microrregião

A microrregião is a term used in Brazil to denote a geographical subdivision of a mesoregion. These areas are characterized by similarities in economic, social, and demographic aspects, as well as shared infrastructure and development challenges. They are not administrative units but rather statistical and planning instruments.

The concept of microrregiões was established by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) as a way to organize regional planning and data collection. Each microrregião is typically composed of several municipalities that exhibit strong functional interdependencies, often centered around a larger urban pole that provides services and employment opportunities to surrounding smaller towns.

The primary purpose of defining microrregiões is to facilitate the understanding of regional disparities and to guide public policies aimed at promoting balanced development. By grouping municipalities with similar characteristics, it becomes easier to identify specific needs and to design targeted interventions for economic growth, infrastructure improvement, and social programs.

The IBGE periodically revises the territorial divisions, including the definition of microrregiões, to reflect changes in settlement patterns, economic activities, and demographic trends across the country. While not having political power, these geographical groupings are crucial for development planning and statistical analysis in Brazil.