Brazil demographic shifts reduce youth voter participation

Brazil is experiencing a significant demographic shift characterized by an aging population and a shrinking youth electorate. Data from the Superior Electoral Court (TSE) and projections from IBGE indicate that the proportion of citizens aged 60 and older is rising, while the number of young voters is declining.

Between 2010 and 2026, the number of voters aged 16 to 24 is projected to decrease by 22%, representing an absolute drop of 5.5 million people. This group's share of the total electorate is expected to fall from 18.2% to 12.5%. In contrast, the elderly electorate has seen a growth of approximately 74% since 2010, now exceeding 36.8 million registered voters.

Local data from Venâncio Aires reflects this trend, where the number of eligible 16 and 17-year-old voters for the 2026 elections is 270, a 43.3% decrease compared to 2016. Experts note that as the youth vote loses absolute weight, political strategies for upcoming elections will likely need to adapt to this changing demographic landscape.