Demographics of Brazil
Region European African Native American
North Region 60.6% 21.3% 18.1%
Northeast Region 66.7% 23.3% 10.0%
Central-West Region 66.3% 21.7% 12.0%
Southeast Region 60.7% 32.0% 7.3%
South Region 81.5% 9.3% 9.2%
Genetic studies -- Autosomal studies
A 2015 autosomal genetic study , which also analysed data of 25 studies of 38 different Brazilian populations concluded that : European ancestry accounts for 62% of the heritage of the population , followed by the African ( 21% ) and the Native American ( 17% ) . The European contribution is highest in Southern Brazil ( 77% ) , the African highest in Northeast Brazil ( 27% ) and the Native American is the highest in Northern Brazil ( 32% ) . [ 75 ] Region European African Native American North Region 51% 16% 32% Northeast Region 58% 27% 15% Central-West Region 64% 24% 12% Southeast Region 67% 23% 10% South Region 77% 12% 11% An autosomal study from 2013 , with nearly 1300 samples from all of the Brazilian regions , found a pred . degree of European ancestry combined with African and Native American contributions , in varying degrees . 'Following an increasing North to South gradient , European ancestry was the most prevalent in all urban populations ( with values up to 74% ) . The populations in the North consisted of a significant proportion of Native American ancestry that was about two times higher than the African contribution . Conversely , in the Northeast , Center-West and Southeast , African ancestry was the second most prevalent . At an intrapopulation level , all urban populations were highly admixed , and most of the variation in ancestry proportions was observed between individuals within each population rather than among population ' . [ 76 ] Region European African Native American North Region 51% 17% 32% Northeast Region 56% 28% 16% Central-West Region 58% 26% 16% Southeast Region 61% 27% 12% South Region 74% 15% 11% An autosomal DNA study ( 2011 ) , with nearly 1000 samples from all over the country ( `` Europeans '' , `` Pardos '' and `` Africans '' , according to their respective proportions ) , found out a major European contribution , followed by a high African contribution and an important Native American component . [ 71 ] `` In all regions studied , the European ancestry was predominant , with proportions ranging from 60.6% in the Northeast to 77.7% in the South '' . [ 78 ] The 2011 autosomal study samples came from blood donors ( the lowest classes constitute the great majority of blood donors in Brazil [ 79 ] ) , and also public health institutions personnel and health students . The study showed that Brazilians from different regions are more homogenous than previously thought by some based on the census alone . `` Brazilian homogeneity is , therefore , a lot greater between Brazilian regions than within Brazilian regions '' . [ 80 ] Region European African Native American Northern Brazil 68.80% 10.50% 18.50% Northeast of Brazil 60.10% 29.30% 8.90% Southeast Brazil 74.20% 17.30% 7.30% Southern Brazil 79.50% 10.30% 9.40% Region European African Native American North Region 71.10% 18.20% 10.70% Northeast Region 77.40% 13.60% 8.90% Central-West Region 65.90% 18.70% 11.80% Southeast Region 79.90% 14.10% 6.10% South Region 87.70% 7.70% 5.20% An autosomal DNA study from 2009 found a similar profile `` all the Brazilian samples ( regions ) lie more closely to the European group than to the African populations or to the Mestizos from Mexico '' . [ 84 ]
Brazil's population is very diverse, comprising many races and ethnic groups. In general, Brazilians trace their origins from five sources: Europeans, Amerindians, Africans, Levantines, and East Asians. Brazil has conducted a periodical population census since 1872. Brazil is widely known to be one of the most diverse countries in the world. Since 1940, this census has been carried out . Scanned versions of the forms for each census distributed in Brazil since 1960 are available on-line from IPUMS International. Historically, Brazil has experienced large degrees of ethnic and racial admixture, assimilation of cultures and syncretism. The Brazilian population is said to be one of the most mixed in the world.