Health in Fortaleza, Brazil: official figures
Health ministry records show 1,744 deaths of babies under one year old among residents of Fortaleza in 2020-2024 against 151,292 live births, 11.5 infant deaths per 1,000 births; the 152nd highest of 320 major Brazilian cities (Brazil: 12.2).
How many babies die in Fortaleza?
In 2024, 313 babies from Fortaleza died before their first birthday, 11.1 per 1,000 live births, compared with 389 (12.0 per 1,000) in 2020. For Brazil the 2024 figure was 12.6.
Source: Ministry of Health, DATASUS (Departamento de Informação e Informática do SUS) · saved copyHow many babies are born in Fortaleza each year?
28,126 babies were born to mothers living in Fortaleza in 2024, down 13.1% from 32,376 in 2020 (Brazil: -12.5%).
Source: Ministry of Health, DATASUS (Departamento de Informação e Informática do SUS) · saved copyDo pregnant women in Fortaleza get prenatal care?
76.2% of babies born to Fortaleza residents in 2024 had mothers who attended seven or more prenatal appointments; the 109th lowest of 320 major Brazilian cities (Brazil: 79.1%).
Source: Ministry of Health, DATASUS (Departamento de Informação e Informática do SUS) · saved copyDoes Fortaleza have sewerage?
At the 2022 census, 71.0% of residents of Fortaleza lived in homes whose sewage went to the public sewer or rainwater network or to a septic tank connected to it (67.2% straight to the network); the 118th lowest of 320 major Brazilian cities and the 1251st highest of Brazil's 5,570 municipalities (Brazil: 62.6%).
Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE) · saved copyDoes Fortaleza have piped water?
91.0% of Fortaleza's residents had the public mains as their main water source in 2022 (the 120th lowest of 320 major Brazilian cities; Brazil: 83.0%).
Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE) · saved copyMore figures
- For 7.7% of 2024 births in Fortaleza the mother had three or fewer prenatal appointments or none (733 births with no prenatal care recorded; Brazil: 5.4% with three or fewer). Source: Ministry of Health, DATASUS (Departamento de Informação e Informática do SUS) · saved copy
How Fortaleza compares with other cities in Brazil
Infant deaths per 1,000 live births (2020-2024)
Fortaleza ranks 152 of 320, highest first.
| Rank | City | Infant deaths per 1,000 live births |
|---|---|---|
| 149 | Varginha | 11.6 |
| 150 | Cabo de Santo Agostinho | 11.6 |
| 151 | Itaboraí | 11.6 |
| 152 | Fortaleza | 11.5 |
| 153 | Limeira | 11.5 |
| 154 | Caruaru | 11.5 |
| 155 | Natal | 11.4 |
Births with 7 or more prenatal appointments (%) (2024)
Fortaleza ranks 212 of 320, highest first.
| Rank | City | Births with 7 or more prenatal appointments (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 209 | Cachoeirinha | 76.4% |
| 210 | Itaboraí | 76.3% |
| 211 | Castanhal | 76.2% |
| 212 | Fortaleza | 76.2% |
| 213 | Eunápolis | 76.2% |
| 214 | Osasco | 76.1% |
| 215 | Sabará | 75.9% |
Residents with sewage to the network or a connected septic tank (%) (2022)
Fortaleza ranks 203 of 320, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents with sewage to the network or a connected septic tank (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 200 | Simões Filho | 71.9% |
| 201 | Lauro de Freitas | 71.7% |
| 202 | Palmas | 71.5% |
| 203 | Fortaleza | 71.0% |
| 204 | São José | 70.8% |
| 205 | Campo Largo | 70.2% |
| 206 | Angra dos Reis | 70.1% |
Residents with the public mains as main water source (%) (2022)
Fortaleza ranks 201 of 320, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents with the public mains as main water source (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 198 | Nilópolis | 91.4% |
| 199 | São João de Meriti | 91.3% |
| 200 | Itapecerica da Serra | 91.0% |
| 201 | Fortaleza | 91.0% |
| 202 | Nova Lima | 91.0% |
| 203 | Vitória da Conquista | 90.9% |
| 204 | Mesquita | 90.9% |
More on Fortaleza: overview · economy and jobs · education and schools · poverty and living standards · government budget · all cities in Brazil
Sources
- Ministry of Health, DATASUS (Departamento de Informação e Informática do SUS): TabNet, Sistema de Informações sobre Nascidos Vivos (SINASC): live births by mother's municipality of residence and year, 2020-2024 (final data), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 d3eb8c12756b…)
- Ministry of Health, DATASUS (Departamento de Informação e Informática do SUS): TabNet, Sistema de Informações sobre Mortalidade (SIM): infant deaths (under 1 year) by municipality of residence and year, 2020-2024 (final data), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 9c69e0471200…)
- Ministry of Health, DATASUS (Departamento de Informação e Informática do SUS): TabNet, SINASC: live births by mother's municipality of residence and number of prenatal appointments, 2024, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 9206d88e6676…)
- Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE): Censo Demográfico 2022, Agregados por Municípios: household characteristics part 3, residents of occupied permanent private households by sewage destination, water source and rubbish disposal, every municipality, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 1b96b1e32794…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.