OBJECTIVES::  To verify the socioeconomic and environmental factors those are associated to breast cancer incidence and mortality in different countries. METHODS::  Scientiometric review developed from the publications of the databases MEDLINE and LILACS, included in the Virtual Health Library. The keywords used in the research were BREAST CANCER and SOCIOECONOMIC FACTORS, BREAST CANCER and ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS and BREAST CANCER and PESTICIDES. The search was undertaken in the middle of 2016 and as limits the publications were adopted from 2006 to 2016. RESULTS::  34 publications were selected to be better studied, 14 dealing with the association between breast cancer and socioeconomic factors, 12 of the association with environmental factors and 8 of the association with pesticides. Positive association between higher socioeconomic status and breast cancer incidence was observed in three articles, mediated by differences in exposure to reproductive factors, hormone replacement therapy and alcohol ingestion. Positive association between lower socioeconomic status and mortality rate was observed in eight articles, attributed mainly to disparities in access to health services and less information regarding the prevention of breast cancer. Positive association between environmental factors, with regard to smoking, exposure to cadmium and air pollution, and breast cancer, was observed in seven of the 12 articles selected. In particular, the effect of pesticides on the risk of developing breast cancer was found in half of the eight articles. CONCLUSIONS:: The studies analyzed favor an understanding of the determinants of breast cancer incidence and mortality and reaffirm that genetic/hereditary, endocrine/reproductive factors, in addition to age, explain a great part of the risk of developing breast cancer, however, its association with socioeconomic and environmental determinants are essential to better understand disparities in disease development.