Economy, jobs and prices in Porto Alegre, Brazil: official figures
Porto Alegre's gross domestic product was R$ 104.7 billion in 2023 at current prices, 0.96% of Brazil's GDP and the 9th largest of Brazil's 5,570 municipalities.
What is the GDP per capita of Porto Alegre?
GDP per person in Porto Alegre was R$ 78,587 in 2023, the 500th highest of Brazil's 5,570 municipalities and the 55th highest 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 Rio Grande do Sul state's economy is in Porto Alegre?
Porto Alegre produced 16.1% of the GDP of Rio Grande do Sul state in 2023, while holding 12.4% of its 2026 population.
Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE) · saved copyWhat are the main industries in Porto Alegre?
In 2021, the latest year with a breakdown by sector, private services made up 79.1% of Porto Alegre's gross value added, industry 9.5%, public administration, education and health 11.4% and agriculture 0.1% (Brazil: 50.7%, 25.8%, 15.8% and 7.7%).
Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE) · saved copyWhat does the economy of Porto Alegre depend on?
The three activities adding the most value to Porto Alegre'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 32nd lowest of 320 major Brazilian cities.
Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE) · saved copyWhat is the average salary in Porto Alegre?
Salaried employees of companies and organisations in Porto Alegre earned an average of R$ 5,306.67 a month in 2024 (3.8 minimum wages), the 30th highest of Brazil's 5,570 municipalities and the 13th highest of 320 major Brazilian cities (Brazil: R$ 3,932.44).
Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE) · saved copyAre wages rising in Porto Alegre?
The average monthly salary in Porto Alegre rose from R$ 4,797.08 in 2022 to R$ 5,306.67 in 2024 in current reais (+10.6%; Brazil: +11.0%). In minimum wages it went from 4.0 to 3.8.
Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE) · saved copyHow many people have formal jobs in Porto Alegre?
Registered companies and organisations in Porto Alegre employed 892,726 people at the end of 2024, 699,207 of them salaried, equal to 64.3% of the estimated population; the 9th 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 Porto Alegre?
Employment in registered firms and organisations in Porto Alegre grew from 843,244 in 2022 to 892,726 in 2024 (+5.9%; Brazil: +8.4%).
Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE) · saved copyHow many companies are there in Porto Alegre?
146,301 companies and other organisations were active in Porto Alegre in 2024, about 105 per 1,000 residents (the 9th highest of 320 major Brazilian cities), and they paid R$ 47.9 billion in wages and other pay over the year.
Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE) · saved copyWhat is the average income in Porto Alegre?
The median monthly household income per person in Porto Alegre was R$ 1,700 at the 2022 census, the 15th highest of 320 major Brazilian cities and the 89th 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 Porto Alegre went from R$ 30,303 in 2010 to R$ 78,587 in 2023, a rise of 159%. Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE) · saved copy
How Porto Alegre compares with other cities in Brazil
GDP at current prices (2023)
Porto Alegre ranks 9 of 320, highest first.
| Rank | City | GDP at current prices |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Manaus | R$ 127.6 billion |
| 7 | Curitiba | R$ 120.1 billion |
| 8 | Osasco | R$ 119.4 billion |
| 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 |
GDP per person at current prices (2023)
Porto Alegre ranks 55 of 320, highest first.
| Rank | City | GDP per person at current prices |
|---|---|---|
| 52 | Valinhos | R$ 80,719 |
| 53 | Erechim | R$ 80,385 |
| 54 | Araxá | R$ 79,212 |
| 55 | Porto Alegre | R$ 78,587 |
| 56 | Brusque | R$ 78,308 |
| 57 | Cabo de Santo Agostinho | R$ 78,144 |
| 58 | Pinhais | R$ 77,568 |
Industry share of gross value added (2021)
Porto Alegre ranks 289 of 320, highest first.
| Rank | City | Industry share of gross value added |
|---|---|---|
| 286 | Patos | 9.8% |
| 287 | Planaltina | 9.8% |
| 288 | Manacapuru | 9.7% |
| 289 | Porto Alegre | 9.5% |
| 290 | Nova Iguaçu | 9.5% |
| 291 | São Paulo | 9.5% |
| 292 | Juazeiro do Norte | 9.4% |
Active companies and organisations per 1,000 residents (2024)
Porto Alegre ranks 9 of 320, highest first.
| Rank | City | Active companies and organisations per 1,000 residents |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Florianópolis | 117.6 |
| 7 | Vitória | 116.9 |
| 8 | Itajaí | 107.4 |
| 9 | Porto Alegre | 105.3 |
| 10 | São Paulo | 102.6 |
| 11 | Santana de Parnaíba | 101.0 |
| 12 | Belo Horizonte | 97.2 |
Average monthly salary of formal employees (2024)
Porto Alegre ranks 13 of 320, highest first.
| Rank | City | Average monthly salary of formal employees |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Hortolândia | R$ 5,439.73 |
| 11 | Vitória | R$ 5,375.96 |
| 12 | Rio de Janeiro | R$ 5,310.53 |
| 13 | Porto Alegre | R$ 5,306.67 |
| 14 | Campinas | R$ 5,279.66 |
| 15 | Nova Lima | R$ 5,081.17 |
| 16 | Curitiba | R$ 5,070.73 |
Average monthly salary in minimum wages (2024)
Porto Alegre ranks 12 of 320, highest first.
| Rank | City | Average monthly salary in minimum wages |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Barueri | 3.9 |
| 10 | Hortolândia | 3.9 |
| 11 | Rio de Janeiro | 3.8 |
| 12 | Porto Alegre | 3.8 |
| 13 | Vitória | 3.8 |
| 14 | Campinas | 3.7 |
| 15 | Curitiba | 3.6 |
People employed by registered firms and organisations, % of population (2024)
Porto Alegre ranks 9 of 320, highest first.
| Rank | City | People employed by registered firms and organisations, % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Curitiba | 69.0% |
| 7 | Nova Lima | 67.2% |
| 8 | Palmas | 65.3% |
| 9 | Porto Alegre | 64.3% |
| 10 | Lauro de Freitas | 64.2% |
| 11 | Brasília | 61.5% |
| 12 | Macaé | 60.7% |
Median monthly household income per person (2022)
Porto Alegre ranks 15 of 320, highest first.
| Rank | City | Median monthly household income per person |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | Maringá | R$ 1,767 |
| 13 | Vitória | R$ 1,750 |
| 14 | Paulínia | R$ 1,750 |
| 15 | Porto Alegre | R$ 1,700 |
| 16 | Erechim | R$ 1,700 |
| 17 | São José | R$ 1,667 |
| 18 | Caxias do Sul | R$ 1,667 |
More on Porto Alegre: 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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