Migration in São Rafael/RN (2017–2022)

São Rafael/RN had a reference population (aged 5 or over in 2022) of 7,325 people. In the 2017–2022 five-year period, the municipality received 460 in-migrants and lost 600 out-migrants to other municipalities in Brazil, resulting in a net migration of −140 people (−19.01 per 1,000 population) and a migration effectiveness index (IEM) of −0.132. This classifies the municipality, for the period, as one of migratory depletion. In addition, 5 arrived with an unreported origin and 0 came from abroad.

Indicators

Migration indicators for São Rafael/RN, 2017–2022
Indicator	Estimate	95% CI	Precision
In-migrants	460	309 to 611	use with caution
Out-migrants	600	380 to 820	use with caution
Net migration	−140	−406 to 126	not classified
Net migration rate, TLM (per 1,000 pop.)	−19.01	-	-
Migration effectiveness index (IEM)	−0.132	-	-

Sample of in-migrants: 50-99 observations. Sample of out-migrants: 50-99 observations. 95% confidence interval computed as estimate ± 1.96 × standard error.

Top origins and destinations

Top 10 origins of in-migrants to São Rafael/RN
Origin	People	Precision
Natal/RN · view pair in the atlas	125	low precision
Açu/RN · view pair in the atlas	45	low precision
Angicos/RN · view pair in the atlas	45	low precision
Santana do Matos/RN · view pair in the atlas	25	low precision
Caicó/RN · view pair in the atlas	25	low precision

Top 10 destinations of out-migrants from São Rafael/RN
Destination	People	Precision
Açu/RN · view pair in the atlas	125	low precision
Itajá/RN · view pair in the atlas	50	low precision
Jucurutu/RN · view pair in the atlas	30	low precision

Profile of migrants and residents

In-migrants (arrivals)

Migrant type
Category	Estimate	Share	Sample
Return to municipality of birth	200	43.5%	20-49
First move from municipality of birth	145	31.5%	20-49
Multi-step migration	115	25.0%	20-49

Educational attainment (people aged 25 and over)
Category	Estimate	Share	Sample
Completed high school, incomplete higher education	110	38.6%	20-49
No schooling or incomplete elementary	110	38.6%	20-49
Completed elementary, incomplete high school	50	17.5%	5-19
Other / suppressed	15	5.3%	<5

Household income per capita (in 2022 minimum wages)
Category	Estimate	Share	Sample
¼ to ½ minimum wage	210	45.7%	20-49
Up to ¼ of a minimum wage	110	23.9%	20-49
½ to 1 minimum wage	75	16.3%	5-19
1 to 2 minimum wages	65	14.1%	5-19

Age and sex
Category	Estimate	Share	Sample
Ages 25–39, female	75	16.5%	5-19
Ages 40–59, female	75	16.5%	5-19
Ages 25–39, male	55	12.1%	5-19
Ages 15–24, male	55	12.1%	5-19
Ages 40–59, male	45	9.9%	5-19
Ages 5–14, male	45	9.9%	5-19
Ages 15–24, female	40	8.8%	5-19
Ages 5–14, female	35	7.7%	5-19
Ages 60 and over, male	20	4.4%	5-19
Other / suppressed	10	2.2%	<5

Out-migrants (departures)

Migrant type
Category	Estimate	Share	Sample
Multi-step migration	280	46.7%	20-49
First move from municipality of birth	225	37.5%	20-49
Return to municipality of birth	95	15.8%	20-49

Educational attainment (people aged 25 and over)
Category	Estimate	Share	Sample
No schooling or incomplete elementary	220	66.7%	20-49
Completed high school, incomplete higher education	65	19.7%	5-19
Completed elementary, incomplete high school	30	9.1%	5-19
Other / suppressed	15	4.5%	<5

Household income per capita (in 2022 minimum wages)
Category	Estimate	Share	Sample
½ to 1 minimum wage	180	30.3%	20-49
Up to ¼ of a minimum wage	140	23.5%	20-49
¼ to ½ minimum wage	140	23.5%	5-19
1 to 2 minimum wages	90	15.1%	5-19
Other / suppressed	45	7.6%	<5

Age and sex
Category	Estimate	Share	Sample
Ages 15–24, female	105	17.4%	5-19
Ages 25–39, female	95	15.7%	5-19
Ages 15–24, male	80	13.2%	5-19
Ages 40–59, male	70	11.6%	5-19
Ages 40–59, female	55	9.1%	5-19
Ages 25–39, male	45	7.4%	5-19
Ages 5–14, male	45	7.4%	5-19
Ages 60 and over, male	40	6.6%	5-19
Ages 5–14, female	40	6.6%	5-19
Ages 60 and over, female	30	5.0%	5-19

Non-migrant residents

Educational attainment (people aged 25 and over)
Category	Estimate	Share	Sample
No schooling or incomplete elementary	3,085	61.0%	>=500
Completed high school, incomplete higher education	1,190	23.5%	100-499
Completed elementary, incomplete high school	475	9.4%	50-99
Completed higher education	310	6.1%	50-99

Household income per capita (in 2022 minimum wages)
Category	Estimate	Share	Sample
½ to 1 minimum wage	2,590	35.7%	>=500
¼ to ½ minimum wage	2,265	31.2%	100-499
Up to ¼ of a minimum wage	1,615	22.3%	100-499
1 to 2 minimum wages	565	7.8%	100-499
More than 2 minimum wages	215	3.0%	20-49

Age and sex
Category	Estimate	Share	Sample
Ages 40–59, male	1,050	15.3%	100-499
Ages 40–59, female	995	14.5%	100-499
Ages 25–39, male	795	11.6%	100-499
Ages 60 and over, female	785	11.4%	100-499
Ages 25–39, female	730	10.6%	100-499
Ages 60 and over, male	700	10.2%	100-499
Ages 15–24, male	535	7.8%	100-499
Ages 15–24, female	460	6.7%	100-499
Ages 5–14, male	430	6.3%	50-99
Ages 5–14, female	380	5.5%	50-99

Commuting (work and study)

Commuting indicators for São Rafael/RN
Employed persons (aged 10 and over)	2,105
Commute out to work in another municipality	205
Commute in from another municipality to work here	130
Net commuting	−80
Out-commuting rate (%)	9.85
Commuting attraction index	0.951
Median commuting time	60 min

Open São Rafael/RN in the interactive atlas →

Methodological note

Estimates from the sample microdata of the 2022 Demographic Census (IBGE, controlled access), fixed-date migration question (residence on July 31, 2017 compared with residence on July 31, 2022). Every estimate is rounded to multiples of 5 and has passed statistical disclosure control (no cell with fewer than 5 people or 3 sampled households). See the full methodology and the glossary.

How to cite this page

Daniel Pessini Sobreira. Atlas da migração interna no Brasil [Atlas of internal migration in Brazil]: São Rafael/RN. Data from the 2022 Demographic Census (IBGE). Data version: 2026-10-01. Available at: https://atlas-da-migracao.github.io/en/municipio/sao-rafael-rn-2412807/. Dataset DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22469791.