreasing progressively. The illiteracy rate for the population with age equal to or higher than 15 years has considerably decreased in the last decade, from 11.5% in 2004 to 8.3% in 2014. In 2015, the rate reached 8.0%, a total of 12.9 million people. Additionally, according to IBGE data, there was a drop in all regions of the country. In the Northeast, the region with the highest rate, the decrease was sharper, from 22.4% in 2004 to 16.2% in 2015. In the North, there was a 3.9 percentage point decrease, from 13.0% in 2014 to 9.1% in 2015. Illiteracy fell in the South (4.1%), Southeast (4.3%), and Midwest (5.7%) regions by 2.2, 2.3, and 3.5 percentage points, respectively.
Table 18
Illiteracy rate per age groups. Brazil, 2004 to 2015
Categories |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
|
Total Rate |
11.5 |
11.1 |
10.5 |
10.1 |
10.0 |
9.7 |
8.6 |
8.7 |
8.5 |
8.3 |
8.0 |
|
Age Group |
15 to 19 years old |
2.4 |
2.3 |
1.8 |
1.8 |
1.8 |
1.5 |
1.2 |
1.2 |
1.0 |
0.9 |
0.8 |
20 to 24 years old |
4.0 |
3.5 |
3.1 |
2.7 |
2.6 |
2.4 |
1.8 |
1.6 |
1.6 |
1.4 |
1.3 |
|
55 to 64 years old |
23.5 |
22.6 |
20.8 |
19.8 |
19.0 |
17.9 |
15.2 |
15.7 |
14.8 |
13.8 |
12.9 |
|
65 years or more old |
34.4 |
33.7 |
32.1 |
31.3 |
30.8 |
30.8 |
28.0 |
27.2 |
27.7 |
26.4 |
25.7 |
Source: IBGE, 2014 and 2015 National Household Sample Survey (PNAD).
36.Additionally, in 2015, the illiteracy rate was higher for men (8.3%) and than for women (7.7%). In the North, Northeast, and Midwest regions of Brazil, the illiteracy rate among men was higher compared to women (9.9%, 18% e 6.0%, respectively, against 8.3%, 14.5% e 5.4%). In the South and Southeast regions, women show higher rates compared to men (4.6% and 4.7%, respectively, against 3.7% and 3.9%).
37.In 2015, the rate of functional illiteracy, which shows the proportion of people with age equal to or higher than 15 years with less than 4 years of education in comparison with the total people in the same age group. decreased 0.5 percentage point compared to 2014.
Table 19
Functional illiteracy rate of people with age equal to or higher than 15 years old per Major Region. Brazil, 2014 and 2015
Brazil |
North |
Northeast |
South |
Southeast |
Midwest |
|
2014 |
17.6 |
20.4 |
27.1 |
13.8 |
12.7 |
16.1 |
2015 |
17.1 |
20.1 |
26.6 |
13.4 |
12.4 |
14.7 |
Source: IBGE, 2014 and 2015 National Household Sample Survey (PNAD).
School attendance
38.In the last decade, there was a substantial growth in the Brazilian educational system, especially with respect to early education, comprising children from 0 to 3 years old and from 4 to 5 years old. There was also the universalization of elementary and middle school, with 98.6% children from 6 to 14 years old attending school in 2015.
Table 20
Gross rate of attendance to education institutions by the resident population per age group. Brazil, 2004 to 2015
Categories |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
|
Age Group |
0 to 3 years old |
13.4 |
13.0 |
15.4 |
17.0 |
18.1 |
18.4 |
20.8 |
21.2 |
23.2 |
24.6 |
25.6 |
4 to 5 years old |
61.5 |
62.8 |
67.5 |
70.0 |
72.7 |
74.8 |
77.4 |
78.1 |
81.4 |
82.7 |
84.3 |
|
6 to 14 years old |
96.1 |
96.5 |
96.9 |
97.0 |
97.5 |
97.6 |
98.2 |
98.2 |
98.4 |
98.5 |
98.6 |
|
15 to 17 years old |
81.8 |
81.6 |
82.1 |
82.1 |
84.1 |
85.2 |
83.7 |
84.2 |
84.3 |
84.3 |
85.0 |
Source: IBGE, 2014 and 2015 National Household Sample Survey.
39.In the same sense, the net school attendance rate has evolved very positively over the last few years, reaching a rate higher than 58% in all levels of education in 2014.
Table 21
Net rate of attendance to education institutions by the resident population per age group and level of education. Brazil, 2007 to 2014
Education level |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
Elementary School (6 to 10 years old) |
84.7 |
85.7 |
87.5 |
89.0 |
90.1 |
90.1 |
91.3 |
Middle School (11 to 14 years old) |
72.5 |
72.7 |
71.8 |
73.7 |
75.8 |
75.9 |
78.3 |
High School (15 to 17 years old) |
49.0 |
51.4 |
52.0 |
53.5 |
55.6 |
57.1 |
58.6 |
Source: IBGE, 2014 and 2015 National Household Sample Survey (PNAD).
40.The school non-passing rate – the sum of failing and dropout rates – improved, following its decrease over the last years, for elementary, middle, and high school, as well as the consequent increase in the passing rate for these levels of education.
Table 22
Non-passing rate (sum of failing and dropout rates) by grades of the elementary, middle, and high school according to school network (public/private). Brazil, 2015
1st year |
2nd year |
3rd year |
4th year |
5th year |
6th year |
7th year |
8th year |
9th year |
1st Year of High School |
2nd Year of High School |
3rd Year of High School |
|
Total |
2.3 |
3.2 |
11.5 |
8.3 |
7.9 |
17.1 |
15.4 |
12.7 |
11.4 |
25.4 |
16.4 |
10.5 |
Public |
2.3 |
3.6 |
13.3 |
9.5 |
9.0 |
19.2 |
17.2 |
14.0 |
12.5 |
27.5 |
18.1 |
11.9 |
Private |
2.2 |
1.8 |
1.8 |
1.8 |
1.9 |
4.2 |
5.0 |
4.7 |
4.8 |
9.0 |
4.8 |
2.2 |
Source: Ministry of Education (MEC), 2016 School Census.
Table 23
Evolution of the passing rates by level of education. Brazil, 2008 to 2015
Year |
Elementary School |
Middle School |
High School |
2008 |
87.0 |
79.9 |
47.9 |
2009 |
88.5 |
81.3 |
75.9 |
2010 |
89.9 |
82.7 |
77.2 |
2011 |
91.2 |
83.4 |
77.4 |
2012 |
91.7 |
84.1 |
78.7 |
2013 |
92.7 |
85.1 |
80.1 |
2014 |
92.7 |
84.8 |
80.3 |
2015 |
93.2 |
85.7 |
81.7 |
Source: MEC, 2016 School Census.
41.Additionally the positive evolution of the passing rates over the last few years has improved the age-grade distortion rate in Brazil, as more students reach higher grades and finish levels of education on the right age. Even though there was improvement in the passing rate for students in high school, the age-grade distortion rate increased in 2016, in contrast with the decreasing trend for elementary and middle school.
Table 24
Evolution of the age-grade distortion rates by level of education. Brazil, 2008 to 2016
2008 |
2010 |
2012 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
|
Elementary School |
17.6 |
18.5 |
16.6 |
14.1 |
13.2 |
12.4 |
Middle School |
27.4 |
29.6 |
28.2 |
27.3 |
26.8 |
26.3 |
High School |
33.7 |
34.5 |
31.1 |
28.2 |
27.4 |
28.0 |
Source: MEC, 2016 School Census.
42.Additionally, there was an important increase in the number of people who completed elementary, middle, and high school, from 2004 to 2014.
Table 25
Elementary, middle, and high school completion rate. Brazil, 2004 to 2014
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
|
Elementary and Middle School |
65.4 |
67.0 |
69.5 |
71.4 |
73.7 |
74.2 |
76.5 |
77.8 |
79.3 |
80.9 |
Sex |
||||||||||
Male |
60.6 |
62.1 |
64.0 |
65.6 |
68.3 |
68.6 |
71.5 |
72.8 |
74.4 |
76.5 |
Female |
70.3 |
72.2 |
75.1 |
77.5 |
79.3 |
79.9 |
81.8 |
83.0 |
84.4 |
85.4 |
Domicile |
||||||||||
Urban |
71.6 |
72.7 |
74.6 |
76.0 |
77.7 |
77.8 |
79.3 |
80.5 |
81.5 |
83.3 |
Rural |
37.1 |
42.2 |
45.5 |
50.9 |
54.1 |
56.5 |
61.0 |
63.1 |
67.1 |
68.4 |
High School |
45.5 |
47.2 |
50.1 |
50.8 |
52.3 |
56.5 |
58.5 |
58.3 |
59.9 |
60.8 |
Sex |
||||||||||
Male |
40.6 |
42.0 |
44.9 |
45.3 |
48.6 |
51.7 |
52.3 |
52.4 |
54.0 |
54.9 |
Female |
50.4 |
52.5 |
55.1 |
56.3 |
48.6 |
61.2 |
64.6 |
64.2 |
65.7 |
66.9 |
Domicile |
||||||||||
Urban |
50.9 |
52.6 |
55.5 |
55.6 |
59.1 |
60.9 |
62.1 |
62.0 |
63.4 |
63.9 |
Rural |
17.7 |
19.6 |
21.1 |
25.3 |
26.3 |
30.8 |
34.0 |
35.2 |
39.0 |
40.6 |
Source: IBGE. 2014 National Household Sample Survey.
43.With respect to higher education, Brazil showed a positive progress from 2004 to 2014 in the proportion of students of ages from 18 to 24, from 32.9% to 58.5%. Accordingly, there was a positive evolution in the proportion of people between the ages of 20 and 22 who completed high school and/or subsequent levels.
Table 26
Proportion of students of between the ages of 18 and 24 who attend higher education, by sex and color or race. Brazil, 2004 to 2014
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
|
Brazil |
32.9 |
35.8 |
40.0 |
42.6 |
45.5 |
48.2 |
51.3 |
52.1 |
55.0 |
58.5 |
Male |
29.2 |
31.8 |
35.4 |
37.8 |
41.1 |
43.4 |
46.0 |
46.8 |
50.0 |
53.2 |
Female |
36.4 |
39.5 |
44.1 |
47.2 |
49.6 |
52.3 |
56.1 |
57.0 |
59.4 |
63.3 |
Color or race |
||||||||||
White |
47.2 |
51.5 |
55.9 |
57.8 |
60.4 |
62.6 |
65.7 |
66.6 |
69.4 |
71.4 |
Black or Pardo |
16.7 |
18.9 |
21.9 |
25.3 |
28.6 |
31.3 |
35.8 |
37.4 |
40.7 |
45.5 |
Source: IBGE, 2014 National Household Sample Survey (PNAD).
44.The average number of years of study for people who are 25 years old or older showed an ascendant trend over the last decade for the total population, going from 6.4 years, in 2004, to 7.8, in 2014. However, certain discrepancies still persist in this number according to the region, urban or rural residence, race or color, social class, sex, age group, and national per capita monthly household income, as shown in the table below.
Table 27
Average of years of study of people aged 25 years old or over, according to selected categories. Brazil, 2004 to 2014
Categories – 25 years or more |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
|
Brazil |
6.4 |
6.5 |
6.7 |
6.9 |
7.0 |
7.2 |
7.3 |
7.6 |
7.7 |
7.8 |
|
Sex |
Male |
6.3 |
6.4 |
6.6 |
6.7 |
6.9 |
7.0 |
7.2 |
7.4 |
7.5 |
7.6 |
Female |
6.5 |
6.6 |
6.8 |
7.0 |
7.1 |
7.3 |
7.5 |
7.7 |
7.9 |
8.0 |
|
Age groups |
25 to 64 years old |
6.8 |
7.0 |
7.2 |
7.3 |
7.5 |
7.7 |
7.9 |
8.1 |
8.3 |
8.4 |
65 years old or over |
3.3 |
3.3 |
3.5 |
3.6 |
3.7 |
3.8 |
3.9 |
4.2 |
4.2 |
4.3 |
|
Monthly household income |
1st fifth |
3.4 |
3.6 |
3.8 |
4.0 |
4.2 |
4.4 |
4.7 |
5.0 |
5.2 |
5.5 |
2nd fifth |
4.4 |
4.6 |
4.9 |
5.1 |
5.3 |
5.5 |
5.6 |
6.0 |
6.1 |
6.3 |
|
3rd fifth |
5.1 |
5.3 |
5.7 |
5.7 |
5.7 |
5.8 |
6.1 |
6.2 |
6.3 |
6.4 |
|
4th fifth |
6.7 |
6.6 |
6.6 |
7.1 |
7.3 |
7.4 |
7.6 |
7.9 |
7.9 |
8.0 |
|
5th fifth |
9.9 |
10.0 |
10.2 |
10.2 |
10.3 |
10.4 |
10.5 |
10.7 |
10.8 |
10.8 |
Source: IBGE. 2014 National Household Sample Survey.
Quality of education
45.In order to assess the quality of education, the Ministry of Education – MEC created the Index of Basic Education Development (IDEB), an indicator calculated every two years based on the student’s performance in national evaluations and passing rates.
46.The country has shown progress in this respect. For elementary school (after the age of 6, including the years from first to fifth), the IDEB increased from 3.8, in 2005, to 5.5, in 2015. The expected goal is to reach 6.0 by 2021, which corresponds to the quality of education in developed countries.
