Singles in the eight biggest capital cities in Brazil – who they are

Abstract

Brazil is in the global top ten in terms of the percentage of individuals who live alone in relation to the rest of the population; they make up some 10% of the country’s total population. This study, based on micro data from the demographic censuses of 1970, 1980, 1991, and 2000 and aims to characterize the groups into which this segment is divided and uncover general trends. In the eight largest Brazilian capitals, this segment ranges widely in gender, age, income, literacy, and home ownership, whether in the same city over a period of time, or among different cities at the same instant of time. Although diversity is the general rule in the composition of this segment, this study identifies and presents a few broad tendencies: this segment grows at a faster pace than the increase in population in general; there is an increase in the average age of the people
composing it (aging); women predominate; and there are more low and high incomes than median incomes. It is important to consider the number of people that live alone and their socio-demographic characterization when addressing issues related to the consumption and production of goods and services and their ramifications.