Black women reach record numbers in Brazilian Congress

The number of Black women elected to the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies has increased from one to 29 over a 38-year period, reaching a historic high in 2026. While representation is growing, Black women still make up only 28.3% of the Brazilian population, indicating a lack of proportional representation in political institutions.

Projections based on data from 2014 to 2022 suggest that gender parity in the Chamber of Deputies and State Assemblies may not be achieved until 2062 if current growth rates persist. However, racial proportionality is expected to be reached sooner, potentially by 2046.

Research highlights that many Black women in Congress reached their positions through community leadership, student movements, or labor unions rather than traditional political starting points. The Brazilian Center for Climate Justice (CBJC) launched a timeline titled “Black Women in Brazilian Politics” to document these trajectories and address the historical inequalities stemming from centuries of slavery and political exclusion.