47.In middle school (sixth to ninth year), on its turn, the IDEB increased from 3.5, in 2005, to 4.2, in 2015. Even though there was such positive evolution, the goal established for 2015 was not achieved. The goal is to reach the index of 5.5 by 2021.
48.With respect to high school (which lasts for three years, for students between the ages of 15 and 17), the scenario is still challenging, especially compared to data on elementary and middle school. Despite the progress when compared to 2005, the IDEB stayed at 3.7 in 2011, 2013, and 2015, 0.6 behind the goal established for the last year. The goal for 2021 is to reach 5.2.
Table 28
IDEB, results and goals. Brazil, 2005 to 2015
Year |
IDEB Results |
IDEB Goals |
||||||||||
2005 |
2007 |
2009 |
2011 |
2013 |
2015 |
2007 |
2009 |
2011 |
2013 |
2015 |
2021 |
|
Elementary School |
3.8 |
4.2 |
4.6 |
5.0 |
5.2 |
5.5 |
3.9 |
4.2 |
4.6 |
4.9 |
5.2 |
6.0 |
Middle School |
3.5 |
3.8 |
4.0 |
4.1 |
4.2 |
4.5 |
3.5 |
3.7 |
3.9 |
4.4 |
4.7 |
5.5 |
High School |
3.4 |
3.5 |
3.6 |
3.7 |
3.7 |
3.7 |
3.4 |
3.5 |
3.7 |
3.9 |
4.3 |
5.2 |
Source: MEC, 2015 IDEB.
49.In 2016, Brazil reached the number of 2.2 million primary education teachers, distributed among 260.3 thousand facilities across the country – 311.4 thousand in pre-schools, 752.3 thousand in elementary schools, 773.1 thousand in middle schools, and 519.6 thousand in high schools.
Table 29
Primary education teachers and representation of the education level. Brazil, 2016
Basic education |
Nurseries |
Pre-School |
Elementary School |
Middle School |
High School |
|
Total (teachers) |
2 200 000 |
260 300 |
311 400 |
752 300 |
773 100 |
519 600 |
Higher Education |
77.5 |
64.2 |
66.9 |
74.8 |
84.7 |
93.3 |
Source: MEC, 2016 Primary Education School Census.
50.The number of students enrolled reached 48,817,479 in 2016, according to the following division: 3,233,739 enrolled in day-care facilities, 5,034,353 in pre-schools, 27,588,905 in elementary and middle schools, and 8,131,988 in high schools. Public schools managed by municipal and state governments and private schools represent, respectively, 46.8%, 34.0%, and 18.4% of the enrollments. Additionally, the country registered 3,422,127 persons enrolled in Youngsters and Adults Education (EJA) courses and 1.9 million enrollments in vocational education.
Health
51.The Brazilian Federal Constitution establishes that health is a right to all persons and a duty of the State, provided by social and economic policies aiming at reduction in the risk of disease and other injuries and at a universal and egalitarian access to actions and services for health promotion, protection, and recovery. Accordingly, it defined that health-related public actions and services in Brazil form part of a regional and integrated network that form a unified system. The Brazilian Government has also been seeking to strenghten the role of the family in promoting health, as recently exposed in a statement at World Health Organization (WHO) in May 2019.
52.The Unified Health System (SUS) aims at providing comprehensive and universal, preventive and curative care, through decentralized management and provision of care across the federative units, promoting participation of the community in all levels of governance.
53.At the time of implementation of the system, the number of beneficiaries went from 30 million persons to 190 million. Today, the system serves more than 200 million Brazilian citizens. In 2015, approximately 70% of the population had no private health or dental care ensurance, depending exclusively on the SUS to have access to health care.
54.The SUS managed to widely increase access to basic and emergency care throughout the country, achieving a universal coverage of vaccination and pre-natal care due to great investments in expansion of human and technology resources, including initiatives and efforts to manufacture the most essential pharmaceutical products to the Country.
Life expectancy at birth
55.Over the last few years, Brazil has experienced a significant growth life expectancy at birth, which went from 69.8 years, in 2000, to 75.4, in 2015, a 5.6-year increase. The life expectancy for women is higher compared to that for men, 79.1 years against 71.9 years respectively, in 2015. In the regional analysis, the states in the South and Southeast regions, such as Espírito Santo, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and Paraná, have a higher life expectancy than the national average, while the states in the North, Northeast, and Midwest regions, such as Mato Grosso, Ceará, Bahia, Roraima, and Alagoas, showed a number below the Brazilian average; there was a 8.5-year difference between Santa Catarina, the first position, with 78.7 years, and Maranhão, the last one, with 70.3 years.
Table 30
Life expectancy at birth (in years). Brazil, 2000 to 2015
Years |
|||||||||||||||
2000 |
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
69.8 |
70.3 |
70.7 |
71.2 |
71.6 |
72.0 |
72.4 |
72.8 |
73.2 |
73.5 |
73.9 |
74.2 |
74.5 |
74.8 |
75.1 |
75.4 |
Source: IBGE, 2013 Brazilian Population Projection.
Mortality
56.In 2010, the mortality distribution by age in Brazil showed the following pattern: 3.5% for ages under 1; 0.6% for ages from 1 to 4; 0.9% for ages from 5 to 14; 20.3% for ages from 15 to 49; and 74.4% for ages from 50 to older. These proportions were similar in both sexes until the age of 15. From this age on, the range from ages 15 to 49 represented 25.7% of the deaths in males and 13.2% in females, and the range from age 50 to older represented 68.9% in males and 81.6% in females. There have been significant changes from 2000 to 2010, with a reduction in the deaths of persons under the age of one (from about 8%, in 2000, to 3.5%, in 2010) and an increase in the deaths in the older age group.
57.Additionally, the gross mortality rate per one thousand inhabitants showed a constant positive evolution, going from 6.67, in 2000, to 6.02, in 2011. However, from 2012 to 2015, there was a slight increase, reaching 6.08, in 2015.
Table 31
Gross mortality rate for each 1,000 inhabitants. Brazil, 2000 to 2015
2000 |
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
|
Gross rate |
6.67 |
6.56 |
6.44 |
6.35 |
6.27 |
6.20 |
6.14 |
6.10 |
6.07 |
6.05 |
6.03 |
6.02 |
6.03 |
6.04 |
6.06 |
6.08 |
Source: IBGE, 2013 Brazilian Population Projection.
Causes of death
58.In 2015, the main causes of deaths of infants (under 1 year old) were perinatal diseases, followed by the set of congenital malformations, chromosomal abnormalities and deformities, and congenital malformations of the circulatory system. In the age groups from the ages of 1 to 44, external causes (attacks, suicides, accidents, and events of indefinite intention) were highly relevant. Beginning at the age of 25, infectious and parasitic diseases started to represent a significant number of deaths. After the age of 45, circulatory disorders and neoplasias represented most deaths.
59.With respect to the specific causes of death, recent data has shown that the ischemic heart diseases and cerebrovascular diseases were at the top of the list in 2015.
Table 32
Deaths by residence by age group and specific most frequent causes of death*. Brazil, 2015
Age group |
Order |
Specific case |
Number |
% in the age group |
All |
1 |
Ischemic heart diseases |
111 863 |
8.8 |
2 |
Cerebrovascular diseases |
100 520 |
8.0 |
|
3 |
Acute myocardial infarction |
90 811 |
7.2 |
|
4 |
Pneumonias |
77 334 |
6.1 |
|
5 |
Other heart diseases |
70 896 |
5.6 |
|
Up to 1 year old |
1 |
Respiratory and cardiovascular disorders, specified in the perinatal period |
8 093 |
21.6 |
2 |
Remainder of disorders originating in the perinatal period |
6 354 |
17.0 |
|
3 |
Fetus and newborn affected, maternal factors and pregnancy complications |
5 639 |
15.0 |
|
4 |
Remainder of congenital malformations, deformations, and chromosomal anomalies |
3 819 |
10.2 |
|
5 |
Congenital malformations of the circulatory system |
3 216 |
8.6 |
|
01 – 04 years old |
1 |
Pneumonias |
586 |
10.5 |
2 |
Remainder of nervous system disorders |
431 |
7.7 |
|
3 |
Accidental drowning and submersions |
354 |
6.3 |
|
4 |
Congenital malformations of the circulatory system |
342 |
6.1 |
|
5 |
Transport accidents |
332 |
5.9 |
|
05–14 years old |
1 |
Transport accidents |
996 |
12.2 |
2 |
Aggressions |
747 |
9.2 |
|
3 |
Remainder of nervous system disorders |
700 |
8.6 |
|
4 |
Accidental drowning and submersions |
563 |
6.9 |
|
5 |
Leukemia |
442 |
5.4 |
|
15 – 24 years old |
1 |
Aggressions |
21 269 |
44.0 |
2 |
Transport acidentes |
8 074 |
16.6 |
|
3 |
Voluntary self-harm |
1 785 |
3.7 |
|
4 |
Remainder of symptoms, signs, and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings |
1 562 |
3.2 |
|
5 |
Events (facts) whose intention is undetermined |
1 367 |
2.8 |
|
25 – 34 years old |
1 |
Agressions |
16 803 |
29.4 |
2 |
Transports accidents |
8 614 |
15.1 |
|
3 |
Viral Diseases |
2 884 |
5.0 |
|
4 |
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease |
2 672 |
4.7 |
|
5 |
Voluntary self-harm |
2 364 |
4.1 |
|
35 – 44 years old |
1 |
Agressions |
9 537 |
12.9 |
2 |
Transport accidents |
7 035 |
9.6 |
|
3 |
Viral Diseases |
4 189 |
5.7 |
|
4 |
Ischemic heart diseases |
3 982 |
5.4 |
|
5 |
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease |
3 812 |
5.2 |
|
45 – 54 years old |
1 |
Ischemic heart diseases |
11 510 |
9.6 |
2 |
Acute myocardial infarction |
9 999 |
8.3 |
|
3 |
Cerebrovascular diseases |
7 656 |
6.4 |
|
4 |
Liver diseases |
6 432 |
5.4 |
|
5 |
Transport accidents |
5 692 |
4.8 |
|
55 – 64 years old |
1 |
Ischemic heart diseases |
21 628 |
11.8 |
2 |
Acute myocardial infarction |
18 072 |
9.9 |
|
3 |
Cerebrovascular diseases |
13 884 |
7.6 |
|
4 |
Diabetes mellitus |
10 367 |
5.7 |
|
5 |
Other heart diseases |
9 685 |
5.3 |
|
65 – 74 years old |
1 |
Ischemic heart diseases |
27 463 |
11.9 |
2 |
Acute myocardial infarction |
22 238 |
9.6 |
|
3 |
Cerebrovascular diseases |
21 969 |
9.5 |
|
4 |
Diabetes mellitus |
15 612 |
6.8 |
|
5 |
Other heart diseases |
13 843 |
6.0 |
|
75 years old and more |
1 |
Cerebrovascular diseases |
52 359 |
10.5 |
2 |
Pneumonia |
48 606 |
9.8 |
|
3 |
Ischemic heart diseases |
45 526 |
9.2 |
|
4 |
Other heart diseases |
35 870 |
7.2 |
|
5 |
Acute myocardial infarction |
35 417 |
7.1 |
Source: Ministry of Health (MS), Mortality Information System (SIM).
* Not including misdefined causes.
Infant Mortality
60.The infant mortality rate (under 1 year old) per one thousand live births in Brazil decreased from 29.0, in 2000, to 13.8, in 2015. This rate is lower than the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) target of 15.7 per one thousand live births.
Table 33
Infant mortality rate (IMR), number of notices sent to the Mortality Information System (SIM) and estimate deaths of infants under the age of 1. Brazil, 2000 to 2015
Year |
IMR |
Number of death notices sent to SIM |
2000 |
29.0 |
68 199 |
2001 |
27.5 |
61 943 |
2002 |
26.2 |
58 916 |
2003 |
24.7 |
57 540 |
2004 |
23.4 |
54 183 |
2005 |
22.2 |
51 544 |
2006 |
21.0 |
48 332 |
2007 |
20.0 |
45 370 |
2008 |
19.0 |
44 100 |
2009 |
18.1 |
42 642 |
2011 |
16.4 |
39 716 |
2012 |
15.7 |
39 123 |
2013 |
15.0 |
38 966 |
2014 |
14.4 |
38 432 |
2015 |
13.8 |
37 501 |
Source: MS, Mortality Information System (SIM), and IBGE, 2013 Brazilian Population Projection.
61.According to the World Health Organization (Global Health Observatory Data Repository), Brazil is among the twenty countries that showed reduction higher than a 70% in the infant mortality rate in the last decades. The positive evolution noted in the number of deaths of children under the age of 5 per 1000 live births contributed to this outcome.
Table 34
Number of deaths of children under the age of 5 for each 1,000 live births – Brazil, 2005 to 2015
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
|
Brazil |
19.9 |
19.3 |
18.4 |
17.6 |
17.4 |
16.4 |
15.9 |
15.6 |
15.6 |
14.9 |
14.3 |
Source: MS, Information System on Live Births (SINASC), and Mortality Information System (SIM).
62.The country also experienced a substantial decrease in the ponderal deficit prevalence rate for children under the age of five.
Table 35
Ponderal deficit prevalence for each 100 children under the age of 5. Brazil, 1989, 1996 and 2006
Year |
Men |
Women |
Total |
1989 |
5.4 |
5.4 |
5.4 |
1996 |
4.5 |
4 |
4.2 |
2006 |
1.8 |
2 |
1.9 |
Source: MS, 1996 and 2006 National Demographic and Health Survey (PNDS).
