Femicide Rates Climb in Brazil Despite Tougher Laws, Data Shows

Brazil reported 399 femicides in Q1 2026, averaging four women killed per day.

Brazil continues to face a growing femicide crisis, with 399 women killed in the first quarter of 2026. That averages to one woman killed every 5 hours and 25 minutes, the highest tally since data collection began in 2015.

• This marks a 7.5% increase over Q1 2025, when 371 femicides were reported.
• January 2026 was the most violent month, with 142 cases.
• São Paulo was the state most affected, counting 86 victims in Q1 2026.

Despite reforms, legal and enforcement challenges persist. Brazil classified femicide as a standalone crime in October 2024, carrying penalties of 20 to 40 years in prison. Additional legal measures in April 2026 mandated electronic monitoring for those accused and recognized vicarious violence within domestic abuse statutes.

The Pacto Brasil initiative, introduced in March 2026, seeks a coordinated approach to protection and cultural change. Still, Melina Fachin, director of the Federal University of Paraná’s law school, notes: "These numbers show how our institutional responses are still insufficient and fail to address the problem as a whole."

The gap between legislation and outcomes remains a pressing issue for Brazil’s legal and policy communities.

Yes, but: Recent legislative reforms are still new, and their long-term impact on femicide rates has yet to be established.