Atlas of Violence 2026 reveals that 15,459 deaths involved motorcycles in 2024, with growth of 38% since 2019
In 2024, Brazil recorded 37,150 traffic deaths, driven in particular by the increase in deaths involving motorcycles (15,459), which accounted for 41.6% of deaths on land roads in the country. In 2014, there were 43,780 deaths, with deaths involving motorcycles totaling 12,604, which corresponds to 28.7%.
The data is contained in the Atlas of Violence 2026released this Tuesday (May 26, 2026) by the (Institute of Applied Economic Research) and the (Brazilian Public Security Forum). Read (PDF – 6 MB).
The publication considers traffic one of the main causes of lethal violence in the country. Although the absolute number of traffic deaths fell by 20% in a decade, deaths involving motorcycles increased in 2024, compared to 2014.
App Bikers
The study identifies that the expansion of the application economy has changed the dynamics of Brazilian urban mobility, as it has transformed the motorcycle into an instrument of work and economic survival for a large portion of the population, especially in the North and Northeast regions.
In 5 years (from 2019 to 2024), motorcycle traffic deaths increased by 38%, from 11,182 to 15,459 deaths.
In 2024, the traffic death rate was around 17.5 per 100,000 inhabitants, lower than the rate in 2014 (21.9 per 100,000), but the researchers’ concern is that this number is growing rapidly again.
They consider that the pressure for productivity, combined with the lack of social protection and extreme working hours, have transformed app workers into one of the groups most exposed to lethal risk in everyday urban life.
“Young people are not yet trained in their capacity for consequences and, in all situations, they are more exposed to risk”, said to Brazil Agency the coordinator of Atlas of ViolenceDaniel Cerqueira, Planning and Research technician at Ipea.
This becomes even more complicated with the motorcycle taxi service, as not only is a person exposed to risks, but also the rider, said Cerqueira.
An example is Piauí, where motorcycles were involved in 72.7% of traffic deaths recorded in 2024, well above the national average (41.6%).
Among the measures considered urgent to reduce traffic mortality, Daniel Cerqueira cited reducing speed, traffic education and improving infrastructure and road safety, in addition to improvements in the management structure, inspection and legislative and regulatory measures.
“The increasingly intensive use of motorcycles is a huge challenge for these young people. I think legislation needs to be designed on this topic”, suggested.
Firearms
In 2024, Brazil recorded 29,870 homicides committed with firearms, a reduction of 8.8% compared to 2023 and 31.2% compared to 2014. The rate of homicides with firearms per 100 thousand inhabitants in the country was 14.1, a result that corresponds to a drop of 9% compared to 2023 and 35% compared to 2014.
The comparison between data from 2014 and 2024 shows that the reduction was widespread across most of Brazil. Five states showed growth in absolute values: Amapá (100%), Roraima (61.7%), Pernambuco (9.9%), Piauí (8.1%) and Bahia (2.3%).
In 2024, firearms accounted for 70.1% of homicides recorded in the country, the lowest figure recorded in the decade, according to Atlas.
Among the ten states with the highest participation of firearms in homicides, eight are in the Northeast Region, and four exceeded 80%: Ceará (85.6%), Paraíba (83.9%), Amapá (83.7%) and Bahia (81.1%).
The lowest percentages were recorded in the Federal District (40.6%), Roraima (43.7%) and Tocantins (49.8%).
Atlas data shows that, in the decade under analysis, all states in the Southeast Region reduced the participation of firearms in homicides.
In the North region, 5 of the 8 States showed an increase, with emphasis on Amapá (+40.9%) and Roraima (+47.1%). In the opposite direction, the Federal District presented the biggest reduction in the period (-45.9%).
According to researchers from the Atlas of Violencethis pattern suggests a “increasing fragmentation of the dynamics of lethal violence in the country”.
This text was originally published by , on May 26, 2026, at 10:06 am. The content is free for republication, the source is cited, and has been adapted to the Poder360 standard.