Table 36
Prevalence of low birth weight by region, 2004 and 2011. Brazil
Brazil |
Midwest |
Northeast |
North |
Southeast |
South |
|
2004 |
4.4 |
4.0 |
4.3 |
4.4 |
4.6 |
4.2 |
2011 |
4.3 |
4.2 |
4.1 |
4.3 |
4.4 |
4.0 |
Source: MS, Information System on Live Births (SINASC).
Maternal mortality
63.Reduction in maternal mortality is currently one of the biggest challenges facing the Brazilian public health care system. Brazil achieved important progress, showing a 58% reduction in maternal mortality from 1990 to 2015, but it did not reach the goal of a 75% reduction in the maternal mortality rate in the period.
64.According to estimates of the Ministry of Health (MS), the adjusted maternal mortality rate (MMR) in Brazil fell from 143 per 100 thousand live births, in 1990, to 60 per100 thousand live births in 2015. The goal was to reach 35 deaths per 100 thousand live births in 2015.
Table 37
Maternal mortality ratio (MMR). Number of maternal deaths for each 100,000 live births. Brazil, 2001 to 2011
Brazil |
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
70,9 |
75,9 |
73,0 |
76,1 |
74,5 |
77,2 |
77,0 |
68,7 |
72,0 |
68,2 |
64,8 |
Source: MS, SUS IT Department (Datasus).
65.The data on the cause of maternal death indicates that, in 2015, 66.5% deaths were due to direct causes, 31.0% due to indirect causes, and 2.5% due to unspecified causes. In 1990, the mortality due to direct causes was 9.4 times higher than the mortality rate due to indirect causes. This ratio dropped to 3.5 times, in 2000, and to 2.1 times, in 2015.
Table 38
Maternal mortality according to causes. Brazil, 2001 to 2015
Year |
Direct maternal c auses |
Indirect maternal causes |
Non-specified maternal causes |
2001 |
76.6 |
19.8 |
3.6 |
2002 |
73.5 |
23.7 |
2.8 |
2003 |
73.2 |
23.2 |
3.6 |
2004 |
70.9 |
24.4 |
4.6 |
2005 |
73.7 |
22.7 |
3.6 |
2006 |
71.8 |
25.8 |
2.5 |
2007 |
74.1 |
23.3 |
2.6 |
2008 |
71.1 |
25.3 |
3.5 |
2009 |
63.2 |
34.7 |
2.1 |
2010 |
66.7 |
30.7 |
2.6 |
2011 |
66.5 |
29.9 |
3.7 |
2012 |
65.6 |
31.3 |
3.2 |
2013 |
68.1 |
28.5 |
3.4 |
2014 |
65.7 |
31.7 |
2.6 |
2015 |
66.5 |
31.0 |
2.5 |
Source: MS, Mortality Information System (SIM).
66.In this regard, the Government considers that the expansion and dissemination of knowledge on the use of contraceptive methods is an effective strategy for the promotion of maternal health in the country. Brazil is also offering information about natural methods of birth control.
Table 39
Percentage of use of contraceptive methods referred to by women, according to age. Brazil, 1996 and 2006
Age |
Any method |
Contraceptive Pill |
Female Sterilization |
Partner Sterilization |
Partner using condoms |
Other methods |
||||||
1996 |
2006 |
1996 |
2006 |
1996 |
2006 |
1996 |
2006 |
1996 |
2006 |
1996 |
2006 |
|
15 to 19 years old |
14.7 |
36.7 |
8.8 |
18 |
0.1 |
0 |
0 |
0.1 |
3.3 |
13.9 |
2.5 |
4.6 |
20 to 24 years old |
43.8 |
66.1 |
26.1 |
36.7 |
5.9 |
2.3 |
0.4 |
0.3 |
5.2 |
17.5 |
6.2 |
9.4 |
25 to 29 years old |
64.7 |
71.8 |
27 |
34.2 |
21.1 |
12.4 |
1.2 |
2.3 |
6.5 |
13.3 |
8.9 |
9.5 |
30 to 34 years old |
75.4 |
78.5 |
21.4 |
22.8 |
37.6 |
26.7 |
3.8 |
5.7 |
4.7 |
13.2 |
7.9 |
10.1 |
35 to 39 years old |
75.3 |
79.4 |
11.9 |
16.7 |
49 |
37.8 |
3.6 |
5.6 |
3.8 |
10.4 |
7 |
8.9 |
40 to 44 years old |
71.2 |
80.1 |
6.7 |
12.7 |
53.4 |
41.3 |
1.6 |
6.7 |
3.6 |
12.5 |
5.9 |
6.8 |
45 to 49 years old |
61.7 |
67.1 |
3.3 |
6.4 |
47.6 |
45.7 |
1 |
3.6 |
2.6 |
7.1 |
7.2 |
4.2 |
Total |
55.4 |
67.8 |
15.8 |
22.1 |
27.3 |
21.8 |
1.6 |
3.3 |
4.3 |
12.9 |
6.4 |
7.7 |
Source: MS, 1996 and 2006 National Demographic and Health Survey (PNDS).
Communicable diseases
HIV/AIDS
67.The Brazilian experience in the fight against the HIV/AIDS epidemic is a global reference. Since the beginning of the epidemics, in 1980, until 2016, Brazil reported more than 840 thousand cases of AIDS. The detection rate decreased from 21.2 per 100 thousand inhabitants, in 2004, to 19.1 per 100 thousand inhabitants, in 2015. In 2015, 39,113 new cases of the disease were reported.
Table 40
AIDS detection rate per year of diagnosis for each 100,000 inhabitants. Brazil, 2004 to 2015
Year |
Incidence rate |
New cases |
2004 |
21.2 |
37 998 |
2005 |
20.5 |
37 848 |
2006 |
19.9 |
37 133 |
2007 |
20.2 |
38 163 |
2008 |
21.4 |
40 508 |
2009 |
21.1 |
40 368 |
2010 |
20.9 |
39 872 |
2011 |
21.8 |
41 845 |
2012 |
21.4 |
41 429 |
2013 |
21.0 |
42 266 |
2014 |
20.2 |
41 007 |
2015 |
19.1 |
39 113 |
Source: MS, 2016 Epidemiological Bulletin.
68.In 2015, there were 21 cases of AIDS in men to 10 cases in women, representing an increase in cases detected in men and a gradual decrease in the cases in women. Between 2003 and 2008, there were 15 cases in men to 10 cases in women. In this regard, it is important to note that the AIDS detection rate in men increased from 24.1 cases per 100 thousand inhabitants, in 2006, to 27.9 cases per 100 thousand inhabitants, in 2015.
69.Brazil registered 136,945 cases of HIV infection, between 2007 to June 2016, of which 71,396 were in the Southeast region (52.1%), 28,879 in the South region (21.1%), 18,840 in the Northeast region (13.8%), 9,152 in the Midwest region (6.7%), and 6,868 in the North region (6.3%). In 2015, Brazil recorded 32,321 new cases of HIV infection, with a sex ratio of 2.4.
70.There is an increasing trend in the detection rate of HIV in pregnant women in the last ten years. From 2000 to June 2016, 99,804 cases of infected pregnant women were reported. In 2006, the infection rate was 2.1 cases per one thousand live births, increasing by 28.6%, in 2015, to 2.7 cases per one thousand live births.
71.The standard mortality rate with respect to AIDS decreased by 5% between 2006 and 2015, with respectively, 5.9 and 5.6 deaths per 100 thousand inhabitants. There is a growing trend in the mortality rate young men and women aged 15 to 19 years and among those aged above 50 years. From 1980 to 2015, the country identified 303,353 deaths where AIDS was the underlying cause. Of this total, more than 70% occurred among men (215,212) and about 29% among women (88,016). Over the last few years, there were, on average, approximately 12 thousand deaths per year as a result of AIDS, amounting to 12,667 deaths in 2015.
Malaria
72.Brazil has been able to control the incidence of Malaria. The number of positive results for malaria per one thousand inhabitants decreased from 3.79, in 1991, to 0.84, in 2013. Malaria is more common in the Northern region of Brazil, which comprises the Amazon biome, favorable to the reproduction of the vectors that transmit the disease, accounting more than 98% of the cases in 2013.
Table 41
Malaria incidence rate, positive results and population per year. Brazil, 2001 to 2013
Year |
Annual Parasite Index (IPA) of malaria |
Positive tests for malaria |
Population |
2001 |
2.26 |
389 775 |
172 381 455 |
2002 |
2.00 |
349 965 |
174 632 960 |
2003 |
2.27 |
402 069 |
176 871 437 |
2004 |
2.50 |
454 843 |
181 586 030 |
2005 |
3.25 |
598 462 |
184 184 264 |
2006 |
2.90 |
540 934 |
186 770 560 |
2007 |
2.38 |
449 720 |
189 335 191 |
2008 |
1.63 |
309 498 |
189 612 814 |
2009 |
1.58 |
302 179 |
191 481 045 |
2010 |
1.71 |
326 274 |
190 755 799 |
2011 |
1.36 |
261 072 |
192 379 287 |
2012 |
1.21 |
235 153 |
193 976 530 |
2013 |
0.84 |
169 668 |
201 062 789 |
Source: MS, Datasus.
Tuberculosis
73.Brazil has registered decreasing numbers of cases of tuberculosis and deaths resulting therefrom. In 2016, Brazil registered 66,796 new cases of the disease, with an incidence rate of 32.4.
Table 42
Tuberculosis incidence rate, new cases, and population per year. Brazil, 2001 to 2012
Year |
Incidence rate |
New cases |
Population |
2001 |
42.6 |
73 359 |
172 381 455 |
2002 |
44.2 |
77 187 |
174 632 960 |
2003 |
44.4 |
78 489 |
176 871 437 |
2004 |
42.7 |
77 497 |
181 586 030 |
2005 |
41.4 |
76 268 |
184 184 264 |
2006 |
38.7 |
72 339 |
186 770 560 |
2007 |
37.8 |
71 628 |
189 335 191 |
2008 |
38.7 |
73 429 |
189 612 814 |
2009 |
38.1 |
72 906 |
191 481 045 |
2010 |
37.5 |
71 568 |
190 755 799 |
2011 |
38.3 |
73 613 |
192 379 287 |
2012 |
37.3 |
72 319 |
193 976 530 |
Source: MS, Brazilian Case Registry Database (SINAN), and Datasus.
74.Thus, Brazil managed to reduce the incidence of tuberculosis in the timeframe established by the MDGs (1990 to 2015). The national rate decreased from 51.8 cases per 100 thousand people, in 1990, to 30.9 cases per 100 thousand people, in 2015. The mortality rate fell from 2.6 deaths per one thousand inhabitants, in 2006, to 2.2 deaths per one thousand inhabitants, in 2015, comprising a 15.4% decrease. Brazil achieved the MDG target related to the fight against tuberculosis three years in advance. In 2015, Brazil joined a global commitment to reduce deaths by 95% and the incidence ratio of the disease by 90% until 2035.
Dengue
75.Dengue transmission occurs continuously in Brazil since 1986. In 2013, the country experienced one of its largest outbreaks, with about 2 million probable cases. In 2016 and 2015, respectively, 1,483,623 and 1,688,688 probable cases of dengue were recorded, reaching the incidence rate of 684.2, in 2015. Today, the four serotypes of the disease are present in the country.
Table 43
Dengue incidence rate, new cases, and population per year. Brazil, 2001 to 2012
Year |
Incidence rate |
New cases |
Population |
2001 |
225.97 |
389 523 |
172 381 455 |
2002 |
401.63 |
701 380 |
174 632 960 |
2003 |
156.88 |
277 475 |
176 871 437 |
2004 |
40.01 |
72 661 |
181 586 030 |
2005 |
82.28 |
151 550 |
184 184 264 |
2006 |
143.19 |
267 443 |
186 770 560 |
2007 |
264.90 |
501 552 |
189 335 191 |
2008 |
293.24 |
556 018 |
189 612 814 |
2009 |
204.20 |
391 001 |
191 481 045 |
2010 |
514.42 |
981 278 |
190 755 799 |
2011 |
356.60 |
686 016 |
192 379 287 |
2012 |
301.47 |
584 780 |
193 976 530 |
Source: MS, Brazilian Case Registry Database (SINAN), and Datasus.
76.In 2014, the country recorded 3,657 suspected autochthonous cases of chikungunya fever in eight cities. There was an increase in reported cases in 2015, with 17,765 suspected autochthonous cases, 6,784 of which were confirmed, with an incidence rate of 111.8. In April of the same year, Brazil started to confirm the autochthonous transmission of fever by the Zika virus. In 2016, 205,578 probable cases of the disease were recorded, with an incidence rate of 99.8 and 8 confirmed deaths. In 2016, Zika fever became part of the compulsory declaration list in official health statistics, joining dengue and chikungunya fever.
Leprosy
77.Between 2004 and 2012, Brazil recorded a 12% decrease in the leprosy prevalence rate, from 1.71 cases per 10 thousand inhabitants, in 2004, to 1.51 cases per 10 thousand inhabitants, in 2012. In order to eliminate leprosy as a public health problem, Brazil aims to reach a prevalence rate below one case per 10 thousand inhabitants, throughout the national territory.
