4.2.b Brazil Migration

Current patterns of immigration and emigration

Net loss of 1 million between 2000-2009
Net loss has slowed to 190,000 between 2010-2014
Increased migration between neighbouring countries, in particular, the Mercosur members as migration is easier
Slowing down of emigration of lower-skilled economic migrants to the USA
Increased emigration of highly-skilled workers to Europe, USA and Japan
Increase in immigrants from Haiti (earthquake) and West African countries using Ecuador and Chile as transit countries
Rise in labour migrants due to the World Cup in 2014 and the Olympics in 2016
Strong internal migration from northeast to southeast due to the largest cities being in the southeast

1 of 6

Throughout the 20th Century, Brazil was a net recipient of immigrants
Europeans were attracted to Brazil due to the fertile soils which are great for coffee
Japanese were attracted to Brazil for the industrial sectors
Economic migration from surrounding countries, in particular, Argentina and Paraguay
Political migration from Bolivia, Angola and Lebanon
Immigration into Brazil has slowed in the last 15 years
Emigration out of Brazil has increased in the last 15 years
1.77 million Brazilian-born people now live abroad
Many highly-skilled Brazilians are emigrating for economic reasons to ACs
Main destinations
- 370,000 - USA, Japan
- 140,000 - Portugal
Main country of birth
- 140,000 - Portugal
- 50,000 - Japan
- 20,000 - USA

2 of 6

Long bi-lateral relationship
Politically, economically and socially similar countries
Brazil is a former colony of Portugal
For economic migrants, Portugal is a gateway to the EU for Brazilians wanting to live in Europe
Shared language and ancestry
Both have a well-developed diaspora
Migrant remittances in both directions

3 of 6

Many Brazilians migrate to the USA for both low-skilled and high-skilled jobs
Remittances are sent back to Brazil
Brazilians learn skills and then return to Brazil contributing to Brazilian development
Highly-skilled Brazilians migrating to the USA is increasing in recent years, in particular, in the tertiary sector
Strong links to education and teacher training
There have been trading agreements between Brazil and the USA in agriculture, trade, finance, education and defence
USAID helps Brazil with environmental support such as helping tribes to protect their land from forest fires to help forest governance and management

4 of 6

It is quite easy for Haitians to receive Brazilian visas
This is to reduce vulnerability to human trafficking
The devastating earthquake in 2010 caused humanitarian issues so many migrated to Brazil
The earthquake displaced 1.5 million people
Many Haitians are taking low-skilled jobs in Rio and other cities in southeast Brazil
They mainly work in agriculture

5 of 6

Immigration has positively impacted growth in the agriculture and manufacturing sectors
The recent arrival of highly-skilled professionals have contributed to entrepreneurship and innovation whilst reducing gaps in the labour market
Emigration to ACs has resulted in large amounts of remittances which boosts the Brazilian economy. Remittances amounted to $2.4 billion in 2014, 0.1% of GDP

Stable member of Mercosur providing free flow of trade and capital promoting integration
Stable bi-lateral flows with countries such as Portugal and the USA
An important receiver of environmental and political refugees by providing work visas

Inequalities between different ethnic groups. Mainly Brazilians of African descent
Housing provisions, access to services educational attainment and income
Poverty is generally in rural areas and in favelas which is where immigrants tend to live
Prejudice and discrimination in the labour market against black populations

6 of 6