IBGE

IBGE, Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística, is the Brazilian federal government agency responsible for official geographic, demographic, and statistical information. It coordinates the census, surveys, and the production of geographic data, and disseminates results to inform public policy, planning, and research. It maintains the country’s geographic framework, statistical indicators, and cartographic records.

Created in 1936 through the reorganization of Brazil’s statistical and geographic services, IBGE has evolved into the primary source of data on population, economy, and territory. Its core activities include the Demographic Census (Censo Demográfico), traditionally held every ten years; the PNAD Contínua, a continuous household survey; agricultural censuses; and various economic and environmental statistics. It also develops and updates Brazil’s official geographic base and cartography.

IBGE publishes data through the SIDRA portal, for statistical tables and indicators, as well as periodic publications such as Atlas do Brasil, the Brazilian Statistical Yearbook, and regional profiles. The data underpin national accounts, GDP calculations, inflation measures, and development planning; they are widely used by government agencies, researchers, businesses, and international organizations.

The organization works to maintain methodological quality and transparency and to ensure accessibility of information. While it faces budgetary and operational challenges, it remains the central authority for official statistics in Brazil, coordinating with other public institutions to improve data collection, harmonization, and dissemination.