Rio, December 5, 2002 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - The Brazilian population grew nearly ten-fold in the course of the twentieth century (in 1900 the population was 17.4 million), more intensely in the second half of the century (2.39% annually), whereas the growth rate was 2.23% from 1900 to 1950. These data are from the publication "Demographic Tendencies: an analysis of the results of the universe of the 2000 Demographic Census," released today by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), with tables, graphs, and analyses - a panorama of demographic evolution in Brazil and in each of the states of the Union.

The study shows that, in the period between the censuses of 1991 and 2000, the population grew more in the interior than in the municipalities of Brazilian capitals, at rates of 1.66% and 1.60%, respectively, for the country as a whole. Nevertheless, the growth of the population in the interior does not imply growth in the rural population, which declined 1.31% between 1991 and 2000. (DAS)