• Highlights

• The survey of urban characteristics of housing units surroundings observed ten items related to the urban infrastructure in Brazil.
• In 2022, of the 174.2 million persons living in areas with urban characteristics in Brazil, 119.9 million (68.8%) were on roads without a wheelchair ramp. In 2010, they were 146.3 million (95.2%).
• Other 32.8 million (18.8%) were living on roads with sidewalks free of obstacles, a new item included in the 2022 Population Census.
• According to the 2022 Census, 146.4 million residents (84.0%) were living on roads with a sidewalk, against 102.7 million (66.4%) in 2010. Bus or van stops were found on roads inhabited by 15.3 million persons (8.8%) and bicycle lanes on roads inhabited by 3.3 million (1.9%).
• In 2022, for the first time, the road structure for vehicles was represented by means of the item of maximum flow capacity: for 158.1 million persons (90.8%), trucks or buses; for 10.5 million (6.1%), cars or vans; for 5.0 million (2.9%), motorcycles, bicycles and pedestrians.
• The percentage of residents of roads with street lighting reached 97.5% (169.7 million residents). In 2010, this percentage was 95.2% (146.2 million).
• Approximately 154.1 million residents (88.5%) lived on paved roads.
• Drainage infrastructure represented by the presence of a manholes on roads is observed for 53.7% of the residents (93.6 million residents). In 2010, this percentage was 39.3% (60.3 million).
• As for foresting, 58.7 million persons (33.7%) were living on non-wooded roads, against 114.9 million (66.0%) on wooded roads, with 55.8 million (32.1%) living on roads with five trees or more.

Data found in the 2022 Census show that, of the 174.2 million residents of areas with urban characteristics in Brazil, 119.9 million (68.8%) were living on roads without wheelchair ramps. In 2010, 146.3 million (95.2%) were living on block faces without this type of accessibility equipment.

Among the states, Mato Grosso do Sul had the highest percentage of residents of roads with this type of infrastructure (41.1%), followed by Paraná (37.3%) and the Federal District (30.4%). The lowest percentage was that of Amazonas, with 5.6%, followed by Pernambuco (6.2%) and Maranhão (6.4%).

Maringá stands out among municipalities with more than 100 thousand residents, with 77.3% of its residents on roads with a wheelchair ramp, opposite to Itapevi (SP), which registers 1.3% of its residents in this condition.

These data come from the 2022 Population Census: Urban Characteristics of Households Surroundings, released today (17) by the IBGE. The event will be held at the auditorium of the Rector’s Office of the Federal University of Alagoas (UFAL), located on Avenida Lourival Melo Mota, s/n, Campus Aristóteles Calazans Simões, in the neighborhood of  Tabuleiro do Martins, Maceió (AL). The release will be streamed online on the IBGE portal and on the IBGE social media channels.

The results are available on the IBGE website, on SIDRA, and on the Census Overview and the Interactive Geographic Platform (PGI), where interactive maps on the topic can also be found.

The survey of urban characteristics of housing units observed ten item related to the flow capacity and pavement of the road, existence of manholes, street lighting, bus or van stops, bicycle lanes, sidewalk, obstacles on the sidewalk, wheelchair ramp and existence of trees.

Data show that 32.8 million persons are residents of roads free of obstacles, which is equivalent to 18.8% of the total, a new item being surveyed. Lower percentages were found in Maranhão (4.7%), in Piauí (4.9%) and in Acre (5.6%). Positive highlights are Rio Grande do Sul, with 28.7%, Mato Grosso, with 27.4% and São Paulo, with 25.5%.

Santos (SP) stands out among the municipalities with more than 100 thousand residents, and 64.5% of the residents on sidewalks free of obstacles. As for capitals, Porto Alegre (RS) had the best performance, with 46.6%. Bacabal (MA), the lowest percentage, 1.0%.

These two urban characteristics were observed by IBGE agents that identified the existence of roads with sidewalks, a reality for 146.4 million residents (84.0%) in 2022, versus 102.0 million (66.4%) in 2010. Breves (PA), with 37%, and Camaragibe (PE), with 48.2%, are municipalities with more than 100 thousand residents with the lowest percentages of this item. Among capitals, 56.1% had the lowest percentage.

““It is worth mentioning that, for the 2022 Census, the existence of sidewalks was observed whether there were sidewalks or pavement, whereas, in 2010, counting occurred in the case of a paved way or with a sidewalk,” Jaison Cervi explains, Manager of Surveys and Territory Classifications.

Another new item investigated in the survey was the exixtence or roads with bicycles lanes, a type of urban equipment found on roads inhabited by 3.3 million persons (1.9%).

Among the Federation Units, the highest index reached 5.2% in Santa Catarina, followed by states in all the Major Regions such as the Federal District (4.1%), Ceará (3.2%), Amapá (3.1%) and Rio de Janeiro (2.5%), showing a diversity of patterns in the territory. The lowest percentages were found in Maranhão e Amazonas, both with com 0.5%.

