Poverty and living standards in Recife, Brazil: official figures
At the 2022 census, 34.9% of residents of Recife lived in households with an income per person of no more than half the minimum wage (R$ 606 a month), the 94th highest of 320 major Brazilian cities and the 2658th highest of Brazil's 5,509 municipalities (Brazil: 31.8%).
How many people in Recife live in extreme poverty?
15.2% of people in Recife had a household income per person of a quarter of the minimum wage (R$ 303) or less in 2022, including the 3.9% in households with no income, the 72nd highest of 320 major Brazilian cities (Brazil: 13.3%).
Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE) · saved copyHow unequal are incomes in Recife?
The mean household income per person in Recife was R$ 2,285 a month in 2022, 2.4 times the median of R$ 971; 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 Recife lack proper sanitation?
22.9% of Recife'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 63rd highest of 320 major Brazilian cities; Brazil: 24.2%).
Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE) · saved copyIs rubbish collected in Recife?
Rubbish was collected by a cleaning service, at the door or from a skip, for 98.3% of residents of Recife in 2022 (Brazil: 91.0%).
Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE) · saved copyMore figures
- 3.9% of Recife's residents lived in households with no income per person at the 2022 census, the 38th highest of 320 major Brazilian cities (Brazil: 2.9%). Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE) · saved copy
How Recife compares with other cities in Brazil
People with household income per person up to 1/2 minimum wage (%) (2022)
Recife ranks 94 of 320, highest first.
| Rank | City | People with household income per person up to 1/2 minimum wage (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 91 | Imperatriz | 35.3% |
| 92 | Fortaleza | 35.0% |
| 93 | Araruama | 34.9% |
| 94 | Recife | 34.9% |
| 95 | Mossoró | 34.6% |
| 96 | Teresina | 34.5% |
| 97 | Corumbá | 34.4% |
People with household income per person up to 1/4 minimum wage (%) (2022)
Recife ranks 72 of 320, highest first.
| Rank | City | People with household income per person up to 1/4 minimum wage (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 69 | Ilhéus | 15.5% |
| 70 | Paulista | 15.4% |
| 71 | São Gonçalo do Amarante | 15.3% |
| 72 | Recife | 15.2% |
| 73 | Belém | 14.9% |
| 74 | Itapevi | 14.9% |
| 75 | Maceió | 14.8% |
Residents without adequate sewage disposal (%) (2022)
Recife ranks 63 of 320, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents without adequate sewage disposal (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 60 | Magé | 25.0% |
| 61 | Porto Seguro | 24.7% |
| 62 | Vitória de Santo Antão | 23.5% |
| 63 | Recife | 22.9% |
| 64 | Ilhéus | 22.6% |
| 65 | Campos dos Goytacazes | 22.5% |
| 66 | Francisco Morato | 22.5% |
More on Recife: 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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