Table 44
Leprosy incidence rate, new cases, and population per year. Brazil, 2004 to 2012
Year |
Incidence rate |
New cases |
Population |
2004 |
27.50 |
49 943 |
181 586 030 |
2005 |
26.48 |
48 773 |
184 184 264 |
2006 |
23.78 |
44 419 |
186 770 560 |
2007 |
21.78 |
41 234 |
189 335 191 |
2008 |
21.49 |
40 757 |
189 612 814 |
2009 |
19.94 |
38 176 |
191 481 045 |
2010 |
18.77 |
35 807 |
190 755 799 |
2011 |
18.06 |
34 740 |
192 379 287 |
2012 |
17.39 |
33 741 |
193 976 530 |
Source: MS, Brazilian Case Regsitry Database, and Datasus.
Job market
78.The labor participation rate in Brazil fluctuated over the last decade. In 2001, it was 68.1%. Until 2005, there was an increasing trend, when it reached 70.4%. In the three subsequent years, labor participation fell, increasing once again in 2009. In 2011, 2012, and 2013 there were additional decreases. In 2014 and 2015, the labor participation rates were 67.5% and 65.9%, respectively. This behavior follows quite distinct paths among the different population sub-groups.
Table 45
Activity rate, according to selected categories. Brazil, 2004 to 2015
Categories |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
Total |
69.6 |
70.4 |
70.1 |
69.6 |
69.6 |
69.7 |
67.3 |
67.0 |
66.6 |
67.5 |
65.9 |
Gender |
|||||||||||
Male |
82.5 |
82.7 |
82.2 |
81.6 |
81.8 |
81.6 |
79.7 |
79.1 |
78.6 |
79.2 |
. |
Female |
57.9 |
59.1 |
59.0 |
58.6 |
58.5 |
58.8 |
56.0 |
55.8 |
55.6 |
57.0 |
. |
Age group |
|||||||||||
16 to 24 years old |
67.9 |
69.3 |
68.0 |
67.8 |
67.6 |
67.3 |
63.9 |
63.7 |
61.8 |
63.6 |
61.4 |
25 to 39 years old |
82.9 |
83.7 |
83.4 |
83.3 |
83.7 |
84.3 |
82.7 |
82.5 |
82.7 |
83.5 |
82.9 |
40 to 49 years old |
80.2 |
80.5 |
81.0 |
81.0 |
80.7 |
81.8 |
79.9 |
80.5 |
80.5 |
81.2 |
80.6 |
50 years old or over |
47.3 |
48.2 |
48.9 |
47.8 |
48.5 |
47.9 |
45.8 |
45.5 |
46.0 |
47.6 |
45.5 |
Education level |
|||||||||||
No education or Incomplete Elementary/Middle School |
63.5 |
63.7 |
62.9 |
61.7 |
61.3 |
60.5 |
56.7 |
55.8 |
55.3 |
56.0 |
53.3 |
Complete Elementary/ Middle School or Incomplete High School |
69.0 |
69.3 |
68.9 |
68.8 |
67.7 |
68.1 |
65.3 |
64.5 |
63.8 |
65.2 |
63.1 |
Complete High School or Incomplete University Degree |
79.2 |
80.4 |
79.8 |
79.6 |
79.7 |
79.9 |
77.6 |
77.4 |
76.4 |
77.2 |
76.0 |
Complete University Degree |
84.8 |
85.8 |
85.6 |
85.3 |
85.4 |
85.4 |
84.0 |
84.2 |
83.6 |
83.9 |
82.7 |
Source: IBGE, 2014 and 2015 National Household Sample Survey (PNAD).
79.From 2001 until 2011, the unemployment rate fell by 28%, reaching its lowest level in 2012, at 6.1%. However, the unemployment rate started to record a continuous increase beginning in 2013, reaching 6.7% in 2014 and 9.5% in 2015. Like the labor participation rate, the unemployment rate varies according to different population sub-groups.
Table 46
Unemployment rate, according to selected categories. Brazil, 2004 to 2015
Categories |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
Brazil |
8.7 |
9.1 |
8.3 |
8.0 |
7.0 |
8.1 |
6.6 |
6.1 |
6.4 |
6.7 |
9.4 |
Gender |
|||||||||||
Male |
6.6 |
6.9 |
6.2 |
5.9 |
5.0 |
6.0 |
4.7 |
4.5 |
4.8 |
5.2 |
7.7 |
Female |
11.5 |
12.0 |
10.9 |
10.6 |
9.4 |
10.9 |
9.0 |
8.1 |
8.4 |
8.7 |
11.6 |
Age group |
|||||||||||
16 to 24 years old |
17.9 |
19.1 |
17.7 |
16.6 |
15.3 |
17.6 |
15.0 |
14.4 |
14.8 |
16.6 |
22.8 |
25 to 39 years old |
7.6 |
7.8 |
7.4 |
7.4 |
6.5 |
7.7 |
6.2 |
5.7 |
6.2 |
6.3 |
9.0 |
40 to 49 years old |
5.0 |
5.0 |
4.5 |
4.6 |
3.8 |
4.5 |
3.7 |
3.3 |
3.7 |
3.7 |
5.6 |
50 years old or over |
3.2 |
3.4 |
3.0 |
2.9 |
2.5 |
3.1 |
2.4 |
2.2 |
2.3 |
2.4 |
3.7 |
Education level |
|||||||||||
No education or Incomplete Elementary/ Middle School |
6.9 |
7.1 |
6.4 |
5.9 |
5.0 |
6.3 |
5.1 |
4.5 |
5.0 |
5.0 |
7.0 |
Complete Elementary/ Middle School or Incomplete High School |
13.3 |
14.3 |
12.9 |
12.0 |
10.5 |
12.0 |
9.4 |
9.3 |
9.0 |
9.7 |
13.5 |
Complete High School or Incomplete University Degree |
10.4 |
10.7 |
9.8 |
9.7 |
8.5 |
9.8 |
7.7 |
6.9 |
7.5 |
7.9 |
11.2 |
Complete University Degree |
3.5 |
3.8 |
3.5 |
3.7 |
3.6 |
3.7 |
3.4 |
3.2 |
3.2 |
3.7 |
49 |
Source: IBGE, 2014 and 2015 National Household Sample Survey (PNAD).
80.Regarding the composition of the economic activity in Brazil, it is possible to observe a 3.7 percentage points decrease in the proportion of workers in non-officially recognized jobs, between 2004 and 2014. In the same period, there was an 8.4 percentage points increase in the number of workers in officially recognized jobs. The data indicate that there was a significant increase in the number of formal jobs in the Brazilian labor market.
Table 47
Composition of occupation, according to position. Brazil, 2004 to 2014 (%)
Position |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
Officially Recognized job |
31.2 |
31.9 |
32.5 |
34.0 |
35.2 |
35.7 |
39.4 |
39.8 |
40.3 |
39.6 |
Non-officially Recognized job |
18.1 |
17.6 |
17.6 |
17.1 |
16.9 |
16.2 |
14.7 |
14.9 |
14.5 |
14.4 |
Officially recognized domestic worker |
2.0 |
2.1 |
2.1 |
2.1 |
2.0 |
2.2 |
2.2 |
2.0 |
2.2 |
2.1 |
Non-officially recognized domestic worker |
5.6 |
5.6 |
5.5 |
5.3 |
5.2 |
5.5 |
4.9 |
4.7 |
4.5 |
4.4 |
Military or statutory civil servant |
6.8 |
6.5 |
6.8 |
7.0 |
7.1 |
7.3 |
7.3 |
7.5 |
7.5 |
7.3 |
Self-employed |
22.5 |
22.1 |
21.6 |
21.6 |
20.6 |
20.8 |
21.3 |
20.8 |
20.8 |
21.5 |
Employer |
4.2 |
4.4 |
4.6 |
3.8 |
4.6 |
4.4 |
3.5 |
3.8 |
3.8 |
3.8 |
Work in production for own consumption and in construction for own use |
3.9 |
4.3 |
4.3 |
4.1 |
4.2 |
3.9 |
3.8 |
3.7 |
4.2 |
4.3 |
Unpaid work |
5.6 |
5.4 |
4.9 |
4.8 |
4.1 |
3.9 |
2.8 |
2.6 |
2.1 |
2.4 |
Source: IBGE, 2014 and 2015 National Household Sample Survey (PNAD).
81.Regarding the composition of employment by activity sector, between 2004 and 2015, the country registered increment in the trade, other services, and construction sectors, accompanied by a significant drop in the agricultural sector.
Table 48
Employed population by sectors of activity (total in millions). Brazil, 2004, 2005, 2014, and 2015
Fields of Activity |
2004 |
2005 |
2014 |
2015 |
Agricultural |
16.6 |
16.6 |
13.9 |
13.0 |
Industry |
12.3 |
12.8 |
12.9 |
11.9 |
Construction |
5.3 |
5.6 |
9.0 |
8.5 |
Commerce and repair |
14.3 |
15.1 |
17.8 |
17.1 |
Lodging and food |
2.9 |
3.1 |
4.6 |
4.6 |
Transportation, storage, and communication |
3.9 |
3.9 |
5.4 |
5.3 |
Public Administration |
4.2 |
4.3 |
5.1 |
5.0 |
Education, health, and social services |
7.4 |
7.6 |
10.2 |
10.3 |
Other services |
15.5 |
15.7 |
19.1 |
18.5 |
Undefined Activities |
0.2 |
0.2 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
Source: IBGE, 2014 and 2015 National Household Sample Survey (PNAD).
82.Finally, considering the terms of the 1988 Brazilian Federal Constitution, which protects the right of association in trade unions, there were 7,569,865 workers associated in trade unions, registered with in the National Register of Trade Unions (CNES), about 10,047 unions in total. Recent legislative changes regarding union dues have been leading to a decrease in this number.
Social security
83.The Brazilian Federal Constitution provides that social security be organized as a general system based on contributions and with mandatory affiliation. The social security benefits are: (i) age retirement; (ii) disability retirement; (iii) retirement based on time of contribution; (iv) special retirement; (v) sick pay; (vi) accident pay; (vii) benefit to the families of prisoners; (viii) surviving spouse pension; (ix) special pension; (x) maternity pay; (xi) family allowance; and (xii) social assistance through the Continuous Cash Benefit (BPC). The taxpayers are, among others, employers, salaried employees, domestic workers, independent workers, individual taxpayers, and rural workers.
84.The general rule is that all workers who are engaged in a paid activity and are not affiliated to a specific retirement system are bound by the general system. The social security systema has benefit plans with installments intended to ensure that beneficiaries have essential means to support themselves in case of loss of ability to work.
Coverage
85.The Brazilian social-security system benefitted from a 12.7 percentage points increase, over the last decade, in the proportion of taxpayers in the Brazilian economically active population, especially significant among women.
Table 49
Proportion of taxpayers in the economically active population, target population of the Brazilian National Social Security Institute (INSS), and regimes typical of civil and military service, by sex. Brazil, 2001 to 2011
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2011 |
|
Both sexes |
46.0 |
45.4 |
46.6 |
46.7 |
47.5 |
48.9 |
50.8 |
52.3 |
53.8 |
58.7 |
Men |
46.7 |
46.1 |
47.3 |
47.6 |
48.4 |
49.9 |
51.8 |
53.4 |
54.6 |
58.6 |
Women |
45.1 |
44.5 |
45.7 |
45.5 |
46.3 |
47.6 |
49.3 |
50.9 |
52.7 |
58.9 |
Source: IBGE, 2001 and 2011 National Household Sample Survey (PNAD).
86.At the same time, there was a 6.3 percentage points increase in the basic public social security direct and indirect coverage for the population in working age between 2001 and 2011.
Table 50
Proportion of basic public social security direct and indirect coverage for the population in working age, by sex. Brazil, 2001 to 2011
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2011 |
|
Both sexes |
51.1 |
50.5 |
50.9 |
51.0 |
51.7 |
52.6 |
53.5 |
54.5 |
55.1 |
57.4 |
Men |
49.9 |
49.2 |
49.6 |
49.6 |
50.3 |
51.1 |
52.0 |
53.1 |
53.6 |
55.8 |
Women |
52.3 |
51.8 |
52.2 |
52.2 |
53.1 |
54.1 |
54.9 |
55.9 |
56.6 |
59.0 |
Source: IBGE, 2001 and 2011 National Household Sample Survey (PNAD).
* Covegare includes direct taxpayers with at least one contribution over the last 12 months and their spouses; persons insured by the rural social security and their spouses; persons insured by the civil and military service social security and their spouses; and dependents up to the age of 21.
Social assistance
87.The Brazilian Federal Constitution sets forth that social assistance is a right ensured by the Government to all citizens and social groups under social risk and vulnerability situation, regardless of contribution to social security.
88.The Unified Social Assistance System (SUAS) is based on the guidelines provided by the Federal Constitution and the legal framework provided by the Organic Law of Social Assistance (LOAS). It is a public system that organizes the social assistance services in Brazil.
89.Under SUAS, the social assistance services are organized and structured based on territory, establishing two levels of actions for protection. The first is the Basic Social Welfare, destined to social and personal risk prevention, by providing programs, projects, services, and benefits to individuals and families in social vulnerability situation. The second is the Special Social Welfare, with high and medium level complexity, directed to families and individuals who are already in risk situation and had their rights violated due to abandonment, ill-treatment, sexual assault, drug use, and other aspects.
