Economy, jobs and prices in Fortaleza, Brazil: official figures
Fortaleza's gross domestic product was R$ 86.9 billion in 2023 at current prices, 0.79% of Brazil's GDP and the 12th largest of Brazil's 5,570 municipalities.
What is the GDP per capita of Fortaleza?
GDP per person in Fortaleza was R$ 35,797 in 2023, the 2315th highest of Brazil's 5,570 municipalities and the 108th lowest of 320 major Brazilian cities; for Brazil as a whole it was about R$ 53,887.
Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE) · saved copyHow much of Ceará state's economy is in Fortaleza?
Fortaleza produced 37.4% of the GDP of Ceará state in 2023, while holding 27.8% of its 2026 population.
Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE) · saved copyWhat are the main industries in Fortaleza?
In 2021, the latest year with a breakdown by sector, private services made up 69.0% of Fortaleza's gross value added, industry 14.0%, public administration, education and health 16.8% and agriculture 0.2% (Brazil: 50.7%, 25.8%, 15.8% and 7.7%).
Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE) · saved copyWhat does the economy of Fortaleza depend on?
The three activities adding the most value to Fortaleza's economy in 2021 were other private services (such as finance, property, transport, information and private education and health), trade and vehicle repair, and public administration, defence, public education and health and social security. Industry's share of value added was the 83rd lowest of 320 major Brazilian cities.
Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE) · saved copyWhat is the average salary in Fortaleza?
Salaried employees of companies and organisations in Fortaleza earned an average of R$ 3,526.35 a month in 2024 (2.5 minimum wages), the 635th highest of Brazil's 5,570 municipalities and the 128th highest of 320 major Brazilian cities (Brazil: R$ 3,932.44).
Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE) · saved copyAre wages rising in Fortaleza?
The average monthly salary in Fortaleza rose from R$ 3,398.34 in 2022 to R$ 3,526.35 in 2024 in current reais (+3.8%; Brazil: +11.0%). In minimum wages it went from 2.8 to 2.5.
Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE) · saved copyHow many people have formal jobs in Fortaleza?
Registered companies and organisations in Fortaleza employed 1,025,173 people at the end of 2024, 853,909 of them salaried, equal to 39.8% of the estimated population; the 83rd highest of 320 major Brazilian cities (Brazil: 32.0%). Jobs are counted where the workplace is, so they include commuters.
Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE) · saved copyIs employment growing in Fortaleza?
Employment in registered firms and organisations in Fortaleza grew from 951,646 in 2022 to 1,025,173 in 2024 (+7.7%; Brazil: +8.4%).
Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE) · saved copyHow many companies are there in Fortaleza?
132,367 companies and other organisations were active in Fortaleza in 2024, about 51 per 1,000 residents (the 144th highest of 320 major Brazilian cities), and they paid R$ 38.7 billion in wages and other pay over the year.
Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE) · saved copyWhat is the average income in Fortaleza?
The median monthly household income per person in Fortaleza was R$ 900 at the 2022 census, the 99th lowest of 320 major Brazilian cities and the 2779th highest of Brazil's 5,570 municipalities (Brazil: R$ 1,000).
Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE) · saved copyMore figures
- At current prices, not adjusted for inflation, GDP per person in Fortaleza went from R$ 15,119 in 2010 to R$ 35,797 in 2023, a rise of 137%. Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE) · saved copy
How Fortaleza compares with other cities in Brazil
GDP at current prices (2023)
Fortaleza ranks 12 of 320, highest first.
| Rank | City | GDP at current prices |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Porto Alegre | R$ 104.7 billion |
| 10 | Guarulhos | R$ 97.6 billion |
| 11 | Campinas | R$ 92.0 billion |
| 12 | Fortaleza | R$ 86.9 billion |
| 13 | Salvador | R$ 76.7 billion |
| 14 | Niterói | R$ 76.3 billion |
| 15 | Goiânia | R$ 75.8 billion |
GDP per person at current prices (2023)
Fortaleza ranks 213 of 320, highest first.
