Brazil sees growth in number of indigenous language speakers

According to the 2022 Demographic Census by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), Brazil currently has 433,980 indigenous people aged five and older who speak indigenous languages, a 47.7 per cent increase compared to 2010. Additionally, the number of speakers living outside indigenous territories has more than doubled, rising from 44,590 to 96,685 people over the past 12 years.

The census identified 295 indigenous languages, compared to 274 in 2010, with the largest concentrations found in Amazonas, Mato Grosso do Sul, and Mato Grosso. Among the most widely spoken languages are Tikuna (51,978 speakers), Guarani Kaiowa (38,658), and Guajajara (29,212), while Nheengatu is the most common in urban areas.

According to Fernando Damasco from IBGE, this growth reflects an increasing movement among indigenous communities to preserve and revitalise their languages, supported by education policies and linguistic recognition. This information was shared by BRICSLat, a partner of TV BRICS.

The census also highlighted the importance of mapping language speakers to guide public policies that support the preservation and official recognition of indigenous languages across municipalities in the country.

Photo: Rudolf Ernst / iStock