2022 Census: quilombola population has a young profile and is mostly male

Quilombola populations have a younger profile than that observed in the total population of Brazil. Furthermore, in quilombola territories, the presence of men occurs in a much higher proportion than the general average for the country. Information related to the age and sex of quilombolas mapped in the 2022 Census was released this Friday (3) by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE).

It is the first time that a Demographic Census has provided specific data on these populations. The general results released by IBGE last year revealed the existence of 1,330,186 quilombolas, which represents 0.66% of all residents in the country. The data also showed that these populations are distributed across 1,700 municipalities. The Northeast Region concentrates 68.1% of all quilombolas in the country.

The statistics on age and sex were presented by IBGE as another step in detailing data from the 2022 Census. They provide information on the total quilombola populations in general and there is also a section involving only residents in the 495 officially delimited quilombola territories, the which includes all those who already have formal delimitation in the land collection of the National Institute of Colonization and Agrarian Reform (Incra) or bodies with land powers in states and municipalities. Data shows that they are home to 12% of the total number of quilombolas.

Age

Age data show that 48.44% of quilombolas are 29 years old or younger and 38.53% are in the age group between 30 and 59 years old. Elderly people aged 60 or over represent 13.03%.

One of the main data that reveals the younger profile of quilombola populations is the median age. It divides the population in half: the lower it is, it means there is a higher proportion of young people.

In the case of the country’s general population, the 2022 Census showed a median of 35 years. Among the quilombolas, it was 31 years old. When only those residing in delimited quilombola territories are considered, the median drops to 28, which indicates an even younger population profile.

IBGE researchers cite cultural elements and favorable conditions for these populations to continue housing larger families within the territories. One of the factors would be community life, which would allow, for example, greater support in caring for children.

Another data that contributes to the comparison is the aging index, which indicates how many elderly people aged 60 or over exist for each group of 100 people aged 0 to 14. Considering the entire population of Brazil, this rate is 80. Among quilombolas, it is 54.98.

“In areas with a high concentration of the quilombola population, we find lower aging rates. We can highlight the entire Amazon River channel and the entire semi-arid region between Bahia, Alagoas and Pernambuco”, observes Fernando Damasco, IBGE researcher.

He highlights, however, that in the South and Southeast regions there is a different reality. “This trend to a certain extent also follows the age structure of these regions, which also show a more present aging process in the non-quilombola population. But it can also denote the dynamics of displacement and migration that can affect the quilombola population”, assesses Damasco, adding that More studies will be needed to understand demographic phenomena.

Despite the younger profile, IBGE researchers observe that the base of the age pyramid has been shortening. Below 15 years of age, the age groups record decreasing populations. This indicates a possible gradual decline in fertility over the last 15 years.

Sex

According to the 2022 Census, Brazil has 94.25 men for every 100 women. But when looking at just the quilombola population, there are 100.08 men for every 100 women. Considering only residents in delimited quilombola territories, this proportion increases even further: 105.89 men for every 100 women.

The researchers raise some hypotheses that would explain these data, but highlight the need for additional studies. Among them is lower male mortality, which could be related to greater security in the delimited territories. Furthermore, they suggest carrying out research on maternal mortality in the territories and on a possible greater migration of women to other locations.

“We may have to deepen studies to understand the differentiation between quilombolas who are in formally recognized areas and those who are in other territorial situations, including urban areas”, adds Damasco.