Colombian-Brazilians are Brazilians of full or partial Colombian ancestry, or a Colombian residing in Brazil. Brazil has approximately 108,000 Colombian-Brazilians. In addition to Colombians who migrate to Brazil for work, there are also Colombian refugees (over 1,000 people), making them one of the largest refugee groups in the country.
Population According to estimates by the Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, there were approximately 27,274 Colombians residing in Brazil in 2014, although Brazil’s national census conducted by IBGE (Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics) recorded only 6,851 Colombians in 2010. This discrepancy is attributed to underreporting at consulates and the informal or temporary nature of many migration flows.
United Nations data indicates that the number of Colombians living in Brazil reached 8,179 in 2015. The Colombian-Brazilian population includes labor and student migrants, as well as Colombian refugees, who numbered 1,288 people in 2016, making them one of the largest refugee groups in Brazil.
Characteristics and Distribution Most Colombians in Brazil reside in major urban centers such as São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Curitiba, Porto Alegre, and Belo Horizonte. There is also a significant population in border regions like the Amazonas state, particularly in Tabatinga, which borders the Colombian city of Leticia.
Colombians in Brazil are primarily active in the service sector, higher education, manufacturing, and hospitality and retail industries. A significant number are enrolled in Brazilian universities, supported by programs such as PEC-G, PAEC-OAS-GCUB, and other bilateral academic cooperation initiatives. +Distribution of Colombians in Brazil by StateStatePopulationReference34,1969,6297,6076,6756,6496,3544,5043,5863,1853,1733,1443,1192,4352,1601,8461,5101,3131,1041,046997925898715602524349319Others23Total108,587
Academic and Labor Migration Between 2007 and 2015, over 26,000 Colombians migrated to Brazil for education, with a 240% increase in these flows. In 2014, Brazil was the fifth most common destination for Colombian students, surpassing traditional destinations such as Australia and Canada.
Labor migration also increased by 33% during the same period, peaking at 12,716 Colombian workers in 2014. This mobility has been facilitated by agreements such as the Agreement on Residence for Nationals of Mercosur Member States, Bolivia, and Chile, to which Colombia is an associated state.Polo Alvis, S., Serrano López, E., & Triana Barragán, F. S. (2018). Temporary vs. permanent migration: analysis of the migration of Colombians to Brazil, 2007–2015. IUSTA, (49), 115–143. https://doi.org/10.15332/s1900-0448.2018.0049.05
See also Brazil–Colombia relations Colombian diaspora Immigration to Brazil References