Government budget and revenue in Ceara, Brazil: official figures
The Ceara state government took in R$46.0 billion in 2025, R$4,959 per resident, 2nd lowest of 27 federation units per person (all 27 combined: R$6,759). Revenue was up 16.6% on 2024 (R$39.4 billion), before adjusting for inflation (all 27 combined: up 7.5%).
Where does the Ceara state budget come from?
Taxes, fees and improvement levies brought in R$18.1 billion or 39% of Ceara's 2025 revenue, and borrowing (credit operations) added R$3.81 billion. The budget had forecast revenue of R$46.1 billion; 100% of it was realised.
Source: Secretaria do Tesouro Nacional (National Treasury), SICONFI · saved copyHow much does the Ceara state government spend?
The Ceara state government committed R$44.8 billion of spending in 2025, R$4,839 per resident, 2nd lowest of 27 (all 27 combined: R$6,789). That was up 11.5% on 2024 and R$1.12 billion less than the revenue it took in.
Source: Secretaria do Tesouro Nacional (National Treasury), SICONFI · saved copyHow much does Ceara spend on public servants?
Payroll and social charges for all branches took R$21.0 billion in 2025, 46.9% of Ceara's committed spending, 8th lowest share of 27 (all 27 combined: 48.7%); the bill was up 9.8% on 2024.
Source: Secretaria do Tesouro Nacional (National Treasury), SICONFI · saved copyIs Ceara within the legal limit on personnel spending?
Under the Fiscal Responsibility Law, personnel spending by the Ceara executive branch was 40.92% of adjusted net current revenue in the 12 months to December 2025 (R$16.1 billion), against a ceiling of 49.00%, so below the prudential limit of 46.55%. That is 13th lowest of 27 federation units.
Source: Secretaria do Tesouro Nacional (National Treasury), SICONFI · saved copyHow much debt does Ceara have?
Ceara's net consolidated debt was R$12.0 billion at the end of 2025, 30.2% of net current revenue, 11th highest of 27 federation units (limit set by Senate resolution, as recorded in the report: R$79.1 billion). A year earlier it was R$12.0 billion, or 33.1%.
Source: Secretaria do Tesouro Nacional (National Treasury), SICONFI · saved copyWhat is the debt per person in Ceara?
Gross consolidated debt of the Ceara state government stood at R$19.8 billion on 31 December 2025 (up 4.3% in the year). Net of cash and other financial assets that is R$1,291 per resident, 11th lowest of 27 (all 27 combined: R$4,548).
Source: Secretaria do Tesouro Nacional (National Treasury), SICONFI · saved copyHow much does Ceara spend on debt service?
The Ceara state government paid R$1.09 billion in interest and R$1.62 billion in debt repayments in 2025, together 6.8% of its net current revenue (5th highest of 27; all 27 combined: 5.7%).
Source: Secretaria do Tesouro Nacional (National Treasury), SICONFI · saved copyHow much ICMS does Ceara collect?
Ceara collected R$21.4 billion in ICMS, the state tax on goods and services, in 2025, R$2,314 per resident, 3rd lowest of 27 (all 27 combined: R$4,043). Collections were up 6.2% on 2024, before inflation (all 27 combined: up 6.8%).
Source: Secretaria do Tesouro Nacional (National Treasury), SICONFI · saved copyHow important is ICMS to the Ceara budget?
ICMS made up 39.4% of Ceara's current revenue in 2025, 13th lowest share of 27 (all 27 combined: 48.9%), counted before the shares passed on to municipalities and to the FUNDEB education fund. The vehicle tax (IPVA) raised R$2.16 billion.
Source: Secretaria do Tesouro Nacional (National Treasury), SICONFI · saved copyHow much does Ceara depend on federal transfers?
The federal transfer to states (Fundo de Participacao dos Estados, FPE) gave Ceara R$14.5 billion in 2025, equal to 36.7% of its net current revenue of R$39.6 billion, 12th highest share of 27 (all 27 combined: 16.3%).
Source: Secretaria do Tesouro Nacional (National Treasury), SICONFI · saved copyHow much does Ceara spend on health and education?
Health took 16.9% of Ceara's committed spending in 2025 (R$7.57 billion), 11th highest share of 27 (all 27 combined: 14.3%), and education 16.2% (R$7.27 billion), 11th lowest share of 27 (all 27 combined: 16.8%).
Source: Secretaria do Tesouro Nacional (National Treasury), SICONFI · saved copyHow much does Ceara spend on police and pensions?
Public security spending in Ceara was R$5.41 billion in 2025, R$583 per resident, 9th lowest of 27 (all 27 combined: R$657). Pensions and retirement benefits (the social security function) took 13.6% of spending (all 27 combined: 16.0%).
Source: Secretaria do Tesouro Nacional (National Treasury), SICONFI · saved copyHow much does Ceara invest in public works?
