Racial segregation and urban space in Salvador, Brazil: comparative evidence from the 2010–2022 Demographic Censuses

Racial residential segregation constitutes a central dimension of urban inequalities, as it shapes how population groups are distributed across the territory and how they access infrastructure, public services, and opportunities. This article analyzes racial segregation in Salvador’s neighborhoods, comparing the 2010 and 2022 Demographic Censuses of the Brazilian Bureau of Statistics. The analysis uses the dissimilarity index to measure residential distance between Blacks versus Whites, Browns ( pardos ) versus Whites, and Afro-descendants ( negros ) versus Whites, complemented by descriptive statistics and spatial analysis using local indicators of spatial association (LISA) to identify patterns of spatial concentration and population composition. The results show relative stability in average segregation levels between the two censuses, with greater intensity in comparisons between Blacks versus Whites, then between Browns versus Whites, and finally between Afro-descendants versus Whites. At the same time, index dispersion increases and spatial clusters persist in neighborhoods along the Atlantic coast and in central areas, whereas segregation is lower in the city center and the suburbs. The findings indicate that racial segregation continues to structure the urban space of Salvador and suggest the need for locally oriented public policies capable of integrating urban planning, housing, mobility, and service provision from a perspective of racial equity.