| Rank | City | GDP per person at current prices |
|---|---|---|
| 210 | Marabá | R$ 36,577 |
| 211 | Passos | R$ 36,449 |
| 212 | Sapucaia do Sul | R$ 35,800 |
| 213 | Fortaleza | R$ 35,797 |
| 214 | Rio Branco | R$ 35,533 |
| 215 | Feira de Santana | R$ 35,449 |
| 216 | Senador Canedo | R$ 35,307 |
Industry share of gross value added (2021)
Fortaleza ranks 238 of 320, highest first.
| Rank | City | Industry share of gross value added |
|---|---|---|
| 235 | Jequié | 14.2% |
| 236 | Timon | 14.0% |
| 237 | São José | 14.0% |
| 238 | Fortaleza | 14.0% |
| 239 | Lagarto | 13.9% |
| 240 | Pelotas | 13.8% |
| 241 | Teófilo Otoni | 13.7% |
Active companies and organisations per 1,000 residents (2024)
Fortaleza ranks 144 of 320, highest first.
| Rank | City | Active companies and organisations per 1,000 residents |
|---|---|---|
| 141 | Taubaté | 52.1 |
| 142 | Aracaju | 52.0 |
| 143 | Paranaguá | 51.8 |
| 144 | Fortaleza | 51.4 |
| 145 | Barreiras | 51.3 |
| 146 | Ji-Paraná | 50.6 |
| 147 | Três Lagoas | 50.1 |
Average monthly salary of formal employees (2024)
Fortaleza ranks 128 of 320, highest first.
| Rank | City | Average monthly salary of formal employees |
|---|---|---|
| 125 | Balneário Camboriú | R$ 3,539.94 |
| 126 | Marabá | R$ 3,535.02 |
| 127 | Barcarena | R$ 3,531.59 |
| 128 | Fortaleza | R$ 3,526.35 |
| 129 | Bauru | R$ 3,522.78 |
| 130 | Assis | R$ 3,520.00 |
| 131 | Corumbá | R$ 3,514.72 |
Average monthly salary in minimum wages (2024)
Fortaleza ranks 118 of 320, highest first.
| Rank | City | Average monthly salary in minimum wages |
|---|---|---|
| 115 | Barretos | 2.6 |
| 116 | Araxá | 2.6 |
| 117 | Erechim | 2.6 |
| 118 | Fortaleza | 2.5 |
| 119 | Anápolis | 2.5 |
| 120 | Bauru | 2.5 |
| 121 | Cascavel | 2.5 |
People employed by registered firms and organisations, % of population (2024)
Fortaleza ranks 83 of 320, highest first.
| Rank | City | People employed by registered firms and organisations, % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 80 | Porto Velho | 40.1% |
| 81 | Rio Verde | 40.1% |
| 82 | Campo Grande | 39.9% |
| 83 | Fortaleza | 39.8% |
| 84 | Araçatuba | 39.8% |
| 85 | Sorocaba | 39.8% |
| 86 | Luís Eduardo Magalhães | 39.6% |
Median monthly household income per person (2022)
Fortaleza ranks 222 of 320, highest first.
| Rank | City | Median monthly household income per person |
|---|---|---|
| 219 | São Gonçalo | R$ 909 |
| 220 | Ribeirão das Neves | R$ 906 |
| 221 | Araruama | R$ 904 |
| 222 | Fortaleza | R$ 900 |
| 223 | Itaquaquecetuba | R$ 900 |
| 224 | Salvador | R$ 888 |
| 225 | Parauapebas | R$ 875 |
More on Fortaleza: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · government budget · all cities in Brazil
Sources
- Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE): Estatísticas do Cadastro Central de Empresas (CEMPRE) 2022-2024: local units, companies and organisations, employed persons, salaried employees, wages and average monthly salary (SIDRA table 9509; Brazil, states and the 320 listed municipalities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 6512e29fcaa1…)
- Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE): Produto Interno Bruto dos Municípios, database 2010-2023 (text format, with layout): GDP, GDP per person and gross value added by sector for every municipality, with IBGE urban hierarchy, metropolitan region, Legal Amazon and semi-arid classifications, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 1179047b0bcc…)
- Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE): Censo Demográfico 2022: mean and median monthly household income per person of residents of permanent private households, Brazil, states and municipalities (SIDRA table 10295), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 34331c7982e4…)
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