The profile of refugees in Brazil

According to a 2019 study by the UN Refugee Agency, most refugees in Brazil have a higher level of education than the average Brazilian population.

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Characteristics of Refugees in Brazil

A 2019 survey conducted by the UN Refugee Agency shows that the refugee profile in Brazil is young, aged 18 to 49, and largely male. Brazil currently has 105 registered refugee nationalities residing in the country, the majority of whom come from Syria.

Brazil has a vast geographic area and is composed of 26 states. However, the majority of refugees are distributed across eight states: São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Paraná, Rio Grande do Sul, the Federal District, Santa Catarina, Minas Gerais, and Amazonas. Many enter through the state of Roraima and move to other locations in search of opportunities.

Refugee Education Levels

An interesting point that many don’t know is that refugees demonstrate a higher level of education than the average for Brazilians. In some cases, even much higher, if we consider only the Black and Brown population.

However, refugees with diplomas have faced a problem when they arrive in Brazil: their university diplomas cannot be validated. This has hindered those who want to enter the job market in their former professions. Thus, they end up opting for other activities or starting their own businesses in the country.

Another important issue is the language barrier. Although there are Angolan immigrants — whose official language is Portuguese —many are from other countries where completely different languages ​​are spoken. In any case, many refugees already come to the country with some command of Portuguese, but not enough to gain a good position in the Brazilian job market.

Housing and Household Expenses

The housing conditions of refugees reflect their socioeconomic situation. Due to economic hardships, they often choose to live in group homes or other types of shared housing. In other words, refugees rent rooms in hotels, guesthouses, or group homes in precarious areas of the urban centers of the cities where they live.

This information reflects their quality of life in the urban center. The majority of the survey sample reported a monthly household income of less than R$3,000.00.

Therefore, this is insufficient to cover recurring expenses depending on where they live — especially in cities with a higher cost of living. The solution they find is to work more hours or reduce food expenses.

Entering the Job Market

This same survey addresses the job market integration of refugees and shows that more than half are employed. However, 25% are still unemployed and seeking new opportunities.

This is a somewhat alarming percentage when considering the conditions these people face upon arrival in the country. Typically, when refugees flee their countries, they leave everything behind in their former homes.

This is a vulnerable population, leaving their countries in extremely fragile conditions. Being unemployed in a new country, without knowing anyone and without income, poses a problem for their integration into society. Therefore, there are several groups and organizations that aim to support refugees and help them with courses and qualifications.

Another interesting point is that of the employed refugees, few are working in Brazilian companies. Because they can’t easily find work in the country, they end up becoming entrepreneurs. In fact, entrepreneurship isn’t something many wants or seek, but a reality and a necessity to earn an income and survive in Brazil.

And, as mentioned, the biggest challenge in entering the job market in their professions is getting their university diploma validated. Very little manage to get it validated and continue their careers.

However, other obstacles also exist, such as: language barriers, being a foreigner, lack of resources to find work, lack of documentation, and racial prejudice.

Social Integration

The main difficulty refugees face in social integration is discrimination in the country. Foreigners, especially Black people, face prejudice from Brazilian citizens. This is still a reality within the country, even with a very culturally diverse population.

Despite this occasional discrimination, many refugees manage to form friendships in the country, and in some cases, romantic relationships. Since many arrive in Brazil without family, this is a very important aspect of adapting to a new place. Social environments help overcome emotional barriers and settle more easily.

Furthermore, according to the survey, many refugees did not consider Brazil as their first choice. However, after getting to know the country and the reality, they would still apply for asylum. Refugees enjoy living in Brazil and are confident in their future prospects. This is demonstrated by their desire to bring their family members to the country through family reunification processes.

Finally, despite all the difficulties of entering the job market, revalidating diplomas, and facing language barriers, refugees believe in their ability to adapt and advance socially in Brazil. It’s not the easiest option for them, and there’s still room for improvement in public policies and services, but it’s a viable and definitive option.

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