Poverty and living standards in Fortaleza, Brazil: official figures
At the 2022 census, 35.0% of residents of Fortaleza lived in households with an income per person of no more than half the minimum wage (R$ 606 a month), the 92nd highest of 320 major Brazilian cities and the 2639th highest of Brazil's 5,509 municipalities (Brazil: 31.8%).
How many people in Fortaleza live in extreme poverty?
13.8% of people in Fortaleza had a household income per person of a quarter of the minimum wage (R$ 303) or less in 2022, including the 3.6% in households with no income, the 82nd highest of 320 major Brazilian cities (Brazil: 13.3%).
Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE) · saved copyHow unequal are incomes in Fortaleza?
The mean household income per person in Fortaleza was R$ 1,669 a month in 2022, 1.9 times the median of R$ 900; a wider gap means income is more concentrated at the top (Brazil: mean R$ 1,638, median R$ 1,000).
Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE) · saved copyHow many homes in Fortaleza lack proper sanitation?
11.7% of Fortaleza's residents lived in homes whose sewage went to a rudimentary pit, a ditch, a river, lake or the sea, or that had no bathroom or toilet (2022 census; the 133rd highest of 320 major Brazilian cities; Brazil: 24.2%).
Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE) · saved copyIs rubbish collected in Fortaleza?
Rubbish was collected by a cleaning service, at the door or from a skip, for 99.6% of residents of Fortaleza in 2022 (Brazil: 91.0%).
Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE) · saved copyMore figures
- 3.6% of Fortaleza's residents lived in households with no income per person at the 2022 census, the 59th highest of 320 major Brazilian cities (Brazil: 2.9%). Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE) · saved copy
How Fortaleza compares with other cities in Brazil
People with household income per person up to 1/2 minimum wage (%) (2022)
Fortaleza ranks 92 of 320, highest first.
| Rank | City | People with household income per person up to 1/2 minimum wage (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 89 | Barreiras | 35.5% |
| 90 | São Luís | 35.4% |
| 91 | Imperatriz | 35.3% |
| 92 | Fortaleza | 35.0% |
| 93 | Araruama | 34.9% |
| 94 | Recife | 34.9% |
| 95 | Mossoró | 34.6% |
People with household income per person up to 1/4 minimum wage (%) (2022)
Fortaleza ranks 82 of 320, highest first.
| Rank | City | People with household income per person up to 1/4 minimum wage (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 79 | Teixeira de Freitas | 14.3% |
| 80 | São João de Meriti | 14.2% |
| 81 | Natal | 14.2% |
| 82 | Fortaleza | 13.8% |
| 83 | Ananindeua | 13.8% |
| 84 | Itanhaém | 13.7% |
| 85 | São Pedro da Aldeia | 13.7% |
Residents without adequate sewage disposal (%) (2022)
Fortaleza ranks 133 of 320, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents without adequate sewage disposal (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 130 | Boa Vista | 12.6% |
| 131 | Sabará | 12.6% |
| 132 | Ubá | 12.3% |
| 133 | Fortaleza | 11.7% |
| 134 | Lauro de Freitas | 11.7% |
| 135 | Foz do Iguaçu | 11.7% |
| 136 | Santa Luzia | 11.6% |
More on Fortaleza: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · government budget · all cities in Brazil
Sources
- Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE): Censo Demográfico 2022: residents of permanent private households by class of monthly household income per person in minimum wages, Brazil, states and municipalities (SIDRA table 10296; API response in codes-only format), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 4896427475f0…)
- 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…)
- 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…)
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