90 years
Seminar celebrates IBGE´s 90th anniversary at Palácio do Catete, its foundation milestone
May 29, 2026 05h23 PM | Last Updated: June 01, 2026 04h47 PM
This Friday (29), the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) celebrated, in Rio de Janeiro, the 90th anniversary of its creation with the seminar “90 Years: The History of the IBGE in the Presidency of the Republic (1936–1964),” held at Palácio do Catete, currently the Museum of the Republic. The event took place from 3 pm to 5 pm, in the same place where, in 1936, the Institute was officially installed by then president Getúlio Vargas, and was broadcast by Digital IBGE.
The activity revived the trajectory of the IBGE since its origins as the National Statistics Institute (INE), created to centralize statistical and geoscientific production and contribute to the modernization of the Brazilian State. In 1938, the organization received its current name by Presidential Decree, consolidating its strategic role in producing information about Brazil.
The seminar brought together the president of the IBGE, Marcio Pochmann; former presidents of the Institute; and representatives of public offices, consulates, entities, researchers and officials. The program began with a special message from the Chief Advisor of the Special Advisory to the Presidency of the Republic, Celso Amorim, who, due to an international mission, sent his greetings through video and highlighted the historical and strategic importance of the IBGE for Brazil, by relating the production of information with national sovereignty and the country's planning capacity. Watch the video in full:
Amorim recalled that, throughout its history, the IBGE was directly linked to the office of the Presidency of the Republic, facing “the challenge of governing a continental territory with little standardized information about the population, economy and territory.”
For the diplomat, the centrality of the Institute in the structure of the Brazilian State is evident. “The fact that he was nominated to be the first president highlights the centrality of the institution for Brazil. A country that does not know itself is not capable of finding its place in the world, protecting borders and mapping resources,” stated him.
Amorim also highlighted the role of the IBGE in reading the past and projecting the future. “The IBGE offers us tools to interpret the present and project the future. From the first Census to the present day, the Brazilian population has multiplied by five,” noted him. He added that the institution is present in the daily lives of Brazilians: “Many of us, as citizens, have already had contact with the IBGE, whether with the Census or when consulting its publications.”
When recalling his training, the advisor highlighted the influence of the Institute on his intellectual trajectory. “When I joined the Rio Branco Institute, it was my first contact with the IBGE, with rich content about the formation of Brazil. It was through its texts that I had my first contact with the population of the interior, from the Northeast to the Amazon,” told him. According to him, these readings contributed to a vision that dialogues “with the impressionism present in the books of Graciliano Ramos and Ferreira de Castro.”
Amorim also emphasized the international recognition of the Brazilian statistical production. “The quality of the surveys is recognized worldwide, like those of industry and employment,” stated him.
Finally, the diplomat highlighted the strategic role of information in an increasingly complex global scenario. “In a world in which data and information are vital for development, but can also be used as instruments of dispute, the institutions responsible for producing knowledge and reliable data become even more strategic,” told him.
He concluded by highlighting the importance of strengthening the Institute: “The Brazilian sovereignty relies on a strong, active IBGE with the capacity to interpret historical moments and anticipate changes in Brazil and the world. Therefore, it is important to congratulate all IBGE workers.”
Pochmann highlights data sovereignty and the institution’s strategic role
The President of the IBGE, Marcio Pochmann, reinforced the strategic role of the organization for the future of Brazil, highlighting the centrality of data in the contemporary governance. Pochmann positioned the Institute as a key piece for national sovereignty in a global scenario marked by the dispute for information.
“These days, whoever controls data has the ability to govern the future,” stated him, adding to the importance of defending the strengthening of the Brazilian statistical system as an instrument of sovereignty: “The IBGE assumes a role as relevant as other strategic institutions in guaranteeing Brazil the ability to govern its own future.”
The ceremony at Palácio do Catete also revived the historical origins of the IBGE. Pochmann recalled that the IBGE emerged in the midst of Brazil's transition from an agrarian society to an urban and industrial economy, being essential in providing data to guide this modernization process.
“The IBGE was a central part in the construction of a modern, industrial society, and was born precisely within this perspective of transforming Brazil.” At the end of his speech, Pochmann paid tribute to the officials who built the institution's trajectory over the decades.
