Brazil: housing

How many Brazilians own their home?

67.0% of Brazilian homes were owned by a resident in 2025, according to IBGE's PNAD Contínua (SIDRA table 6821): 60.2% already paid off and 6.8% still being paid for. Another 23.8% were rented and 8.9% were lent or provided free.

The figures refer to permanent private homes and come from a household survey, so they carry a margin of error. Ownership here means the home belongs to someone living in it; it does not show whether the land is formally titled, which IBGE asks about separately in the census.

Official sources: IBGE SIDRA: homes by tenure (table 6821)

Are house prices rising in Brazil?

The Central Bank of Brazil's residential property value index (IVG-R) was 790.08 in July 2026, 5.3% higher than in July 2025 (750.48), according to its IVG-R series.

The IVG-R estimates the long-term price trend of homes from bank valuations of properties pledged as collateral for residential mortgages, in the 13 metropolitan areas used for the IPCA, so it covers financed homes rather than all sales and moves gradually from month to month. The change shown here is nominal; consumer prices rose 4.58% in the 12 months to September 2026, according to IBGE.

Official sources: Central Bank of Brazil: IVG-R residential property index

How much does it cost to build a house in Brazil?

The average construction cost in Brazil was R$1,999.73 per square metre in September 2026, according to the SINAPI survey run by IBGE with Caixa (SIDRA table 2296). Materials made up R$1,127.17 and labour R$872.56. Costs were 6.81% higher than a year earlier.

SINAPI is a reference cost for residential building used to budget public works and housing programmes. It covers the structure itself and does not include land, project fees or financing, so the full price of a new home is higher. IBGE also publishes the cost for each state.

Official sources: IBGE SIDRA: SINAPI cost per square metre (table 2296)

What is Brazil's housing deficit?

Brazil's housing deficit was 5.77 million homes in 2024, equal to 7.4% of occupied homes, according to the João Pinheiro Foundation's housing deficit estimates. Of that total, 3.59 million households were counted because of excessive rent burden, 1.16 million because of precarious housing and 1.03 million because of cohabitation.

The foundation calculates the deficit from IBGE's PNAD Contínua and publishes estimates for regions, states and metropolitan areas. Excessive rent burden refers to urban renters on low incomes who spend a large share of income on rent. The deficit counts homes needed to replace inadequate ones or house families living together, not the number of homeless people.

Official sources: João Pinheiro Foundation: housing deficit in Brazil

What is Minha Casa, Minha Vida?

Minha Casa, Minha Vida is the federal housing programme run by the Ministry of Cities. It offers subsidised homes for the lowest income band (Faixa 1) and financed homes for income bands 1, 2 and 3 through Caixa and Banco do Brasil.

The ministry's page says that families are selected by local governments or non-profit organisers for subsidised homes, and by the banks for financed ones, and that no registration fee may be charged. Income limits for each band are set by regulation. The housing deficit that the programme targets is measured by the João Pinheiro Foundation.

Official sources: Ministry of Cities: Minha Casa, Minha Vida

What share of Brazil is urban?

In 2025, the share of people living in urban areas in Brazil was 88.2%, according to the UN Population Division. It is the top of the series, which starts in 2005. It is 5th highest of 33 in Latin America & Caribbean, where the median is 66.2%. Of 193 countries with 2025 data, 25th highest.

What share of Brazil's city dwellers live in slums?

According to UN-Habitat, the share of city dwellers living in slums in Brazil was 14.9% in 2022. No year since 2006 has been lower. Latin America & Caribbean median: 14.7%; Brazil is 13th highest of 26. Of 170 countries with 2022 data, 88th highest.

How many people in Brazil have electricity?

The latest figure from the World Bank, for 2024, is 99.8%. Its high point since 2005 was 2022, at 100.0%; its low point was 2005, at 97.1%. Latin America & Caribbean median: 99.5%; Brazil is 12th highest of 33. World rank, highest first: 104th of 193.

What is access to safe water in Brazil?

88.6%: that is the share of people using safely managed drinking water in Brazil for 2024, according to WHO and UNICEF. No year since 2005 has been higher. It is 2nd highest of 14 in Latin America & Caribbean, where the median is 66.3%. Worldwide: 54th of 134.

How many people in Brazil have a safe toilet?

55.0%: that is the share of people using safely managed sanitation in Brazil for 2024, according to WHO and UNICEF. No year since 2005 has been higher. Across Latin America & Caribbean the middle value was 44.7%, and Brazil placed 6th highest of 16. Worldwide: 74th of 134.

What share of homes in Brazil cook with clean fuels?

The WHO puts the share of people using clean cooking fuels in Brazil at 98.0% in 2024. That is the highest since at least 2005. Across Latin America & Caribbean the middle value was 95.0%, and Brazil placed 7th highest of 33. Of 192 countries with 2024 data, 63rd highest.