Growth of indigenous population in Minas Gerais: analysis of the influence of demographic dynamics and racial-ethnic reclassification, using census data from 1991-2000

Abstract

Objective: To analyze how demographic dynamics and racial-ethnic reclassification may have contributed to the growth of indigenous population residing in Minas Gerais in the period between 1991 and 2000. Methods: An epidemiological study using secondary data from Demographic Censuses from the period of 1991 to 2000. The impact of the increase was determined by the calculation of vegetative growth, migration and racial-ethnic reclassification within this increment. Results: There was a growth rate of the self-declared indigenous population of 26% per year, with an increase of 800% in the number of indigenous people. This was evidenced from the migration of mulatto population to indigenous. The migratory process to the state increased in 2.7% the studied population and there was na increment in the urbanization process from 66% to 78%. Conclusion: The results show that in Minas Gerais population dynamics has little influence in indigenous population growth and racial-ethnic reclassification is the main reason for explaining this phenomenon.