Balneário Camboriú (SC) had the highest percentagem in this item among municipalities with more than 100 thousand residents, with 14.0%, followed by Florianópolis and  Joinville, also in Santa Catarina, with 12.1% and 11.8%, respectively.

“In a general way, the percentages of residents of roads with bicycle lanes were significantly low, showing that the road infrastructure in the country is still directed to motor vehicles,” Cervi analyzes.

Road flow capacity and existence of bus or van stops were surveyed for the first time

Unprecedently, in the 2022 Census, the road structure for vehicles was treated by means of the item maximum road flow capacity. A total of 158.1 million persons (90.8%) were living in areas of roads that allow the flow of trucks or buses. In all the states there is a predominance of this type of road: 98.0% in Tocantins and 76.9% in Amapá were the highest and lowest percentages found.

Other 10.5 million persons (6.1%) live in areas with a maximum flow capacity for cars or vans. Pernambuco (11.9%), Rio de Janeiro (10.7%) and Bahia (10.0%) are the only states in which more than 10% of the residents lived in areas with roads having such characteristics.

“This condition in major urban centers is related to uneven relief, historical centers and the presence of bigger proportions of residents living in favelas and poor urban communities. For example, Salvador is the capital with the lowest percentage of residents on roads with flow capacity for trucks or buses, with 63.4%, and a higher percentage of residents with a maximum flow capacity for cars and vans, amounting to 17.9%,” says the IBGE researcher.

On the other hand, Mato Grosso (1.7%), Tocantins (1.8%), Mato Grosso do Sul (1.8%) and Goiás (1.9%) are the states with less than 2% of their residents living on roads with these characteristics.

In addition, 5.0 million persons (2.9%) were living in parts of roads that allowed the flow of motorcycles, bicycles and pedestrians only. Although less frequent, with a percentage below 3% of residents in 18 states, this characteristic stands out in Amapá (15.1%), in Pernambuco (8.4%) and in Amazonas (8.3%).

Another highlight was Recife (PE), where 69.9% of the residents lived where the flow of trucks or buses and 16.1%, 4th highest percentage in Brazil for cities with more than 100 thousand residents, where it was possible to move around only on foot, by bicycle or by motorcycle..

There were also 5,267 persons (0.003%) living in areas where persons moved around by means of waterway transportation only, a residual or inexistent amount in almost all the states. The highest percentage was found in Amazonas, with 0.1%.

The survey of housing unit surroundings identified bus or van stops in areas inhabited by 15.3 million persons (8.8%). This item of urban infrastructure, which indicates the existence of mass transportation, had an uneven distribution in the national territory. In the states of South and Southeast were found the biggest proportions of residents on roads with these characteristics, all of them with percentages above 10%, with a highlight to Rio Grande do Sul (14.5%), Santa Catarina (11.9%) and São Paulo (11.8%). Tocantins (1.6%) recorded the smallest proportion.

Juiz de Fora (MG), with 48.6%, is the municipality with more than 100 thousand residents that presents the highest percentage in this item, followed by Petrópolis (RJ), with 31.5%. Among the capitals, Porto Alegre (RS) led with 25%.

“The existence of this type of transportation fulfills the needs of persons for the conduction of social, cultural, political and economic activities considered necessary for society. It is worth pointing out that, in general, bus stops or van stops are not present in all the sections of the road,” Filipe Borsani, analyst of this survey, explains.

Almost half of the population were living on roads without manholes

The drainage infrastructure represented by the presence of manholes on roads was present for 53.7% of the residents (93.6 million residents). In 2010, this percentage was 39.3% (60.3 million).

“Manholes are important components in the urban infrastructure, performing functions such as the drainage of rainwater as they collect it from streets, thus avoiding the accumulation of water that can be harmful to infrastructure and property,” explains Borsani.

The state with the highest percentage of roads with manholes is Santa Catarina (85.2%), followed by Paraná (83.4%), both in the South Region, besides Rio de Janeiro (76.7%). On the other extreme are the states of Piauí (11.6%), Rio Grande do Norte (19.2%) and Ceará (20.9%).

“In spite of the interference of climate diversity and of urban areas in the density of the existence of manholes, what calls attention is the great extent of regional variation: the difference between Santa Catarina and Piauí was 73.5 percentage points,” says the IBGE analyst Maikon Novaes.

Planaltina (GO) has 6% of its residents on roads with manholes, the lowest percentagem for municipalities with more than 100 thousand residents.

The percentage of residents of roads with street lighting reached 97.5 (169.7 million). In 2010, this percentage was 95.2% (146.2 million).

It was the highest percentage among the urban elements surveyed and there was no significant regional change in this item. Twenty three states had a proportion of residents and three states had a proportion of residents on roads with this infrastructure between 98.9% and 95.7%. The other 4 states ranged between 88.4% and 93.5%.

The municipality with more than 100 thousand residents with the lowest percentage is Macapá (AP), with 88.8% of the residents in streets with public lighting.

According to the survey, 154.1 million persons (88.5%) were residents of paved roads, whereas 19.5 million, of unpaved roads. In spite of also having been surveyed in 2010, the criterion for existence was changed to any kind of pavement, even in a small part of the road, for at least 50% of the section, not allowing comparability.

