Poverty and living standards in São Luís, Brazil: official figures
At the 2022 census, 35.4% of residents of São Luís lived in households with an income per person of no more than half the minimum wage (R$ 606 a month), the 90th highest of 320 major Brazilian cities and the 2623rd highest of Brazil's 5,509 municipalities (Brazil: 31.8%).
How many people in São Luís live in extreme poverty?
13.1% of people in São Luís had a household income per person of a quarter of the minimum wage (R$ 303) or less in 2022, including the 2.8% in households with no income, the 91st highest of 320 major Brazilian cities (Brazil: 13.3%).
Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE) · saved copyHow unequal are incomes in São Luís?
The mean household income per person in São Luís was R$ 1,595 a month in 2022, 1.8 times the median of R$ 867; 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 São Luís lack proper sanitation?
17.2% of São Luís' 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 91st highest of 320 major Brazilian cities; Brazil: 24.2%).
Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE) · saved copyIs rubbish collected in São Luís?
Rubbish was collected by a cleaning service, at the door or from a skip, for 96.1% of residents of São Luís in 2022 (Brazil: 91.0%).
Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE) · saved copyMore figures
- 2.8% of São Luís' residents lived in households with no income per person at the 2022 census, the 134th highest of 320 major Brazilian cities (Brazil: 2.9%). Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE) · saved copy
How São Luís compares with other cities in Brazil
People with household income per person up to 1/2 minimum wage (%) (2022)
São Luís ranks 90 of 320, highest first.
| Rank | City | People with household income per person up to 1/2 minimum wage (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 87 | Porto Velho | 36.0% |
| 88 | Luziânia | 35.7% |
| 89 | Barreiras | 35.5% |
| 90 | São Luís | 35.4% |
| 91 | Imperatriz | 35.3% |
| 92 | Fortaleza | 35.0% |
| 93 | Araruama | 34.9% |
People with household income per person up to 1/4 minimum wage (%) (2022)
São Luís ranks 91 of 320, highest first.
| Rank | City | People with household income per person up to 1/4 minimum wage (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 88 | Corumbá | 13.3% |
| 89 | Araruama | 13.3% |
| 90 | Vitória da Conquista | 13.2% |
| 91 | São Luís | 13.1% |
| 92 | Nilópolis | 12.9% |
| 93 | Balsas | 12.7% |
| 94 | Novo Gama | 12.6% |
Residents without adequate sewage disposal (%) (2022)
São Luís ranks 91 of 320, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents without adequate sewage disposal (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 88 | Itaquaquecetuba | 17.9% |
| 89 | Planaltina | 17.6% |
| 90 | Sobral | 17.2% |
| 91 | São Luís | 17.2% |
| 92 | Imperatriz | 17.0% |
| 93 | Barra Mansa | 16.9% |
| 94 | Formosa | 16.8% |
More on São Luís: 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…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.