90.For each level of protection, the SUAS provides a set of tools to provide services and to grant benefits. Regarding basic protection, the social assistance services to families and individuals in social vulnerability situation are offered by the Reference Center for Social Assistance (CRAS). These services aim at strengthening family and community bonds, seeking to give priority to promotion of autonomy, potentialities, and to strengthening families and individuals.
91.The Specialized Reference Centers for Social Assistance (CREAS) are reference hubs that coordinate and integrate special social welfare services. They are responsible for providing specialized and continuous guidance and support to individuals and families who have their rights violated, focusing on actions directed to the family.
Social assistance network
92.Over the last few years, there was significant expansion of the social assistance network with the establishment of CRAS and CREAS facilities throughout the national territory. Between 2007 and 2016, the number of CRAS grew by about 96%. The expansion of CREAS in the same period was of more than 180%.
Table 51
Number of CRAS and CREAS facilities. Brazil, 2007 to 2016
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
|
CRAS |
4 195 |
5 074 |
5 798 |
6 801 |
7 475 |
7 725 |
7 883 |
8 088 |
8 155 |
8 240 |
CREAS |
897 |
1 019 |
1 200 |
1 590 |
2 109 |
2 167 |
2 249 |
2 372 |
2 435 |
2 521 |
Source: IBGE and Ministry of Citizenship, SUAS Census. 2013 to 2016.
93.The Continuous Cash Benefit (BPC) is also an integral part of the SUAS. It is a monetary benefit ensured by that ensures a basic income to elderly and persons with physical disabilities in social vulnerability situation.
Table 52
Amount of active benefits of social assistance support. Brazil, 2010 to 2016
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016* |
|
Social Assistance Support |
3 413 084 |
3 600 473 |
3 777 778 |
3 975 413 |
4 137 995 |
4 251 726 |
4 274 943 |
People with Disabilities |
1 785 185 |
1 911 134 |
2 024 666 |
2 148 091 |
2 257 967 |
2 326 506 |
2 349 905 |
Elderly People |
1 627 899 |
1 689 339 |
1 753 112 |
1 827 322 |
1 880 028 |
1 925 220 |
1 925 038 |
Source: Ministry of Citizenship, 2015 and 2012 Social Security Statistical Yearbook.
* Data of February 2016, published in the 2015 BPC Bulletin.
Income
94.The accumulated economic growth in the last decades impacted directly on the general expansion of the average income of the Brazilian citizen. It had a more significant impact on the lower income population, contributing to reducing the historical inequality in Brazil.
95.From 2005 to 2015, there was a 2.6 percentage points growth in the proportion of total income of the 40% of the population who has the lowest income, while the proportion of income to accrued to people with the highest income – the richest 10% – showed a 4.8 percentage points reduction. Different methodologies confirm evidence of a decrease in the inequality in the country, such as the Palma Index, which compares the evolution of the richest 10% and the poorest 40% (10/40 ratio).
Table 53
Percentage distribution of the income from all sources of people in the age of 10 or more with income, by income groups. Brazil, 2005 to 2015
Income Distribution (%) |
||||
Year |
Up to 40% |
More than 40% up to 90% |
More than 90% |
Palma Index |
2005 |
11.0 |
43.6 |
45.3 |
4.1 |
2006 |
11.3 |
43.7 |
44.9 |
4.0 |
2007 |
12.0 |
44.2 |
43.9 |
3.7 |
2008 |
12.0 |
44.6 |
43.4 |
3.6 |
2009 |
12.4 |
44.6 |
43.0 |
3.5 |
2011 |
13.1 |
45.1 |
41.9 |
3.2 |
2012 |
13.1 |
45.0 |
41.9 |
3.2 |
2013 |
13.2 |
45.4 |
41.4 |
3.1 |
2014 |
13.3 |
45.6 |
41.0 |
3.1 |
2015 |
13.6 |
45.9 |
40.5 |
3.0 |
Source: IBGE, 2015 National Household Sample Survey (PNAD).
96.With respect to the per capita monthly household income, both the average income and the median income showed a constant growth from 2005 to 2014. After 2015, the decrease in employment rates and the weakening of the economy, household income was negatively affected.
Table 54
Average and median monthly household income per capita in arrangements in private households. Brazil, 2005 to 2015
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
|
Average |
965 |
965 |
1 065 |
1 116 |
1 139 |
1 206 |
1 300 |
1 337 |
1 368 |
1 270 |
Median |
530 |
601 |
623 |
636 |
682 |
712 |
770 |
794 |
805 |
788 |
Source: IBGE, 2015 National Household Sample Survey (PNAD).
97.There was also a decrease in social inequality ratios in relation to sex, skin color, or race between 2005 and 2015.
Table 55
Real average monthly income of persons with age equal to or higher than 15 years old with income, with the respective sex, color, or race ratios. Brazil, 2005 to 2015
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
|
Sex ratio (men/women) |
1.51 |
1.50 |
1.48 |
1.49 |
1.48 |
1.49 |
1.47 |
1.45 |
1.42 |
1.50 |
Color and race ratio (white/black or pardos) |
1.89 |
1.84 |
1.79 |
1.74 |
1.67 |
1.74 |
1.72 |
1.69 |
1.70 |
1.89 |
Source: IBGE, 2015 National Household Sample Survey (PNAD).
Poverty and hunger
98.The poverty indices in Brazil have been decreasing since the 2000s, leading to an important improvement in the population’s living conditions. Both the poverty and the extreme poverty indices decreased significantly over the last few years. The proportion of the population with per capita household income up to one fourth of the minimum wage and between one fourth and one half of the minimum wage decreased 2.8 and 2.6 percentage points, respectively, between 2005 and 2015. In this regard, Brazil has already reached the MDG target of decreasing halving hunger and extreme poverty compared to 1990 levels.
Table 56
Percentage distribution of persons residing in private households per household income groups per capita. Brazil, 2005 to 2015
Groups |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
Up to 1/4 |
12.0 |
11.8 |
11.2 |
10.1 |
10.6 |
8.6 |
8.6 |
8.5 |
8.0 |
9.2 |
More than 1/4 up to 1/2 |
20.4 |
20.3 |
19.4 |
18.7 |
18.6 |
16.6 |
18.1 |
17.3 |
17.0 |
17.8 |
More than 1/2 up to 1 |
27.0 |
27.9 |
27.5 |
27.6 |
28.4 |
26.8 |
28.6 |
28.2 |
28.9 |
30.3 |
More than 1 up to 2 |
21.1 |
21.0 |
22.0 |
22.8 |
22.6 |
25.7 |
23.8 |
23.9 |
25.2 |
24.7 |
More than 2 |
16.9 |
16.3 |
16.2 |
16.8 |
15.7 |
15.9 |
15.6 |
15.3 |
16.6 |
15.0 |
No income, undeclared |
2.6 |
2.9 |
3.9 |
4.0 |
4.1 |
6.5 |
5.3 |
6.6 |
4.3 |
2.8 |
Source: IBGE, 2015 National Household Sample Survey (PNAD).
99.Particularly regarding children and teenagers, maintaining and implementing new strategies to decrease poverty contributed to significant progress in 0 to 29 years age group. Between 2005 and 2015, the percentage distribution of the population residing in households with monthly income up to one fourth of the minimum wage decreased by 4.8 percentage points in the age group from 0 to 4 years, which was the greatest positive evolution of the groups.
Table 57
Percentage distribution of population residing in domiciles with monthly per capita income of up to one fourth of the minimum wage, by age groups. Brazil, 2005 to 2015
Groups |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
Total |
11.9 |
12.4 |
11.1 |
10.1 |
10.6 |
8.5 |
8.6 |
8.5 |
7.9 |
9.2 |
0 to 4 years old |
22.4 |
22.5 |
20.5 |
19.0 |
20.0 |
15.7 |
16.5 |
16.1 |
15.2 |
17.6 |
5 to 14 years old |
20.7 |
20.5 |
20.2 |
18.7 |
19.9 |
16.6 |
16.4 |
16.7 |
15.9 |
18.0 |
15 to 29 years old |
10.9 |
10.8 |
10.2 |
9.3 |
9.9 |
8.3 |
8.5 |
8.5 |
8.1 |
9.9 |
30 to 59 years old |
8.6 |
8.5 |
8.1 |
7.1 |
7.8 |
6.4 |
6.5 |
6.5 |
6.0 |
7.1 |
60 years old or over |
2.1 |
2.0 |
1.9 |
1.6 |
1.7 |
1.2 |
1.3 |
1.3 |
1.2 |
1.4 |
Source: IBGE, 2015 National Household Sample Survey (PNAD).
100.Children and teenagers are the most affected age groups by the situation of food insecurity in Brazilian households. In 2013, private households with at least one member under 18 years old had higher food insecurity compared to households composed only by adults. Additionally, the percentage of persons from 0 to 4 years old and from 5 to 14 years old residing in households in situations of food insecurity was 34.1% and 33.7%, respectively, compared to 25.8% of the population in general. Between 2004 and 2013, such age groups had positive progress, with decrease in food insecurity and significant increase in food security.
Table 58
Percentage distribution of the population per household food security situation per age group. Brazil, 2004 and 2013
Total |
0 to 4 years old |
5 to 14 years old |
15 to 29 years old |
30 to 59 years old |
60 years old or over |
|||||||
2004 |
2013 |
2004 |
2013 |
2004 |
2013 |
2004 |
2013 |
2004 |
2013 |
2004 |
2013 |
|
Severe food insecurity |
7.7 |
3.6 |
10.4 |
4.8 |
10.6 |
5.0 |
7.7 |
3.8 |
6.2 |
3.1 |
5.1 |
2.6 |
Moderate food insecurity |
14.1 |
5.1 |
18.5 |
6.5 |
17.6 |
6.4 |
14.2 |
5.5 |
12.1 |
4.5 |
11.2 |
4.2 |
Slight food insecurity |
18.0 |
17.1 |
21.7 |
22.8 |
21.1 |
22.3 |
18.6 |
18.4 |
16.4 |
15.1 |
12.9 |
11.7 |
Food security |
60.1 |
74.2 |
49.4 |
65.8 |
50.7 |
66.3 |
59.4 |
72.3 |
65.3 |
77.3 |
70.8 |
81.5 |
Source: IBGE, 2004 and 2013 National Household Sample Survey (PNAD).
101.In parallel to the accumulated growth in the Brazilian economy over the last few years, the Federal Government’s strategies to directly combat poverty and extreme poverty contributed to the overall positive result. The core social policy in the country is the Bolsa Família Program, which was created in October 2003, based on three main axes: a) income supplement; b) access to rights; and c) coordination with other areas. The first two axes directly address poverty through income transfer as a supplement for families enrolled in the Sole Registration for Social Programs of the Federal Government (CadÚnico) and through improvement in health care and education conditions (school attendance of children in school age and regular standing of the vaccination schedule, as well as prenatal monitoring for the members of those families benefited from the Program). The Program aims to break the cycle of poverty by providing families with access to basic health care, education, and social assistance services. The income transfer serves as supplement or sometimes as the only source of income for families in extreme poverty situation.
Table 59
Bolsa Família Program, Number of Families Benefited and Amounts Transferred
Year |
Number of Families Benefited |
Amounts Transferred (R$) |
2005 |
8 700 445 |
5 691 667 041.00 |
2006 |
10 965 810 |
7 524 661 322.00 |
2007 |
11 043 076 |
8 965 499 608.00 |
2008 |
10 557 996 |
10 606 500 193.00 |
2009 |
12 370 915 |
12 454 702 501.00 |
2010 |
12 778 220 |
14 372 702 865.00 |
2011 |
13 361 495 |
17 364 277 909.00 |
2012 |
13 902 155 |
21 156 744 695.00 |
2013 |
14 086 199 |
24 890 107 091.00 |
2014 |
14 003 441 |
27 187 295 233.00 |
2015 |
13 936 791 |
27 650 301 339.00 |
2016 |
13 569 576 |
28 506 185 141.00 |
2017 |
13 828 609 |
29 046 112 934.00 |
Source: Ministry of Citizenship, Social Information Matrix, 2005 to 2017.
Social inequality
102.Brazil is a country with a historical high level of social inequality, which, over the last years, has been presenting an important reduction. During the 2000s, the combination of favorable economic growth rates with active initiatives for social inclusion, such as income transfer policies and real increases of the minimum wage, allowed a consistent decrease in social inequality over the last few years. This trend may be verified by using the Gini Coefficient, which went from 0.548 in 2005 to 0.491 in 2015.
Table 60
Gini Coefficient of the distribution of monthly income of persons aged 15 or above, with income, by Major Regions. Brazil, 2005 to 2015
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
|
Brazil |
0.548 |
0.544 |
0.531 |
0.526 |
0.521 |
0.506 |
0.505 |
0.501 |
0.497 |
0.491 |
North |
0.501 |
0.504 |
0.501 |
0.490 |
0.496 |
0.503 |
0.486 |
0.484 |
0.480 |
0.473 |
Northeast |
0.546 |
0.553 |
0.534 |
0.534 |
0.532 |
0.510 |
0.510 |
0.509 |
0.490 |
0.484 |
Southeast |
0.531 |
0.526 |
0.507 |
0.502 |
0.497 |
0.484 |
0.485 |
0.483 |
0.485 |
0.477 |
South |
0.516 |
0.507 |
0.501 |
0.492 |
0.486 |
0.468 |
0.465 |
0.458 |
0.453 |
0.450 |
Midwest |
0.561 |
0.554 |
0.559 |
0.562 |
0.550 |
0.532 |
0.523 |
0.519 |
0.507 |
0.498 |
Source: IBGE, 2015 National Household Sample Survey (PNAD).