An important regional difference was observed in this item, with seven states having at least 80% of their residents of enumeration areas selected for the survey on paved roads, including Pará (69.3%), Rondônia (70.4%), Amapá (71.9%) and Pernambuco (76.3%). On the other hand, six states had more than 90% of their residents on paved roads, with a highlight to São Paulo (96.0%), Minas Gerais (95.3%), Federal District (94.2%) and Goiás (94.0%).

Araruama (SP), with 29%, of their residents on paved roads is the municipality with more than 100 thousand residents of paved roads.

Most residents live on roads with at least one tree

Data of the survey show that, in Brazil, there are 58.7 million residents (33.7%) living on roads without trees, whereas 114.9 million (66.0%) live on roads without trees.

In terms of tree density, 35.6 million persons (20.4%) counted with the presence of trees live on roads with up to two trees, 23.5 million (13.5%) on roads with 3 or 4 trees, whereas 55.8 million (32.1%) were located on roads with 5 or more trees.

São José (SC) is the municipality with more than 100 thousand residents with the lowest percentage of residents on roads with trees (15.1%), whereas Maringá, had the highest (98.6%). Among the capitals, Campo Grande (MS) stands out, with 91.4%.

“Urban foresting is essential for the quality of living in cities. It adds to the well-being of residents, offering a number of environmental, social and economic benefits. The reduction of temperature is an important consequence, reducing the incidence of heat islands throughout the urban tissue. By integrating the results of urban surveys and foresting practices, municipalities can create more sustainable urban environments, thus improving the quality of living of their residents,” Novaes explains.

Asian population lives in sections with better urban infrastructure

In disaggregation by color or race, the population self-identified as Asian were living on roads with maximum flow capacity – trucks or buses (95.6%), as well as with better infrastructure in almost all the items: paved roads (96.3%), manhole (61.8%), street lighting (98.8%), bus stops (13,5%), bicycle lanes (4.2%), presence of sidewalk (94.6%), wheelchair ramp (29.6%), existence of trees (80.0%).

The white population was identified as having the second biggest offer of almost all the elements surveyed: vias with maximum circulation capacity (93.5%), paved road (91.3%), manhole (60.8%), street lighting (98.1%), bus stops (10.6%), bicycle lane (2.5%), presence of sidewalk (88.2%), wheelchair ramp (19.2%) and forestation (70.6%).

On the other hand, the self-identified population presents lower percentages in items such as street lighting (96.8%), bicycle lane (1.4%), existence of sidewalk (79.2%), wheelchair ramp (11.1%) and foresting (59.4%).

The self-identified brown population had low percentages in existence of elements such as paved road, (86.0%) manhole (47.1%) and bus stops (7.1%).

The self-identified indigenous population, living in areas with urban characteristics, presents a lower percentages of obstacles on the sidewalk (52.4%), however, with a higher percentage of residents (6.4%) on roads with less accessibility – maximum flow capacity for motorcycles, bicycles and pedestrians.

Also, this population registers the lowest percentages in all the items surveyed, such as paved roads (72.2%) manholes (36.0%), street lighting (90.4%), bus stops (4.8%), bicycle lanes (1.1%), existence of sidewalks (63.7%), wheelchair ramp (9.8%), foresting (58.5%).

2022 Census also investigated the urban infrastructure in the surroundings of different establishments, such as health and educational ones

Besides being in the surroundings of housing units, urban elements are important infrastructures to promote quality of access and flow to establishments. The 2022 Population Census surveyed these elements for educational and health establishments and those for other purposes, for example.

All the establishments surveyed had a high percentage of street lighting: 98.7% (educational), 99.4% (health) and 98,5% (other purposes). On the other hand, all of them have lower percentages of bus or van stops: 16.6% (educational), 17.7% (health) and 16.4% (other purposes).

Health establishments are the ones with the highest percentage of manholes (62.6%), whereas foresting is highest among educational and health establishments, 65.3% and 66.2%, respectively, against 60.2% of the establishments for other purposes.

Educational establishments also have higher tree density (5 or more trees) com 35,9%, followed by health establishments (35.4%), whereas establishments for other purposes were only 28.8%.

The results show the presence of sidewalks in most establishments (96.3%). However, they also indicate the biggest percentage of problems in these sidewalks as 45.7% of the establishments have obstacles, against 32.1% (educational) and 28.2% (other purposes).

Finally, results also show that less than half (47.2%) of the establishments have a wheelchair ramp, whereas only 31.8% of the educational establishments and 25.0% of those for other purposes have this element found in sidewalks.

More about the survey

The survey of urban characteristics of housing unit surroundings covered ten items related to the flow capacity and pavement of the road, existence of manhole, street lighting, bus or van stops, bicycle lanes, sidewalk, obstacles on the sidewalk, wheelchair ramp and foresting.

Data are available for Brazil, Major Regions, States, Municipalities and other geographies. Based on municipalities, such as Urban Concentrations. Data were also disaggregated by sex, color or race and age groups, besides characteristics of housing units.