“What we have today is the result of a lot of effort and collaboration. The responsibility now is to ensure that the IBGE continues to be this fantastic institution that helps govern Brazil,” concluded him.
Director of DGC highlights the organization's trajectory, which spans generations and builds trust
Maria do Carmo Bueno highlighted her career spanning almost 23 years at the IBGE, marked by around two decades at the IBGE´s Center of Information Documentation and Dissemination and, more recently, by her role as director of Geosciences at the Institution. When reflecting on the organization's 90 years, she highlighted that the continuous production of information, “Whether in the form of maps or in the form of figures," has built a solid collection of knowledge that spans generations and reaffirms the relevance of the IBGE over time.
For the director, this trajectory has consolidated the Institute as an essential institution for Brazil, present in the past, in the present and with a guaranteed role in the future: “The IBGE spans the Brazilian history and will continue, I hope for many, many years to come.” She also highlighted the institution's recognition for its technical rigor and credibility, factors that inspire confidence inside and outside Brazil. Finally, she highlighted the symbolism of celebrating the anniversary at Palácio do Catete, stating that the occasion is “as if we were going back to the first day of the IBGE,” told the director.
Technology and innovation drive IBGE's activities, says Deputy Director of DTI
Arnaldo Lyrio highlighted his extensive career at the IBGE, starting in the 1980s as a census programmer, until reaching the position of Deputy Director of the Directorate of Information Technology and Communication. When reflecting on the role of the area, he emphasized the transformation brought by technology within the institution, making processes more agile and efficient. According to him, “all work is based on technology,” which guarantees greater speed and improves analysis capacity, including international data comparison, an essential aspect for positioning Brazil on the global stage.
When addressing the future, Lyrio highlighted that innovation will be increasingly central to the IBGE, with the advancement of tools such as artificial intelligence and big data. For him, keeping the institution updated is essential to ensure the quality of the information produced: “the more robust we are, the more attentive we are to the world, the better our numbers will be.” He also reinforced the strategic role of the Institute for the Brazilian development, highlighting that society depends on “reliable official numbers” to plan a “more developed” and “fairer” Brazil.
https://www.ibge.gov.br/video/Celso-Amorim.mp4?v=1
Director of ENCE highlights the leading role of IBGE as a basis for public policies and development
Jorge Abrahão de Castro considers the institution essential for guiding strategic decisions, especially in investment planning and the formulation of public policies. “The IBGE is a permanent source of information and data for the Brazilian society and plays a very important role in planning investments and structuring public policies,” stated him.
In addition to its internal relevance, Castro emphasized the role of the IBGE in promoting Brazil on the international stage, allowing other countries to understand the Brazilian economic and social reality. For the future, he defended maintaining the commitment to quality and innovation: “I imagine the IBGE maintaining its permanent quality footprint, incorporating new scientific conditions and innovations.”
Flavia Vinhaes, Executive Director, spoke about the day of celebration. "It is not common to find a state institution that turns 90 years old and has gone through several governments, reinventing and treating our reality. The trajectory is great and mixes with that of its officials."
Andrea Diniz, IBGE´s International Relations Manager, spoke about IBGE's legacy. "It is great to know that we are maintaining our first president's dream of representing IBGE on international scenarios, which starts with the work of each branch."
Coordinator of the IBGE´s Commission for Gender Thematic, Daléa Soares Antunes, recalled the female presence. "These 90 years are a construction of men and women, but we need to increase technological modernization through balance, advancing and respecting gender equality. Moreover, our commission has representation from all areas."
Representing the superintendents, the Superintendent of Rio de Janeiro Francisco Teixeira Carvalho remembered those who work on the front line. “This was my first and only job, so it is rewarding to be here. And I want to remember the teams that carry out the work in the branches and manage to carry out the surveys."
The Deputy Director of the Museum of the Republic, Lucia Veronica de Oliveira, highlighted the symbolic importance of receiving the IBGE in the place where the institution originated, also highlighting her personal connection with the office. “It is with great satisfaction that we welcome this important and fundamental institution for Brazil. It was at the IBGE that I discovered my vocation as a public servant and working for my country,” stated her, remembering that she worked as an enumerator in 1991.
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