Over the past 22 years, the population in Brazil with a college degree has grown 2.7-fold. According to data from the 2022 Demographic Census, released by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) in the last week of February, the population with a college degree more than doubled, rising from 6.8% in 2000 to 18.4% in 2022. Despite this progress, regional and racial inequality remain challenges to be addressed.

An analysis by region shows that access to higher education remains unequal in Brazil. While the Midwest (21.8%), Southeast (21%), and South (20%) have higher percentages, the North (14.4%) and Northeast (13%) have the lowest rates.

According to IBGE analyst Juliana Queiroz, the figures illustrate significant changes that have taken place in Brazil in recent years. “The proportion of Black and mixed-race people aged 25 or older with a college degree in Brazil has increased fivefold over the past 20 years. However, we still see inequality,” she said. “In 2022, a quarter of the white population had completed higher education. This is more than double the proportion among Black people, at 11.7%, and mixed-race people, at 12.3%.”

Among the most popular college majors, business, management, and law top the list, followed by health and wellness, and education. However, there are significant differences among these majors.

"Medicine, for example, stands out because it has the highest percentage of people who identify as white—75.5 percent. Economics and dentistry show similar results, with about 75% of people who have completed a degree in these fields identifying as white,” Juliana noted. “At the opposite end of the spectrum, social work stands out as a field with a higher percentage of Black and brown people, totaling more than 50%.”

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Early Childhood Education: Progress and Challenges

With regard to early childhood education, the percentage of children up to age three enrolled in programs rose from 9.4% in 2000 to 33.9% in 2022. Despite this progress, the country has not yet met the target set by the National Education Plan (PNE), which called for serving at least 50% of children in this age group by 2025.

Among children aged four to five, the enrollment rate rose from 51.4% to 86.7%. Regional inequality in this group is lower, with the Northeast (89.7%), Southeast (88.9%), South (86.7%), and Midwest (80.5%) all above the national average. The North has the lowest rate (76.2%), but it is still close to the national average.

The PNE’s goal for this age group—to achieve universal access to education by 2016—was not met either. “We are getting closer to this goal, but we haven’t reached 100% yet,” says IBGE researcher Juliana Queiroz.

The Role of the Census in Public Policy Formulation

Gustavo Junger, the IBGE’s Director of Research, highlighted the importance of the Census in producing essential data for public policy. “The Census is one of the largest statistical operations conducted in the country, capable of providing detailed information for all municipalities,” he said.

In light of environmental challenges, Junger also announced a new study to assess the impacts of the tragedy that occurred in the state of Rio Grande do Sul in April 2024. “Our goal is to provide previously unpublished information about the situation in Brazil,” he explained.

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