PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Henry Herrera
Phone: +1-301-801-0608
Email: info@menandboys.net
The Widening Gender Gaps Affecting the Lives of Men and Boys Across Brazil
October 17, 2025 –Men and boys in Brazil are facing a crisis. Across education, health, and safety, data shows deepening disparities that threaten not only their future but the stability of the nation itself. Addressing these gaps is a matter of national urgency.
Education:
By 2024, approximately 5,128 male students had dropped out of school—59.1% of all dropouts—compared to 3,551 female students (40.9%) (1). The gap widens in higher education: only 17% of men over 25 hold a university degree, compared to 22% of women (2). At the tertiary level, women’s enrollment rate is now 32% higher than men’s (3). Completion rates show a similar imbalance—53% of women finish their degrees within three years of the expected end date, while only 43% of men do (4).
Health:
Brazil’s life expectancy reached 78.37 years in 2024, but men live only 75.3 years on average versus 82.2 for women (5). The adult male mortality rate stands at 168.8 per 1,000, almost double that of women at 85.7 (6).
Homicide:
Violence takes an overwhelming toll on men. In 2024, the overall homicide rate was 8.85 per 100,000 inhabitants—but for men, it soared to 34.66, compared to 3.92 for women (7).
Suicide:
Suicide mortality is also far higher among men—11.4 per 100,000 compared to 3.9 for women (8)(9).
Domestic Violence:
Although women remain the majority of reported victims, new data from the state of Mato Grosso do Sul reveals more than 5,000 men—including elderly, adults, youth, teenagers, and children—have reported domestic violence in the past three years (10). Experts warn these figures represent only a fraction of the real total, citing the “black figure” of unreported male victims. Some incidents have been especially brutal, such as a male victim who was attacked with acid by his ex-partner (10). Law professor Rafael Sampaio of Uniderp stresses the need for inclusive policies that protect men as victims, too (10).
Child Custody:
By 2023, primary physical maternal custody accounted for 45.5% of cases, while joint physical custody rose to 42.3%. Primary paternal custody, however, fell sharply—from 5.5% in 2014 to just 3.3% in 2023 (11).
Homelessness:
A 2023 IPEA survey found that Brazil’s homeless population is overwhelmingly male—88% (12).
Workplace:
Between 2011 and 2021, men accounted for 76.01% of fatal workplace accidents, while women accounted for 23.99% (13).
Conclusion:
Brazil stands at a crossroads—addressing these gender gaps today is not just a matter of fairness, but a necessity for the nation’s social future.
The International Council for Men and Boys is a non-governmental organization that works to celebrate men’s contributions to society and end the 12 sex disparities affecting men and boys worldwide. Achieving #GenderEqualityForMen will also benefit women. https://www.menandboys.net/
Links:
2.https://www.statista.com/topics/13245/education-in-brazil/#topicOverview
4.https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/education-at-a-glance-2025_1a3543e2-en/brazil_d42263a0-en.html
6.https://genderdata.worldbank.org/en/indicator/sp-dyn-amrt?gender=male
7.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homicide_statistics_by_gender
8.https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SH.STA.SUIC.MA.P5