摘要：The objective of this study is to outline the main socio-demographic characteristics of the rural population of the micro-region and especially of the municipality of Frederico Westphalen, in the northern state of Rio Grande do Sul, as well as to discuss the implications of these characteristics for the local rural environment. in the IBGE data. In general, the analysis shows that the region does not escape the national and state standard regarding demographic changes, characterized especially by the reduction of the young population and increase in the elderly population. These characteristics not only confirm changes in the age structure of the population, but also reveal the emergence of "new dynamics" of the rural environment, demonstrating that many farmers may be engaged in agricultural activity associated with receiving rural retirement. In these cases, they are farmers who tend to reduce productive capacity and agricultural production due to physical limitations.