Delinquency and administration of Justice
103.The violent crime death rate in Brazil per 100 thousand inhabitants is measured by the indicator “Intentional lethal violent crimes”, which encompasses incidents of voluntary manslaughter, murder with intent to rob, and bodily injury followed by death. From 2007 until 2015, it increased from 23.6 to 27.2.
Table 61
Rate of violent deaths for each 100 thousand inhabitants. Brazil, 2007 to 2015
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
|
Intentional Lethal Violent Crimes (CVLI) |
23.6 |
24.2 |
23.2 |
22.7 |
24 |
25.8 |
27.1 |
28.2 |
27.2 |
Source: Brazilian Forum of Public Security, 2013 and 2016 Brazilian Annual Reports on Public Security.
104.The racial profile of the violent deaths in Brazil, especially with respect to those caused by firearms, in the 2016, is presented in the publication Violence Map. From 2003 to 2014, we can observe a 26.1% the number of homicides by firearms in the white population decreased by 26.1% while homicides of the Afro-Brazilian increased by 46.9%, as noted in the tale below.
Table 62
Number and Rates of Homicides by Firearms (for each 100 thousand people) according to color. Brazil, 2003/2014
Homicides by Firearms |
Rates (for each 100 thousand) |
||||||
White |
People of African descent |
White |
People of African descent |
||||
2003 |
2014 |
2003 |
2014 |
2003 |
2014 |
2003 |
2014 |
13 224 |
9 766 |
20 291 |
29 813 |
14.5 |
10.6 |
24.9 |
27.4 |
Source: Violence Map, 2016.
105.With respect to sex based crimes, rape and attempted rape cases registered by the police went respectively, from 22.8 and 2.2, in 2011, to 22.2 and 3.4, in 2015, per one hundred thousand people.
Table 63
Rates of sexual crimes for each 100,000 inhabitants and by type. Brazil, 2011 to 2015
Rape |
Rape attempt |
||||||||
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
22.8 |
25.9 |
25.4 |
24.9 |
22.2 |
2.2 |
3.0 |
2.4 |
3.9 |
3.4 |
Source : Brazilian Forum of Public Security, 2013 to 2016 Brazilian Annual Reports on Public Security.
106.Brazil (the Federal Government and the States of the Federation) allocates an average of 1.3% of its GDP for public security. The total expenditure is shown in the table below.
Table 64
Total expenses incurred with Public Security Services in current Reais (R$). Federal Government and Federative Units. Brazil, 2006 to 2014
Year |
Federal Government |
Total – Federative Units |
2006 |
4 438 869 383.16 |
35 224 631 863.76 |
2007 |
5 904 096 238.99 |
37 392 585 037.67 |
2008 |
7 023 318 467.41 |
39 417 481 233.10 |
2009 |
8 161 732 945.45 |
42 946 410 795.42 |
2010 |
7 779 444 615.76 |
40 418 313 510.12 |
2011 |
5 744 128 534.30 |
45 657 770 444.81 |
2012 |
7 878 515 352.99 |
44 906 552 377.41 |
2013 |
8 270 903 209.92 |
49 266 559 130.29 |
2014 |
8 945 185 000.00 |
59 305 236 705.05 |
2015 |
9 035 951 000.00 |
67 156 232 540.29 |
Source: Ministry of Economy and Brazilian Forum of Public Security, Brazilian Annual Reports on Public Security.
107.Public security expenditure on a per capita basis increased from R$184.19 to R$332.21 from 2007 until 2014, pursuant to the table below.
Table 65
Expense per capita with Public Security Services. Federal Government and Federative Units, 2007 to 2014
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
|
Total Federal Government and states |
184.19 |
208.47 |
238.29 |
236.94 |
274.22 |
272.12 |
286.17 |
332.21 |
Source: Ministry of Economy and Brazilian Forum of Public Security, Brazilian Public Security Yearbook.
108.According to the publication Profile of Brazilian states and cities of 2014, the country had over 540,000 active police officers, considering the sum of state police officers and civil police officers. The state police ratio per inhabitant is 1:47, and the civil police ratio is 1:1709.
Table 66
Effective contingent of the Military Police and of the Civil Police, by sex, in each of the Major Regions and Federative Units. Brazil, 2014
Military Police Contingent |
Civil Police Contingent |
|||||||
Sex |
Police/ inhabitants * |
Sex |
Police/ inhabitants * |
|||||
Total |
Men |
Women |
Total |
Men |
Women |
|||
Brazil |
425 248 |
383 410 |
41 838 |
1:473 |
117 642 |
86 637 |
31 005 |
1:1709 |
North |
42 129 |
36 914 |
5 215 |
1:403 |
12 182 |
8 323 |
3 859 |
1:1394 |
Northeast |
109 341 |
99 591 |
9 750 |
1:510 |
25 038 |
19 524 |
5 514 |
1:2228 |
Southeast |
186 219 |
167 784 |
18 435 |
1:454 |
55 094 |
41 034 |
14 060 |
1:1533 |
South |
49 430 |
44 120 |
5 310 |
1:583 |
13 380 |
9 282 |
4 098 |
1:2152 |
Midwest |
38 129 |
35 001 |
3 128 |
1:393 |
11 948 |
8 474 |
3 474 |
1:1255 |
Source: IBGE, 2014 Profile of Brazilian states and cities.
* Ratio calculated by reference to the estimated population on July 1, 2013, submitted to the Brazilian Federal Court of Auditors (TCU) on October 31, 2013.
109.According to data from the National Justice Council (CNJ), in 2015, the Judiciary Branch had 17,338 judges, which corresponds to 7.91 judges per one hundre thousand inhabitants.
110.In 2015, about 74 million legal cases were being processed by the Brazilian Judiciary Branch. Compared to 2014, the number increased by 1.9 million (3%) legal cases, despite the high productivity of the Judiciary Branch, which processed 104% of all cases, meaning that 1.2 million cases were closed in addition to the amount filed. On the other hand, in 2015, the amount of new legal cases decreased (-5.5%) for the first time in the historical series, with minus 1.6 million proceedings when compared to 2014. In 2015, there were 73.9 million legal cases pending trial, 28.5 million proceedings closed, and 27.3 million new cases filed.
111.In 2015, the work load per judge increased by 6.5%, reaching 6,577 cases, including proceedings pending trial or closed in the year. The productivity index for judges reached 1,760 cases per year, a 3.7% increase.
112.The total amount expenditure by the Judiciary Branch in 2015 reached R$79.2 billion, which corresponds to a 4.7% increase in comparison with 2014. The budget fo the Judiciary Branck is equivalent to 1.3% of the national GDP, amounting to R$387.56 per inhabitant.
113.Over the last few years, there has been an increase both in the number of public defenders in each federative unit and in the average annual budget. The State Public Defender’s Offices had an increase in budget, from R$68 million in 2009 to R$137 million in 2014. The annual budget of the Federal Public Defender’s Office increased from R$96 million in 2008 to R$365 million in 2014. The average number of public defenders per federative unit increased from 190 professionals in 2008 to 227 in 2014.
114.Whilst there was a significant increase in numbers of public defenders compared to the 2008, there are major differences between states.
Table 67
Ratio of state Public Defenders and target population per state. Brazil, 2008 and 2014
Federative Units |
2008 |
2014 |
||
Active Public Defenders |
Active Public Defenders |
Target population |
Ratio (Pop./Def.) |
|
Acre |
60 |
53 |
270,867 |
5,111 |
Alagoas |
30 |
72 |
1,255,235 |
17,434 |
Amazonas |
57 |
109 |
1 232 907 |
11 311 |
Amapa |
- |
- |
234 812 |
- |
Bahia |
201 |
267 |
6 279 654 |
23 519 |
Ceara |
252 |
284 |
3 850 129 |
13 557 |
Federal District |
160 |
191 |
904 741 |
4 737 |
Espirito Santo |
127 |
186 |
1 637 105 |
8 802 |
Goias |
- |
18 |
2 861 175 |
158 954 |
Maranhao |
46 |
142 |
2 622 931 |
18 471 |
Minas Gerais |
474 |
581 |
9 559 377 |
16 453 |
Mato Grosso do Sul |
148 |
173 |
1 129 880 |
6 531 |
Mato Grosso |
117 |
182 |
1 341 821 |
7 373 |
Para |
212 |
269 |
2 924 239 |
10 871 |
Paraiba |
327 |
245 |
1 718 460 |
7 014 |
Pernambuco |
- |
246 |
3 849 256 |
15 647 |
Piaui |
62 |
105 |
1 387 325 |
13 213 |
Parana |
- |
76 |
4 995 861 |
65 735 |
Rio de Janeiro |
720 |
771 |
6 929 053 |
8 987 |
Rio Grande do Norte |
- |
38 |
1 425 164 |
37 504 |
Rondonia |
25 |
64 |
680 909 |
10 639 |
Roraima |
38 |
39 |
158 303 |
4 509 |
Rio Grande do Sul |
345 |
379 |
5 424 244 |
14 312 |
Santa Catarina |
- |
101 |
3 140 015 |
31 089 |
Sergipe |
95 |
92 |
897 336 |
9 754 |
Sao Paulo |
397 |
719 |
17 932 005 |
24 940 |
Tocantins |
85 |
110 |
604 171 |
5 492 |
Source: Ministry of Justice and Public Security (MJSP), IV Diagnosis of the Public Defender ’ s Office in Brazil, 2015.
115.In 2016, the Federal Public Defender’s Office had 614 federal public defenders, an increase of 59 compared to 2014 and of 138 compared to 2010.
116.In view of Constitutional Amendment No. 80/2014, it is necessary to make further progress so that the goal of full coverage of the judiciary sections and subsections, for 2022, is duly achieved. Currently, the Public Defender’s Office covers 78 of the 276 judiciary sections and subsections in the country.
117.In 2016, the Federal Public Defender’s Office provided legal assistance to 631,671 persons and registered 1,611,252 services rendered. In 2014, the State Public Defender’s Offices registered 10,380,167 services and filed or replied to 2,078,606 suits.
Table 68
Requests for Legal Assistance by Persons being Prosecuted or Arrested
Year |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013* |
Total |
74 |
435 |
3 964 |
6 109 |
6 641 |
10 071 |
23 636 |
45 657 |
46 255 |
20 641 |
Source: Federal Public Defender ’ s Office, 2013 Electronic Legal Assistance Procedure.
118.The prison population in Brazil, in December 2014, comprised 622,202 persons.
Table 69
Distribution of arrested persons in the Prison System, by prison status (%). Brazil, 2013 and 2014
Convicted |
Safety Measure |
Temporary |
|||
2013 |
2014 |
2013 |
2014 |
2013 |
2014 |
59.2 |
61.2 |
0.7 |
0.5 |
40.1 |
38.3 |
Source: MJSP, National Prison Department (DEPEN) and Brazilian Forum on Public Security.
119.More than 40% of the total persons deprived of their liberty in Brazil are pre-trial detainees, amounting to more than 240 thousand persons. This situation derives from a number of factors, such as the long time taken by judicial cases and deficiency in legal aid.
120.The recently adopted Custody Hearings Program is a relevant action for address the high number of temporary detentions, as it determines the realization of hearings in all Brazilian states aiming at ensuring that all citizens accused of crimes may promptly appear before a judge. According to data by CNJ, after the start of the Program, until December 2016, it was possible to reduce the number of pre-trial detentions in almost 50%.
121.Finally, Brazil does not impose death penalty, according to article 5, XLVII, of its Federal Constitution of 1988.
iv.Cultural characteristics
122.While the official language of Brazil is Portuguese, many other languages are spoken in the country. The 2010 Census indicated that there are 274 indigenous languages, of which tikúna is the most spoken (34.1 thousand speakers). Out of the 786.7 thousand indigenous persons aged of 5 or above, 37.4% speak an indigenous language and 76.9% speak Portuguese. Recently, the Federal Government has implemented public policies to recover and preserve these languages. In education, the implementation of bilingual indigenous schools has supported the preservation of indigenous languages.
123.In addition, there are a number of languages and dialects spoken by descendants of immigrants, creole languages, differentiated linguistic practices spoken in the quilombos, and two sign languages, which together makes Brazil a multilingual country.
124.Regarding religion, the Brazilian State is secular, so it does not have an official religion, as provided for in the Brazilian Federal Constitution. The Constitution prohibits federal entities from establishing religious cults or churches, from funding them, hindering their operation, or maintaining dependence or alliance relationships with them or with their representatives, with the exception, as provided by law, of collaborations in the interest of the general public.
125.According to 2010 Census, 64.6% of Brazilians considered themselves to be Catholic, compared to over 93% in the 1960s. At the same time, the Evangelical population increased from 15.4% in 2000 to 22.2% in 2010. It was also possible to observe an increase in the number of Spiritists, from 1.3% of the population (2.3 million) in 2000 to 2.0% in 2010 (3.8 million), as well as in the number of persons declaring that they do not have any religion, from almost 12.5 million (7.3%) in 2000 to more than 15 million (8.0%) in 2010. Additionally, Brazilians that follow a religion of traditional African origin – such as Umbanda and Candomblé – remained around 0.3% of the population in 2010.
B.Constitutional, political, and legal structure of the State
i.Form of government
126.Brazil is a federal republic, resulting from the interrelation between the Federal Union, the States, Municipalities, and the Federal District. Brazil follows a democratic system of government, based on elected representatives for temporary terms of office, through direct and periodic elections. The country has a Presidential system where the President of the Republic is the head of the Government and of the State.
