Brazilian municipalities contest IBGE population estimates

Municipal governments in Brazil are contesting population estimates provided by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) for the year 2026, citing discrepancies between official projections and local administrative data.

In Inocência, the municipal administration has filed a request for revision, arguing that the IBGE estimate of 8,814 inhabitants fails to reflect recent economic and urban transformations. Local officials pointed to indicators such as the implementation of the Sucuriú Project, an increase in formal employment, and a significant rise in electricity and water connections as evidence of much faster growth.

Similarly, the Mayor of Uberlândia, Paulo Sérgio, has contested the IBGE estimate of 768,339 residents. The mayor expressed concern that undercounting the population could lead to financial losses, particularly in light of tax reforms. He noted that local health department records suggest a population closer to one million people.