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Brazil child labor falls to historic low in 2025
According to data from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), child labor in Brazil fell by 9.2% in 2025, reaching a total of 1.499 million children and adolescents aged 5 to 17. This figure represents 4% of that age group, the lowest rate recorded since the beginning of the current statistical series in 2016.
The reduction is largely attributed to social assistance programs, specifically Bolsa Família. The decline among families receiving Bolsa Família benefits accounted for over 95% of the total national decrease, representing a reduction of 144,000 individuals.
Other contributing factors cited by researchers include a heated labor market, increased per capita household income, and public policies from the Ministry of Labor and Employment and the Public Ministry of Labor. Despite the overall decline, 525,000 minors remain in the worst forms of child labor, which include activities that pose risks to health, safety, and development.
Entities
Bolsa Família · Brazil · Dieese · Gustavo Fontes · IBGE · Ministry of Labor and Employment · Public Ministry of Labor
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 14 SOURCES] The 1.499 million figure represents 4% of the population aged 5 to 17. www.metro1.com.br · www.estadao.com.br · amazoniaonline.com.br · www.juruaemtempo.com.br · tribunadepetropolis.com.br · +7 more
- [● 5 SOURCES] 525,000 children and adolescents were engaged in the worst forms of child labor in 2025. www.metro1.com.br · amazoniaonline.com.br · nahoradanoticia.com.br · www.dmtemdebate.com.br
- [● 15 SOURCES] Child labor in Brazil fell by 9.2% in 2025 compared to 2024. www.metro1.com.br · www.estadao.com.br · amazoniaonline.com.br · www.juruaemtempo.com.br · tribunadepetropolis.com.br · +7 more
- [● 11 SOURCES] Approximately 1.499 million children and adolescents aged 5 to 17 were in child labor situations in 2025. www.metro1.com.br · www.estadao.com.br · amazoniaonline.com.br · www.juruaemtempo.com.br · tribunadepetropolis.com.br · +4 more
- [● 9 SOURCES] The reduction in child labor may be linked to social assistance policies, increased family income, and a heated labor market. www.metro1.com.br · amazoniaonline.com.br · tribunadepetropolis.com.br · www.estadao.com.br · ultimosegundo.ig.com.br · +2 more
- [● 5 SOURCES] The decrease in child labor among Bolsa Família beneficiary families accounted for over 95% of the total national decline. www.estadao.com.br · sbtnews.sbt.com.br · tribunadepetropolis.com.br · www.brasil247.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The number of young people who are neither working nor in school fell to 8.8 million in the second quarter of 2026. contracs.org.br
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The youth unemployment rate reached 10% in the second quarter of 2026. contracs.org.br
- [● 2 SOURCES] The incidence of child labor in the North region was 6.3% in 2025. portalacre.com.br · diaadianoticia.com.br