Northeast Brazil holds nearly 70% of Quilombola population

Data from the 2022 Demographic Census reveals that the Northeast region of Brazil contains 906,337 Quilombola residents, accounting for nearly 70% of the country's total Quilombola population. The states of Bahia and Maranhão together host 666,670 people, representing approximately half of the national total.

According to the new Demografia Quilombola panel developed by the Superintendency for the Development of the Northeast (Sudene), there is a significant rural concentration within this community. While 87.41% of the general Brazilian population lives in urban areas, 61.7% of Quilombolas reside in rural areas. This distribution highlights specific challenges regarding access to public services, infrastructure, and the guarantee of rights in isolated regions.

In terms of specific municipalities, Senhor do Bonfim (BA) has the highest absolute number with 15,999 residents, followed by Salvador (BA) with 15,897, and Alcântara (MA) with 15,616. Notably, Alcântara holds the highest proportional concentration in the Northeast, with Quilombolas making up 84.5% of its local population.