127.The Brazilian Federal Constitution of 1988 resulted from the re-democratization process that occurred in the country in the 1980s. It sets forth the fundamental rules governing the federation, the separation of powers, and the rights and guarantees. Among the fundamental principles that underpin the Constitution are: (i) sovereignty; (ii) citizenship; (iii) dignity of the human being; (iv) social values of work and free enterprise, and (v) political pluralism.
ii.Popular will, political parties, and electoral system
128.In Brazil, popular will is exercised by universal suffrage and by direct and secret voting, as provided by law, by means of plebiscites, referenda, and popular initiatives. Voting is mandatory for people over eighteen years of age and optional for the illiterate, those over seventy years of age, and those over sixteen and under eighteen years of age. Foreign residents do not enjoy the right to vote, with the exception of those naturalized as Brazilian citizens.
129.Since the enactment of the Brazilian Constitution, all national and sub-national elections took place within the terms established therein.
130.In the elections held in 2016, 146,470,948 people were eligible to vote, which corresponds to 71% of the total population.
Table 70
Eligible voting population. Brazil, 2010, 2012, 2014, and 2016
Election year |
Total population in Brazil |
Eligible voting population – total |
Eligible voting population in % of total population |
2010 |
190 732 694 |
135 804 433 |
71% |
2012 |
193 946 886 |
140 646 446 |
73% |
2014 |
201 032 714 |
142 822 046 |
71% |
2016 |
206 081 432 |
146 470 948 |
71% |
Source: Superior Electoral Court (TSE).
131.The number of voters who attended the general elections held in 2010 and 2014 was, respectively, 135,804,433 and 142,822,046.
Table 71
Number of voters. Brazil, 2010 and 2014
Election year |
Brazil |
Abroad |
Voting constituency |
2010 |
135 604 041 |
200 392 |
135 805 433 |
2014 |
142 467 862 |
354 184 |
142 822 046 |
Source: TSE.
132.Citizens and political parties may lodge appeals and complaints related to the electoral process. In the general elections held in 2010, 5,526 proceedings were filed with the Superior Electoral Court (TSE). Out of this total, by the end of July 2013, 4,610 proceedings had already been judged, which represents 83% of the total appeals received.
Table 72
Number of appeals, by type of illegal activity, processed in the Superior Electoral Court related to the 2010 general elections. Brazil, 2010
Type of illegal activity |
Total number |
Public Officials Prohibited Conducts |
169 |
Suffrage Fraud (purchase of votes) |
172 |
Abuse of Economic, Political, or Authority Power |
184 |
Nonconformities in Campaign Advertising |
2 034 |
Nonconformities in Fundraising and Financing activities of the Election Campaigns |
917 |
Requests for registration of candidacy in the 2010 elections |
2 050 |
Source: TSE.
133.The Brazilian Constitution establishes free organization of political parties, consolidation, merger, and cancellation; thus assuring that national sovereignty, the democratic system, the multiparty system, and the fundamental rights of the human being are protected. In August 2017, there were 35 political parties in Brazil.
Table 73
Political parties. Brazil, 2017
Name |
Acronym |
Date of Approval |
Brazilian Democratic Movement Party |
PMDB |
1981 |
Brazilian Labour Party |
PTB |
1981 |
Democratic Labour Party |
PDT |
1981 |
Workers’ Party |
PT |
1982 |
Democrats |
DEM |
1986 |
Communist Party of Brazil |
PCdoB |
1988 |
Brazilian Socialist Party |
PSB |
1988 |
Brazilian Social Democracy Party |
PSDB |
1989 |
Christian Labour Party |
PTC |
1990 |
Social Christian Party |
PSC |
1990 |
Party of National Mobilization |
PMN |
1990 |
Progressive Republican Party |
PRP |
1991 |
Popular Socialist Party |
PPS |
1992 |
Green Party |
PV |
1993 |
Labour Party of Brazil |
PTdoB |
1994 |
Progressive Party |
PP |
1995 |
Unified Workers’ Socialist Party |
PSTU |
1995 |
Brazilian Communist Party |
PCB |
1996 |
Brazilian Labour Renewal Party |
PRTB |
1995 |
Humanist Party of Solidarity |
PHS |
1997 |
Christian Social Democratic Party |
PSDC |
1997 |
Labour Cause’s Party |
PCO |
1997 |
Podemos |
PODE |
1997 |
Social Liberal Party |
PSL |
1998 |
Brazilian Republican Party |
PRB |
2005 |
Socialism and Liberty Party |
PSOL |
2005 |
Party of the Republic |
PR |
2006 |
Social Democratic Party |
PSD |
2011 |
Free Fatherland Party |
PPL |
2011 |
National Ecological Party |
PEN |
2012 |
Republican Party of the Social Order |
PROS |
2013 |
Solidariedade |
SD |
2013 |
New Party |
NOVO |
2015 |
Sustainability Network |
REDE |
2015 |
Party of the Brazilian Woman |
PMB |
2015 |
Source: TSE.
134.Following the 2018 legislative elections, both Houses of Congress, the House of Representatives and the Federal Senate, elected representatives, as described in the tables below.
Table 74
Groups of legislators by political party. House of Representatives. Brazil, 2019
Party/Block |
Number of members |
No Party |
1 |
Block PP, MDB, PTB |
85 |
PT |
54 |
PSL |
54 |
PL |
38 |
PSD |
36 |
PSB |
32 |
PRB |
31 |
PSDB |
30 |
DEM |
28 |
PDT |
27 |
SOLIDARIEDADE |
14 |
PODE |
11 |
PSOL |
10 |
PROS |
10 |
PCdoB |
8 |
PSC |
8 |
CIDADANIA |
8 |
NOVO |
8 |
AVANTE |
7 |
PATRIOTA |
5 |
PV |
4 |
PMN |
2 |
PHS |
1 |
REDE |
1 |
Total |
513 |
Table 75
Groups of legislators by political party. Federal Senate. Brazil, 2019
Party/Block |
Number of members |
PDT |
4 |
CIDADANIA |
3 |
PODEMOS |
8 |
PSD |
9 |
PSDB |
8 |
DEM |
6 |
PP |
6 |
MDB |
13 |
REDE |
3 |
PSL |
4 |
PT |
6 |
PSB |
3 |
PL |
2 |
PRB |
1 |
No Party |
1 |
PROS |
3 |
PSC |
1 |
Total |
81 |
Source: Federal Senate.
135.Regarding female share in the Brazilian Congress, in 1995, Law No. 9,100 was enacted, establishing that at least 20% of the candidates presented by each party or coalition should be women. In 1997, this proportion was changed to a minimum of 30%, which was confirmed by Superior Electoral Court in 2010.
136.In 2014, there was a significant growth in the number of women running for offices in the House of Representatives, reaching 1,765, in comparison to 935 in 2010, representing an 88.8% increase. Additionally, the number of women in the House increased by 13.3% compared to 2010, with 51 federal representatives elected. Women also obtained a record representation in the Federal Senate in 2014 elections, with a higher percentage of women elected, compared to 2010 and 2006. Of the total of 27 elected senators 5 were women, representing 18.5%.
Table 76
Distribution of women elected for the Federal Senate and the Chamber of Deputies. Brazil 2002, 2006, 2010 and 2014 (in %)
2002 |
2006 |
2010 |
2014 |
|
Federal Senate |
14.8 |
14.8 |
14.8 |
16.0 |
Chamber of Deputies |
8.2 |
8.8 |
8.8 |
9.9 |
Source: TSE.
iii.Social participation
137.The Brazilian Constitution provides for, in different articles, the principle of social participation, reaffirming and deepening the participative democracy in the country. The creation of spaces capable of incorporating the agendas and the interests of the various sectors of the society during the preparation and implementation of the public policies is deemed essential for the establishment of a relationship of co-responsibility between the Government and the society, and, equally, for ensuring a greater legitimacy to the decisions and actions of the government.
138.The Constitution provides for and ensures freedom of association. The recognition of entities depends only on the organization of their legal personalities, which, depending on their nature, require specific administrative proceedings, such as, for example, the registration of bylaws.
139.The coordination and organization of the relationships between the Government and civil society, within the scope of the Federal Executive Branch, are under the responsibility of the Government Secretariat of the Presidency of the Republic. The Secretariat is responsible for assisting directly the President of the Republic and other agencies of the federal public administration in the relationship and coordination with social movements, employers’ and workers’ associations, which includes the creation and implementation of channels that ensure consultation and popular participation in the discussion and the definition of the priority agenda of the country.
140.The types of dialogue that the Government has maintained with the civil society over the last few years include councils, present in all levels of the Federation, and national conferences about different subjects of interest to civil society.
141.The councils are collegiate bodies with the participation of representatives of the Executive Branch and of civil society, which are active in the preparation, implementation, and monitoring of public policies, thus ensuring that the rights provided for in the Brazilian Constitution are duly respected. The councils are not restricted to federal sphere, but are also present at the state and municipal levels.
142.The national conferences are an essential instrument of dialogue, debate, and collective construction of guidelines, having a key role in the conception, implementation, and monitoring of public policies. From 1941 to 2013, 138 national conferences took place, of which 97 occurred between 2003 and 2013, encompassing more than 43 sectorial areas in the municipal, regional, state, and national spheres. More than nine million persons participated in the debate on proposals for public policies related to different topics.
143.In addition to these spaces of participation, the country has other channels and actions enabling a more fluid interaction between the government and the civil society, such as dialogue meetings, ombudsmen, public hearings, social mobilization and participation plans, activities for monitoring social demands, social participation in the budget process, and participative audits, always keeping a dialogue with the organizations of the civil society and other entities, as partners.
iv.Means of communication
144.Based on data for 2015 regarding access to communication, television is still the most accessible means of communication in the residences, amounting to 97.1%. From 2005 until 2015 access to computers with Internet access and mobile and fixed line telephones, expanded respectively, 26.9% and a 21.9%.
Table 77
Proportion of permanent private residences with durable goods, by certain selected items. Brazil, 2005 to 2015
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
|
Telephone (landline or mobile) |
71.4 |
74.3 |
76.7 |
81.9 |
84.2 |
89.9 |
91.2 |
92.5 |
93.5 |
93.3 |
Television |
91.2 |
92.9 |
94.3 |
95.0 |
95.6 |
96.9 |
97.2 |
97.2 |
97.1 |
97.1 |
Microcomputers with Internet access |
13.6 |
16.8 |
20.0 |
23.8 |
27.4 |
36.6 |
40.3 |
42.4 |
42.1 |
40.5 |
Source: IBGE, 2014 and 2015 National Household Sample Survey (PNAD).
145.In 2015, 50% of the Brazilian households had access to a computer, and 51% had Internet access, amounting to approximately 34.1 million households. The growth in access to the Internet is significant, considering that only 18% of households had Internet access, in 2008. Compared to the previous year, the proportion of people accessing the Internet in 2015 through a mobile phone increased from 76% to 89%, while Internet access through computers decreased from 80% to 76%. Additionally, Wi-Fi connections registered a 13 percentage points growth, being present in 79% of the Brazilian residences.
146.The communications sector is regulated by Decree-Law No. 236/1967. Article 12 thereof defines the concentration limits related to the communications sector entities, which establish a maximum number of concessions or permits for radio and television broadcasting stations.
v.Political and administrative organization
The federal pact
147.The Brazilian federal system is composed of the Federal Government or Union, the 26 States, the 5,570 Municipalities, and the Federal District, with Brasília as the Federal Capital City. The three federative units have autonomy with respect to self-organization and laws and regulations, but are conditioned to the constitutional law.
148.The States are organized and governed by the constitutions and laws they themselves adopted, with due regard to the principles set forth in the Federal Constitution. They are responsible for the competences not prohibited by the Constitution. The States’ Executive Branch is represented by the Governor, elected every four years through universal, direct, and secret suffrage. The Governor is responsible for representing the Federative Unit before the Federal Government and the other states, coordinating the legal, political, and administrative relationships, and defending its autonomy. Each State has a Legislative Assembly, which is the body representing the Legislative Branch in the state sphere. The Assemblies are composed of state representatives elected every four years, through direct and secret vote, and the number of representatives is defined by the amount of inhabitants of each state, with the possibility of unlimited re-election.
149.Municipalities, on their turn, are organized and governed by an Organic Law, enjoying autonomy pursuant to the Federal Constitution and state constitutions. The Municipal Executive Branch is represented by the Mayor, elected for a four-year term of office, through direct and elections. The Mayor has political and administrative duties consolidated through legal and administrative acts and expressed through planning and implementation of municipal activities, public works and services. The Legislative Branch is represented by the City Council, elected for four-year terms of office, through direct and secret vote, respecting the composition of the number of inhabitants in the cities, with the possibility of unlimited re-election.
150.The Federal Constitution established a general rule for the Federal Government not to intervene in the internal affairs of the States and in the Federal District, except in the cases expressly authorized therein. In this regard, it is essential to point out that one of the possibilities of federal intervention is, precisely, the need for the Federal Government to ensure the respect of human rights.
151.As a rule, the investigation and punishment of most human rights violations are. Nevertheless, the Federal Constitution stipulates that cases of serious violations can be elevated to the federal level. Thus, in cases of serious violations of human rights, the Prosecutor General of the Republic may evoke, before the Superior Court of Justice (STJ) a motion to change the jurisdiction of proceedings to the Federal Courts, in order to ensure the respect for international human rights treaties to Brazil is a party.
