90 years
On IBGE's anniversary, professionals celebrate Geographer's Day and Statistician's Day
May 28, 2026 10h00 PM | Last Updated: May 29, 2026 12h32 PM
May 29th, when the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) celebrates its 90th anniversary, is also Geographer's and Statistician's Day, honoring the professionals who are at the heart of the institution's mission to produce knowledge about Brazil. The combination of these dates reinforces the role of these careers in building fundamental information for understanding the country's territory, population, and economy.
Over nine decades, the IBGE has established itself as a benchmark in the production of official statistics and geoscientific information, contributing decisively to the planning of public policies and the strengthening of democracy. This trajectory is built daily by the work of civil servants who, behind numbers, maps, and analyses, translate Brazilian reality into data that guide decisions and broaden knowledge about the country.
For Adriana Bandeira Moraes, Manager of Methods at the Division of Structural Statistics in Companies, daily life at the Institute demands dedication and resilience. "Working at the IBGE is challenging," she summarizes. Julio César Siqueira, a statistician at the Division of National Accounts, highlights the institution's strategic role: “Working at the IBGE means working with data to produce knowledge and information relevant to Brazil.”
In the area of statistical production and census operations, Pedro Helal Chafir, Manager of Computational Support at the Technical Division of the Population Census, reinforces the public purpose of the activity: “Working at the IBGE is very rewarding, being able to practice my profession in a way that contributes to generating knowledge about the country.” The feeling of belonging and recognition also appears in the words of Lincoln Teixeira da Silva, Manager at the Price Index Division: “Working at the IBGE is a source of great pride.”
Among geographers, the connection with the institution is directly associated with the construction of Brazilian territorial knowledge. Higor Lopes Barcelos, from the Department of Atlas and Territorial Representation, emphasizes the personal and professional dimension of this choice. “Working at the IBGE as a geographer is a dream come true. This is a great organization responsible for producing national geography. Working in the production of this knowledge is very important and something I have always aspired to do throughout my academic career,” he says. He also emphasizes the technical environment: “Being surrounded by professionals with great contributions to national geography is fulfilling a goal.”
Danilo Salim, from the Department of Geographic Networks and Flows, emphasizes the social impact of the work done. “Working at the IBGE is very rewarding because of data and information provided to society.” For Fernando Abritta Figueiredo, from the Department of Regionalization and Territory Typologies, being part of the Institute is also recognizing its history. “Working at the IBGE, which has been portraying Brazil for 90 years in its demographic, social, economic, and territorial aspects, is a great honor.”
Working at the IBGE is also marked by the diversity of themes and possibilities. José Sena, from the Department of Institutional Articulation of the Directorate of Geosciences, highlights the diverse professional activities. “Working at the IBGE is very complete in all aspects, especially for a geographer, and it is an activity that yields many rewards, despite the demands and challenges.” Beatriz Menezes, from the Division of Territorial Structures, highlights the direct impact of the work on society: “The IBGE is one of the largest institutions in Brazil, producing cartographic data and fundamental information for territorial planning and public policies that directly impact the well-being of the population. Being a part of this is very rewarding.”
At the management level, the institutional contribution is also seen as a commitment to the country's development. For Gustavo Caires, Deputy Director of Geosciences, “working at the IBGE means being able to contribute so that the information we produce bears fruit for society.” The feeling of vocation also appears in the words of Jaison Luís Cervi, who summarizes his dedication to his career: “I don't think about doing anything else in life other than working at the IBGE, producing geospatial information for Brazil.”
Geographer Maria Lúcia Ribeiro Vilarinhos reinforces the intellectual and plural dimension of the work at the Institute. According to her, the IBGE is a space of excellence that allows professionals to work in different areas of geography and contribute directly to society. "It is one of the most important spaces for geographers in Brazil because it allows us to see, act, and work within the various possibilities of geographical science, always as a public service geared towards the State and the population," she states.
