Brazilian emigration reached record numbers in 2024, with around 4,9 million Brazilians living abroad, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Itamaraty). As the data refers to the year 2023, it is estimated that there are already 5 million living outside the country.
This contingent already exceeds the population of states such as Paraíba, Amazonas, Espírito Santo or Mato Grosso, as well as countries such as Norway, Uruguay, Croatia and Ireland.
The search for better living conditions has been the main reason for this phenomenon.
In 2023, approximately 400 Brazilians left the country, an increase of around 9% compared to the previous year.
The majority of emigrants are young and qualified professionals, which worsens the lack of labor in Brazil.
Favorite destinations
The United States leads as the main destination, hosting around 1,9 million Brazilians.
Other countries with large numbers of emigrants include Portugal (360), Paraguay (254) and the United Kingdom (220). Italy ranks seventh preferred by Brazilians, with around 162 thousand immigrants.
The global distribution is as follows:
- North America: 45%
- Europe: 32%
- South America: 14%
- Asia: 5%
- Middle East and Oceania: 1,2% each
economic impacts
In 2023, Brazil received US$3,9 billion (around R$23 billion) in remittances sent by Brazilians abroad, according to the Central Bank, representing a significant contribution to the national economy.
If Brazilian expatriates were considered an “export product”, they would occupy 13th place on the list of Brazil’s biggest “sales” in 2023.
These figures demonstrate the economic importance of the diaspora. Nevertheless, the ongoing exodus is a cause for concern, especially given the profile of the emigrants. The departure of qualified young people creates challenges for strategic sectors of the economy.
Context and evolution
Although Brazil has not faced any wars or major disasters, the number of Brazilians leaving the country has been increasing. Since 2016, emigration has been on a steady rise, reversing the declines observed between 2010 and 2012.
The Brazilian diaspora is the result of internal difficulties related to politics and lack of security, combined with the search for better opportunities and quality of life abroad.
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