Rio de Janeiro - In 2002, 16.3% of male deaths in Brazil were due to violent causes. In 2003, that percentage had fallen to 15.7%, a decrease of 0.6 percentage points. The numbers are from the latest survey by the government statistical bureau (IBGE). As for female deaths by violent causes, the IBGE survey found a decrease of 0.4 percentage points, from 4.5% in 2002, to 4.1% in 2003.

However, for the decade 1993/2003 there was an overall increase of 13.7% in violent deaths in Brazil for men, while the percentage for women remained practically stable.

The IBGE survey found that the highest level of violent deaths was in the country's Central-West region where over 19% of male deaths, and 6% of female deaths, are from violent causes. The Southeast and North regions are in second and third places in violent deaths.

Agência Brasil
Reporter: Nielmar de Oliveira
Translator: Allen Bennett
12/22/2004