The branches of the Republic
152.The Brazilian Government is organized in three Branches: the Legislative Branch, the Executive Branch, and the Judiciary Branch. They are independent and harmonious with each other, pursuant to the Federal Constitution.
Executive Branch
153.At the federal level, the power of the Executive Branch is exercised by the President of the Republic, with support from the Ministers. The election of the President and the Vice-President of the Republic is held, simultaneously, ninety days before the end of the term of office of the current President, for a four-year term of office, with the possibility of running for re-election for an additional term. The candidate receiving the absolute majority of votes, disregarding blank and null votes, shall be elected President.
154.The Executive Branch is composed of direct managerial bodies, such as the federal ministries, and indirect management agencies, such as governmental entities and other independent agencies. The formulation, implementation, and monitoring of federal public policies are a responsibility of the ministries, special offices, independent agencies, regulatory agencies, and councils.
155.The Executive Branch also has a role, together with the Legislative Branch, in the drafting of bills, approval and vetoing of laws. In case of importance and urgency, it may propose provisional measures and amendments to the Constitution, complementary and ordinary bills, and delegated laws.
Legislative Branch
156.The federal Legislative Branch is composed of the Federal Senate and the House of Representatives, which, together, form the National Congress. The Federal Audit Court (TCU) is part of the Legislative Branch, tasked with the role of control and inspection of the public administration.
157.The House of Representatives represents the people, based on a system of proportional representation, with a minimum of eight and a maximum of seventy representatives by each Federative Unit, amounting to 513 representatives, serving for a four-year term, with the possibility of unlimited re-election.
158.In 1995, the House of Representatives established a Human Rights and Minorities Commission, responsible for, among other duties, receiving, evaluating and investigating human rights violation reports and inspecting and monitoring the implementation of governmental programs in this sector.
159.The Federal Senate represents the 26 States and the Federal District. Each one of the federative units elects three senators, amounting to 81 senators. Every four years, the States and the Federal District alternately elect one and two Senators to serve for an eight-year term, with possibility of unlimited re-election.
160.In 2005, the Federal Senate established the Human Rights and Participative Legislative Commission, which is responsible for discussing bills, monitoring public policies, and coordination with the civil society aiming at promoting human rights.
Judiciary Branch
161.The Judiciary Branch is responsible for administering the law and punishing perpetrators. By the Constitution, it is ensured administrative and financial autonomy. Among its bodies are the Brazilian Supreme Court (STF), the National Justice Council, the Superior Court of Justice, the Federal Regional Courts and Federal Judges, the Labor Courts and Judges, the Electoral Courts and Judges, the Military Courts and Judges, and the Courts and Judges of the States and Federal District and Territories. Thus, the Brazilian Judiciary Branch is divided into common courts (federal and state) and specialized courts (military, electoral, and labor).
162.In 2004, through a constitutional amendment, the National Justice Council was created, with a view to controlling the administrative and financial actions of the Judiciary Branch and the discharge of the duties of judges. The Council is composed of 15 members who serve for a two-year term, with the participation of judges, public prosecutors and public defenders, attorneys and citizens appointed by the House of Representatives and Federal Senate.
Essential duties of the Courts
163.In discharging its the legal duties, the Courts are assisted by the Office of the Attorney General, by private law firms, by the Prosecution Service, and by the Public Defender’s Office, which are institutions essential for ensuring the respect of human rights.
164.The public legal practice is exercised by the Office of the Attorney General of the Union (AGU), which is responsible for assisting and guiding the President of the Republic and the Ministers, its independent agencies, and public foundations, in matters of legal nature and in the internal control of the legality of the administrative acts. Additionally, AGU is in charge of suggesting measures of a legal nature for the public interest and of representing the Federal Government in Court in cases where it is the claimant, defendant, or interested third-party.
165.Private legal practice is organized under the Brazilian Bar Association (OAB), an independent body without functional or hierarchical relation with Public Administration agencies. It is tasked to defend the Constitution, the democratic rule of law, human rights, social justice, as well as promote, exclusively, representation, defense, selection, and discipline of attorneys throughout the country. The Federal Constitution establishes that legal practice is essential to the administration of justice. Lawyers are inviolable for their acts and opinions in the exercise of their occupation, within the limits of the law.
166.The Prosecution Service, created by the Brazilian Federal Constitution of 1988, is an independent government agency with functional, administrative, and financial autonomy. It is not part of any of the three Branches. It is responsible for defending the legal order, the democratic system and unalienable social and individual rights. The agency is headed by the Prosecutor General of the Republic and governed by the institutional principles of functional unity, indivisibility and independence. It may not be extinguished nor have its duties passed on to another institution.
167.The Prosecution Service of the Federal Government (MPU) is composed by the Federal Prosecution Service (MPF), the Labor Prosecution Service (MPT), the Military Prosecution Service (MPM), the Federal District and Territory Prosecution Service (MPDFT), and the State Prosecution Services (MPEs).
168.In addition to the traditional role of monitoring the implementation of the law and public prosecutor, the Prosecution Service is responsible for receiving the complaints and filing suits as the lead plaintiff representing the interested parties by virtue of violation of economic, social, and cultural rights.
169.The Public Defender’s Office is a permanent institution, integrating the Executive Branch. It is mainly responsible for providing legal services, promoting human rights and defending, at all levels, judicially and extrajudicially, all individual and collective rights, fully and freely, to those that cannot afford private legal representation.
170.The Federal Public Defender’s Office (DPU) exercises this role at the federal level, while the State Public Defender’s Offices operate in the States of the Federation. Constitutional Amendment No. 45/2004 granted financial and budgetary autonomy to the Defender’s Offices, contributing to a higher independence of the defenders and to structural improvements in the institution, as well as to an expansion of access to the Courts throughout the country.
II.General framework for protection and promotion of human rights
A.Acceptance of the international human rights rules
171.Most of the international human rights treaties were ratified by Brazil after its re-democratization process, which began in 1985. As noted in the tables below, Brazil is a party to the main instruments related to human rights, international humanitarian law, international criminal law, rights of refugees, and international labor law.
172.Additionally, the Brazilian Government maintains a standing invitation to human rights special procedures of the United Nations System. Altogether, the country has already received more than 20 visits of special rapporteurs and independent experts in various areas of expertise, in addition to the special representative of the Secretary-General for Human Rights Defenders, which brought positive contributions, with useful diagnoses and recommendations with respect to some of the main challenges that Brazil faces.
173.In 1998, Brazil ratified the Statute of the Hague Conference on Private International Law, and resumed its participation in the Conference in 2000. The country is also a party to a series of private international law treaties under the Organization of American States. Accordingly, many of the topics at the international level are addressed in inter-American conventions of private international law. Thus, Brazil recognizes the relevance of treaties regarding letters rogatory and arbitration for access to the courts.
174.The Brazilian Government is a party to the main human rights instruments. In 1998, Brazil accepted the mandatory jurisdiction of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. The breadth and scope of the treaties ratified by Brazil are a testament to the commitment of the country regarding the importance of the international and regional systems of protection of human rights.
175.Finally, it is worth highlighting that, in 2017, after presenting its national human rights report, Brazil accepted all but 4 of the 246 recommendations made to the country for the third cycle of the Universal Periodic Review of the Human Rights Council. Together with the other international commitments made by Brazil, the UPR recommendations will guide Brazilian public policies and actions for human rights in the next four years. The Brazilian Government has paid special attention with respect to the promotion and projection of the human beings, their integrity, and their dignity.
1.Main International Human Rights Instruments
Treaty |
Ratification/Accession |
Declarations/Reservations |
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights |
1992 |
|
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights |
1992 |
|
International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination |
1968 |
Yes (declaration of recognition of the competence of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination ) |
Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women |
1984 |
Yes (reservation to article 29, paragraph 1) |
Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment |
1989 |
Yes (declaration of recognition of the competence of the Committee against Torture) |
Convention on the Rights of the Child |
1990 |
|
Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict |
2004 |
Yes (declaration regarding article 143 of the Brazilian Federal Constitution) |
Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography |
2004 |
|
Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights |
2009 |
|
Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty |
2009 |
Yes (reservation to article 2) |
Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women |
2002 |
|
Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment |
2007 |
|
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities |
2008 |
|
Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities |
2008 |
|
International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance |
2010 |
2.Other Human Rights Conventions
Treaty |
Ratification/Accession |
Declarations/Reservations |
Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide |
1952 |
Yes (declaration on the reservations made to the Convention by some countries) |
Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and of the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others |
1958 |
|
Convention relating to the Status of Refugees |
1960 |
|
Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons |
1996 |
|
Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness |
2007 |
Yes (declaration regarding article 8, paragraph 3, a, ii) |
Statute of the International Criminal Court |
2002 |
|
United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime |
2004 |
|
Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime |
2004 |
|
Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime |
2004 |
3.International Labor Organization – ILO Covenants
Convention |
Title |
Ratification |
14 |
Weekly Rest (Industry) Convention |
1957 |
29 |
Forced Labor Convention |
1957 |
81 |
Labor Inspection Convention |
1989 |
97 |
Migration for Employment Convention (Revised) |
1965 |
98 |
Right to Organize and Collective Bargaining Convention |
1952 |
100 |
Equal Remuneration Convention |
1957 |
102 |
Social Security (Minimum Standards) Convention |
2009 |
105 |
Abolition of Forced Labor Convention |
1965 |
106 |
Weekly Rest (Commerce and Offices) Convention |
1965 |
111 |
Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention |
1965 |
118 |
Equality of Treatment (Social Security) Convention |
1969 |
122 |
Employment Policy Convention |
1969 |
131 |
Minimum Wage Fixing Convention |
1983 |
132 |
Holidays with Pay Convention (Revised) |
1998 |
138 |
Minimum Age Convention |
2001 |
151 |
Labor Relations (Public Service) Convention |
2010 |
155 |
Occupational Safety and Health Convention |
1992 |
169 |
Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention |
2002 |
182 |
Worst Forms of Child Labor Convention |
2000 |
4.United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization – UNESCO Conventions
Treaty |
Ratification/Accession |
Convention against Discrimination in Education |
1968 |
5.Hague Conference on Private International Law Conventions
Treaty |
Ratification/Accession |
Declarations/Reservations |
Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption |
1999 |
Yes (declaration regarding art. 22, item 4) |
Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction |
1999 |
Yes (reservation to art. 24) |
Convention on International Access to Justice |
2011 |
Yes (declaration regarding art. 7, paragraph 2; art. 24; art. 28, paragraph 2; and art. 29) |
6.Geneva Conventions and other Conventions on International Humanitarian Law
Treaty |
Ratification/Accession |
Geneva Convention (I) for the Amelioration of the Condition of the Wounded and Sick in Armed Forces in the Field |
1957 |
Geneva Convention (II) for the Amelioration of the Condition of Wounded, Sick and Shipwrecked Members of Armed Forces at Sea |
1957 |
Geneva Convention (III) relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War |
1957 |
Geneva Convention (IV) relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War |
1957 |
Protocol Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, and relating to the Protection of Victims of International Armed Conflicts (Protocol I) |
1992 |
Protocol Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, and relating to the Protection of Victims of Non-International Armed Conflicts (Protocol II) |
1992 |
Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction |
1999 |
7.Organization of American States (OAS) Conventions
Treaties |
Ratification/ Adherence |
Declarations/Reservations |
|
Inter-American Convention on the Granting of Political Rights to Women |
1950 |
||
Inter-American Convention on the Granting of Civil Rights to Women |
1952 |
||
Charter of the Organization of American States |
1950 |
||
Convention on Diplomatic Asylum |
1957 |
||
Convention on Territorial Asylum |
1964 |
||
Protocol of Amendment to the Charter of the Organization of American States (“Protocol of Buenos Aires”) |
1968 |
||
American Convention on Human Rights (Pact of San Jose, Costa Rica) |
1992 |
Yes (interpretative declaration regarding articles 43 and 48, D, and recognition of the mandatory jurisdiction of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights) |
|
Convention to Prevent and Punish the Acts of Terrorism Taking the Forms of Crimes Against Persons and Related Extortion that are of International Significance |
1999 |
||
Inter-American Convention on Conflict of Laws Concerning the Adoption of Minors |
1997 |
||
Inter-American Convention on Personality and Capacity of Juridical Persons in Private International Law |
1997 |
||
Inter-American Convention to Prevent and Punish Torture |
1989 |
||
Protocol of Amendment to the Charter of the Organization of American States (Protocol of Cartagena) |
1988 |
||
Additional Protocol to the American Convention on Human Rights in the Area of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (“Protocol of San Salvador”) |
1996 |
||
Inter-American Convention on Support Obligations |
1997 |
||
Inter-American Convention on the International Return of Children |
1994 |
||
Protocol to the American Convention on Human Rights to Abolish the Death Penalty |
1996 |
Yes (reservation under art. 2) |
|
Protocol of Amendments to the Charter of the Organization of American States |
1994 |
||
Protocol of Amendment to the Charter of the Organization of American States (“Protocol of Managua”) |
1995 |
||
Inter-American Convention on the Prevention, Punishment and Eradication of Violence Against Women (“Convention of Belém do Pará”)) |
1995 |
||
Inter-American Convention on International Traffic in Minors |
1997 |
||
Inter-American Convention Against Corruption |
2002 |
Yes (reservation to art. XI, paragraph 1,item c) < |