Brazil faces significant educational and nutritional challenges

Brazil is grappling with deep structural issues regarding education and food security. A study titled “Demanda Potencial por EJA e Transição para o Trabalho” reveals that 63.9 million citizens aged 15 or older have not completed basic education. This represents 37.3% of the population in that age group. Approximately 44.7 million individuals have not finished elementary school, while 19.3 million dropped out during high school. The data shows that Black and mixed-race populations account for 63.9% of those without complete schooling. Economically, the lack of qualification is estimated to cost the national economy R$ 66 billion annually, or roughly 0.6% of the GDP.

Simultaneously, food security remains a critical concern. According to a FAO report, nearly one-fifth of the Brazilian population, or 44.8 million people, cannot afford a healthy diet consisting of cereals, fruits, vegetables, legumes, and proteins as recommended by the UN. Between 2023 and 2025, an estimated 20.3 million Brazilians experienced moderate or severe food insecurity. This vulnerability is most concentrated in households headed by women, particularly Black women, and in the North and Northeast regions. The cost of a balanced diet in Brazil rose to 4.89 international dollars per person per day in 2025, up from 3.97 in 2021.