BRASILIA, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- Over half of Brazilians now have mobile phones, even those with lower incomes and educational levels, a report published by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) showed Friday.

    According to the IBGE, the share of Brazilians now owning a mobile phone has increased from 36.6 percent in 2005 to 53.8 percent in 2008. The number of users rose from 56 million to 86 million during the period.

    Among them, the share of domestic workers having access to mobile phones rose 23.4 percent; workers in the construction industry owning the device was up 19.5 percent, while those engaged in agricultural activities who own mobile phones rose 12.3 percent.

    According to IBGE economist Maria Lucia Vieira, those with lower incomes may become a driving force in expanding the number of people with mobile phones in Brazil.

    "The use of the instrument is easier than a computer. In addition, the mason, the upholsterer, the mechanic, the self-employed can use the phone to communicate with customers," Vieira explained.

    Statistics show that, although nearly 90 percent of Brazilians occupying positions that require higher educational levels are using mobile phones, the growth of mobile-phone users among them is lower.

    According to the Supplement on Internet Access and Possession of Mobile Telephone for Personal Use, which consolidates data from the National Household Sample Survey (PNAD), the share of mobile phone owners is relatively higher in midwest Brazil and the Federal District, at 64.3 percent and 75.6 percent, respectively.

    Meanwhile, Brazil's north and northeast have the lowest numbers of residents with mobile phones, with 45.4 percent and 41.2 percent, respectively.