Economy, jobs and prices in São Luís, Brazil: official figures
São Luís' gross domestic product was R$ 42.4 billion in 2023 at current prices, 0.39% of Brazil's GDP and the 33rd largest of Brazil's 5,570 municipalities.
What is the GDP per capita of São Luís?
GDP per person in São Luís was R$ 40,846 in 2023, the 1941st highest of Brazil's 5,570 municipalities and the 135th 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 Maranhão state's economy is in São Luís?
São Luís produced 28.4% of the GDP of Maranhão state in 2023, while holding 15.5% of its 2026 population.
Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE) · saved copyWhat are the main industries in São Luís?
In 2021, the latest year with a breakdown by sector, private services made up 61.0% of São Luís' gross value added, industry 25.2%, public administration, education and health 13.7% 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 São Luís depend on?
The three activities adding the most value to São Luís' 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 146th highest of 320 major Brazilian cities.
Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE) · saved copyWhat is the average salary in São Luís?
Salaried employees of companies and organisations in São Luís earned an average of R$ 3,960.43 a month in 2024 (2.8 minimum wages), the 256th highest of Brazil's 5,570 municipalities and the 65th highest of 320 major Brazilian cities (Brazil: R$ 3,932.44).
Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE) · saved copyAre wages rising in São Luís?
The average monthly salary in São Luís rose from R$ 3,375.78 in 2022 to R$ 3,960.43 in 2024 in current reais (+17.3%; Brazil: +11.0%). In minimum wages it went from 2.8 to 2.8.
Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE) · saved copyHow many people have formal jobs in São Luís?
Registered companies and organisations in São Luís employed 484,663 people at the end of 2024, 420,168 of them salaried, equal to 44.5% of the estimated population; the 56th 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 São Luís?
Employment in registered firms and organisations in São Luís grew from 437,495 in 2022 to 484,663 in 2024 (+10.8%; Brazil: +8.4%).
Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE) · saved copyHow many companies are there in São Luís?
52,271 companies and other organisations were active in São Luís in 2024, about 48 per 1,000 residents (the 160th lowest of 320 major Brazilian cities), and they paid R$ 21.5 billion in wages and other pay over the year.
Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE) · saved copyWhat is the average income in São Luís?
The median monthly household income per person in São Luís was R$ 867 at the 2022 census, the 92nd lowest of 320 major Brazilian cities and the 2689th lowest 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 São Luís went from R$ 17,997 in 2010 to R$ 40,846 in 2023, a rise of 127%. Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE) · saved copy
How São Luís compares with other cities in Brazil
GDP at current prices (2023)
São Luís ranks 32 of 320, highest first.
| Rank | City | GDP at current prices |
|---|---|---|
| 29 | Contagem | R$ 45.1 billion |
| 30 | Piracicaba | R$ 44.4 billion |
| 31 | Campos dos Goytacazes | R$ 43.0 billion |
| 32 | São Luís | R$ 42.4 billion |
| 33 | Campo Grande | R$ 42.3 billion |
| 34 | Belém | R$ 40.5 billion |
| 35 | Cuiabá | R$ 39.1 billion |
GDP per person at current prices (2023)
São Luís ranks 186 of 320, highest first.
| Rank | City | GDP per person at current prices |
|---|---|---|
| 183 | Várzea Paulista | R$ 40,909 |
| 184 | Birigui | R$ 40,902 |
| 185 | Cachoeiro de Itapemirim | R$ 40,873 |
| 186 | São Luís | R$ 40,846 |
| 187 | Franca | R$ 40,778 |
| 188 | Votorantim | R$ 40,725 |
| 189 | Ilhéus | R$ 40,495 |
Industry share of gross value added (2021)
São Luís ranks 146 of 320, highest first.
| Rank | City | Industry share of gross value added |
|---|---|---|
| 143 | Feira de Santana | 25.9% |
| 144 | Santa Rita | 25.5% |
| 145 | Sobral | 25.4% |
| 146 | São Luís | 25.2% |
| 147 | Itapetininga | 25.0% |
| 148 | Aparecida de Goiânia | 24.8% |
| 149 | Varginha | 24.8% |
Active companies and organisations per 1,000 residents (2024)
São Luís ranks 161 of 320, highest first.
| Rank | City | Active companies and organisations per 1,000 residents |
|---|---|---|
| 158 | Santa Bárbara D'Oeste | 48.1 |
| 159 | Montes Claros | 48.1 |
| 160 | Formosa | 48.1 |
| 161 | São Luís | 48.0 |
| 162 | Gravataí | 47.8 |
| 163 | Linhares | 47.1 |
| 164 | Teresina | 47.0 |
Average monthly salary of formal employees (2024)
São Luís ranks 65 of 320, highest first.
| Rank | City | Average monthly salary of formal employees |
|---|---|---|
| 62 | Três Lagoas | R$ 4,012.14 |
| 63 | Sertãozinho | R$ 3,976.93 |
| 64 | Natal | R$ 3,963.97 |
| 65 | São Luís | R$ 3,960.43 |
| 66 | Itatiba | R$ 3,943.01 |
| 67 | Manaus | R$ 3,937.71 |
| 68 | Botucatu | R$ 3,924.67 |
Average monthly salary in minimum wages (2024)
São Luís ranks 63 of 320, highest first.
| Rank | City | Average monthly salary in minimum wages |
|---|---|---|
| 60 | Jandira | 2.9 |
| 61 | Guaratinguetá | 2.9 |
| 62 | Manaus | 2.8 |
| 63 | São Luís | 2.8 |
| 64 | Natal | 2.8 |
| 65 | Londrina | 2.8 |
| 66 | Macapá | 2.8 |
People employed by registered firms and organisations, % of population (2024)
São Luís ranks 56 of 320, highest first.
| Rank | City | People employed by registered firms and organisations, % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 53 | São José do Rio Preto | 45.0% |
| 54 | Novo Hamburgo | 44.9% |
| 55 | São José dos Pinhais | 44.7% |
| 56 | São Luís | 44.5% |
| 57 | Rio de Janeiro | 44.5% |
| 58 | Aracaju | 44.2% |
| 59 | São Carlos | 44.1% |
Median monthly household income per person (2022)
São Luís ranks 229 of 320, highest first.
| Rank | City | Median monthly household income per person |
|---|---|---|
| 226 | Itapevi | R$ 875 |
| 227 | Corumbá | R$ 875 |
| 228 | Teresina | R$ 868 |
| 229 | São Luís | R$ 867 |
| 230 | Porto Velho | R$ 867 |
| 231 | Mossoró | R$ 867 |
| 232 | Barreiras | R$ 850 |
More on São Luís: 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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