Itamaraty says that approximately 4.5 million Brazilians live abroad

The number of Brazilians who decided to leave Brazil to live in other countries grew 44% in the last 13 years, according to data released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In 2009, there were around 3.18 million Brazilians residing abroad, a number that jumped to 4.59 million in 2022, which would be equivalent, in terms of population in Brazil, to Paraíba, the 13th most populous state in the country. Most emigrants live in North America (45.19%) and Europe (32.42%), but there are Brazilians in all corners of the world, including a single one who lives in North Korea.

The main communities are in the United States, where there are 1.9 million residents; Portugal, with 360 thousand; and Paraguay, a neighboring country, where 254,000 Brazilians live. In the Federated States of Micronesia, in Oceania, and in São Cristóvão and Neves, in the Caribbean, there is also only one Brazilian resident. According to the Itamaraty, there are countries that do not have Brazilians, such as Afghanistan, Libya, São Vicente and the Grenadines, Kiribati, Tonga, Samoa and Solomon Islands.

According to the ministry, the five general consulates with the highest concentrations of Brazilians –New York, Boston, Miami, Lisbon and London– are responsible for more than 1.6 million citizens, equivalent to the population of Recife (PE). Itamaraty points out that the data are only estimated, since the consular registration of nationals abroad is not mandatory.

Largest Brazilian communities by country

1st – United States (1.9 million)
2nd – Portugal (360 thousand)
3rd – Paraguay (254 thousand)
4th – United Kingdom (220 thousand)
5th – Japan (206,990)

Countries with less than five Brazilians

1st – North Korea (1)
2nd – Micronesia (1)
3rd – Saint Kitts and Nevis (1)
4th – Antigua and Barbuda (2)
5th – Tajikistan (4)