Socioeconomic Aspects

Figures 9, 10 and 11 present several socioeconomic indicators seen in the various hydrographic regions of the country, on a state-by-state basis. These figures show the great regional disparities of the Brazilian population in socioeconomic terms, justifying the need to implement differing water resources policies in the various regions of the country.
Figure 9 shows child mortality rates for the year 2000, based on the IBGE census for that year. Average infant mortality for the country is 33.5 per 1000 live births. As expected, great regional differences are observed in this indicator: from 18.1 in Rio Grande do Sul (Southern Region) to 64.4 in the state of Alagoas (in the Northeast). Even with these regional differences, the evolution of these and other social indicators show improvement in the quality of life of the Brazilian population, over the last few years.

Figure 9 Infant mortality in the Brazilian Hydrographic Regions in the year 2000	Figure 10 Annual Per Capita GDP in the Brazilian Hydrographic Regions in 1999
BRAZIL U$ 3,102

Figure 10 provides information on the Gross Domestic Product of each Brazilian state. The per capita income in Brazil, in 1999, was US$3,102/inhab/year, with broad regional variations: from US$758/inhab.year, in the state of Maranhão, to US$4,978/inhab/year, in the state of São Paulo and R$5,910/inhab/year in the Federal District.

The Human Development Index - HDI, as defined by the United Nations Organization, is shown in Figure 11. In 1996 Brazil reached 0.83 in the HDI index. This placed Brazil in the 60th. position in the world, and 6th. in South America. Equally, there are great variations among the Brazilian states: from 0.53 for the state of Piauí to 0.87 for Rio Grande do Sul and the Federal District.

Figure 11 HDI in the Brazilian Hydrographic Regions in 1996

BRAZIL 0,83