Case study Brazil – Corridors of Migrant flows creating interdependence
between countries
Introduction:
- 211 million population
- Brazil is the 9th largest economy in the world
- Leading economic power in Latin America
- GDP per capita significant increase from $4874 in 2007
up to $9000 in 2023
- Apart of BRIC (trade block including Brazil, Russia, India,
China)
- 69% of GDP is the service industry
- Population structure has a declining aging population &
birth rate
Current patterns of immigration and emigration:
- Net migration loss = more emigration than migration into Brazil
- Net migration loss of 1 million from 2000 to 2009
- Slows to 190k from 2010-2014
- 2024, net migration loss of 225,000
- Increased migration between Brazil and neighbouring Mercosur countries (South
American trade block) & Andean states – Chile, Peru, Bolivia
- Increased emigration of highly skilled workers to USA, Europe and Japan.
- Decrease in low skill economic migrants into the USA
- Rise in economic labour migrants coming to Brazil triggered by rapid urbanisation,
2016 Olympics and 2014 FIFA world cup
- Increased migration from Haiti post 2010 port au prince earthquake
- Increased migration from Africa via transit countries (Ecuador/Chile)
- Strong internal rural to urban migration
Changes in immigration patterns over time:
- Portuguese colonisers settled in Brazil in the 16th century
- Brazil used for slavery - established sugar-plantation based economy.
- From the 16th to 20th centuries, Brazil imported 4 million slaves.
- In 1891, a legislation was imposed granting religious freedom in Brazil to attract
white protestant immigration. At this time, immigration from Asia and Africa
(excluding Japan) was banned.
between countries
Introduction:
- 211 million population
- Brazil is the 9th largest economy in the world
- Leading economic power in Latin America
- GDP per capita significant increase from $4874 in 2007
up to $9000 in 2023
- Apart of BRIC (trade block including Brazil, Russia, India,
China)
- 69% of GDP is the service industry
- Population structure has a declining aging population &
birth rate
Current patterns of immigration and emigration:
- Net migration loss = more emigration than migration into Brazil
- Net migration loss of 1 million from 2000 to 2009
- Slows to 190k from 2010-2014
- 2024, net migration loss of 225,000
- Increased migration between Brazil and neighbouring Mercosur countries (South
American trade block) & Andean states – Chile, Peru, Bolivia
- Increased emigration of highly skilled workers to USA, Europe and Japan.
- Decrease in low skill economic migrants into the USA
- Rise in economic labour migrants coming to Brazil triggered by rapid urbanisation,
2016 Olympics and 2014 FIFA world cup
- Increased migration from Haiti post 2010 port au prince earthquake
- Increased migration from Africa via transit countries (Ecuador/Chile)
- Strong internal rural to urban migration
Changes in immigration patterns over time:
- Portuguese colonisers settled in Brazil in the 16th century
- Brazil used for slavery - established sugar-plantation based economy.
- From the 16th to 20th centuries, Brazil imported 4 million slaves.
- In 1891, a legislation was imposed granting religious freedom in Brazil to attract
white protestant immigration. At this time, immigration from Asia and Africa
(excluding Japan) was banned.
