Since 1914, when Foz do Iguaçu – or Vila Iguassú, as it was called at the time – became a municipality, the great population boom occurred between the 1970s and 1980s. During this period, the population grew from 34 to 135 inhabitants, an increase of more than 300%, driven mainly by the construction of the Itaipu power plant.
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Timeline: important dates in the history of Foz do Iguaçu
A new survey was carried out only 20 years later, indicating a growth of 69%. After that, this increase was much more modest. According to data from the 2022 Census/IBGE, the current population is just over 285 thousand inhabitants.
Over the last 12 years, there has been growth of 11,5%. If we consider the “glass half full”, the growth rate in Foz was higher than the averages for Paraná (9,6%) and Brazil (6,5%). On the other hand, it only achieved the 91st best performance among the 399 municipalities in the state.
In the long term, the 10,4% increase in 22 years (between 2000 and 2022) can be interpreted as stagnation, since it was the worst rate among the ten most populous cities in Paraná. Foz remains the seventh largest municipality in the state.
More elderly and fewer children
We are increasingly “experienced”. With the increase in life expectancy, Foz do Iguaçu follows the national trend of aging, with almost 25 thousand residents aged 65 or over, which is equivalent to 8,6% of the population. In 2010, this number was only 2,9%. Longevity is portrayed by 18 women and 5 men, our centenarians.
On the other hand, the survey points to a significant drop in the number of children and adolescents. In 2010, there were almost 85 thousand people between the ages of 0 and 14. In 2022, this total decreased significantly by 31,7%, reaching 57 thousand.
Among the 21 age groups considered in the survey, the largest portion of the population is concentrated in the 25 to 29 age group, with more than 24 thousand people, corresponding to approximately 8,5% of all inhabitants. Women continue to be the majority, totaling 147.112 (51,5%) compared to 138.303 (48,5%) men. This difference between the genders increased from three thousand to almost nine thousand in 12 years.
An increasingly mixed-race city
Data from the 2022 Census also show that the self-declared black and brown population has increased considerably in Foz do Iguaçu in recent decades. The majority is still made up of those who consider themselves white (63,5%), but there was a drop of 6,4 percentage points compared to 2010, when they represented 57,1% of the inhabitants.
On the other hand, in the same period, the number of black, brown and indigenous people grew by 60,4%, 31% and 16,5%, respectively. The only exception was in relation to Asians, who saw a 44% drop in the same 12 years.
Never have so many babies been born in Foz
In 2023, the record number of births was recorded in Foz do Iguaçu in the entire historical series, which began in 2015. The data is from the Civil Registry Transparency Portal, managed by the National Association of Natural Persons Registrars (Arpen-Brasil).
The survey already indicated constant growth since 2020, when a significant reduction occurred during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. Since then, over the last four years, an increase of 16,7% has been observed.
The data also indicate a downward trend in the number of deaths, after reaching a peak in 2021, with 2.660 deaths. In 2023, 2.126 lives were lost, representing a reduction of 20,1% compared to 2021.
Elections: we may have a second round
In 2024, Foz do Iguaçu surpassed the mark of 200 thousand eligible voters, according to data from the Superior Electoral Court (TSE). With this, the city reached the “magic” number to be able to have, for the first time in history, a second round in the elections for mayor.
In addition to the minimum number of voters, for this to occur, it is also necessary that no candidate exceeds 50% of the valid votes, a common situation in the city. The history is of fierce disputes.
Are you curious to know what past elections would be like with the possibility of a second round? Check out a survey carried out by H2FOZ with data between 1988 and 2022
Excellent report and infographics. Congratulations.