The Ceara state government committed R$4.73 billion to investment (public works and equipment) in 2025, 10.5% of its spending, 11th highest share of 27 (all 27 combined: 8.2%); in 2024 it committed R$3.89 billion.
Source: Secretaria do Tesouro Nacional (National Treasury), SICONFI · saved copyDoes Ceara have a budget surplus or deficit?
Ceara's primary result for 2025, excluding the civil-service pension scheme, was a deficit of R$1.23 billion (-3.1% of net current revenue, 5th lowest of 27). The budget guidelines law had set a target of a deficit of R$2.63 billion, so the result was better than the target.
Source: Secretaria do Tesouro Nacional (National Treasury), SICONFI · saved copyHow Ceara compares with other states
State government revenue per person (2025)
Ceara ranks 26 of 27, highest first. Revenue realised in 2025, excluding intra-budget transactions, divided by the IBGE population estimate for 1 July 2025
| Rank | Region | State government revenue per person |
|---|---|---|
| 21 | Para | R$5,782 |
| 22 | Minas Gerais | R$5,550 |
| 23 | Paraiba | R$5,537 |
| 24 | Pernambuco | R$5,495 |
| 25 | Bahia | R$5,252 |
| 26 | Ceara | R$4,959 |
| 27 | Maranhao | R$4,900 |
State government spending per person (2025)
Ceara ranks 26 of 27, highest first. Expenditure committed (empenhada) in 2025, excluding intra-budget transactions, per resident
| Rank | Region | State government spending per person |
|---|---|---|
| 21 | Para | R$5,612 |
| 22 | Paraiba | R$5,547 |
| 23 | Minas Gerais | R$5,494 |
| 24 | Pernambuco | R$5,477 |
| 25 | Bahia | R$5,218 |
| 26 | Ceara | R$4,839 |
| 27 | Maranhao | R$4,779 |
ICMS (state sales tax) collected per person (2025)
Ceara ranks 25 of 27, highest first. ICMS revenue over the 12 months to December 2025, before the shares passed to municipalities and FUNDEB
| Rank | Region | ICMS (state sales tax) collected per person |
|---|---|---|
| 21 | Sergipe | R$2,651 |
| 22 | Paraiba | R$2,534 |
| 23 | Acre | R$2,511 |
| 24 | Piaui | R$2,505 |
| 25 | Ceara | R$2,314 |
| 26 | Maranhao | R$2,253 |
| 27 | Amapa | R$2,111 |
Change in ICMS revenue, 2024 to 2025 (2025)
Ceara ranks 18 of 27, highest first. Nominal change, not adjusted for inflation
| Rank | Region | Change in ICMS revenue, 2024 to 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 15 | Roraima | +6.6% |
| 16 | Sao Paulo | +6.4% |
| 17 | Bahia | +6.3% |
| 18 | Ceara | +6.2% |
| 19 | Alagoas | +6.1% |
| 20 | Rio Grande do Sul | +6.1% |
| 21 | Santa Catarina | +5.7% |
Executive-branch personnel spending as a share of net current revenue (2025)
Ceara ranks 15 of 27, highest first. Total personnel spending of the executive branch over the 12 months to December 2025, as a share of adjusted net current revenue; the legal ceiling for each state is given in its fact
| Rank | Region | Executive-branch personnel spending as a share of net current revenue |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | Pernambuco | 41.3% |
| 13 | Sao Paulo | 41.3% |
| 14 | Sergipe | 41.2% |
| 15 | Ceara | 40.9% |
| 16 | Bahia | 40.4% |
| 17 | Goias | 40.0% |
| 18 | Alagoas | 38.8% |
Payroll and social charges as a share of state spending (2025)
Ceara ranks 20 of 27, highest first. Personnel and social charges, all branches, as a share of committed expenditure
| Rank | Region | Payroll and social charges as a share of state spending |
|---|---|---|
| 17 | Para | 48.0% |
| 18 | Distrito Federal | 47.9% |
| 19 | Bahia | 47.8% |
| 20 | Ceara | 46.9% |
| 21 | Mato Grosso | 46.7% |
| 22 | Alagoas | 43.8% |
| 23 | Maranhao | 43.6% |
Net consolidated debt as a share of net current revenue (2025)
Ceara ranks 11 of 27, highest first. At 31 December 2025. A negative value means cash and financial assets exceeded gross debt
| Rank | Region | Net consolidated debt as a share of net current revenue |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | Bahia | 35.7% |
| 9 | Goias | 33.5% |
| 10 | Pernambuco | 31.8% |
| 11 | Ceara | 30.2% |
| 12 | Amazonas | 26.4% |
| 13 | Mato Grosso do Sul | 25.0% |
| 14 | Santa Catarina | 23.3% |
Net consolidated debt per person (2025)
Ceara ranks 17 of 27, highest first. At 31 December 2025, divided by the IBGE population estimate for 1 July 2025
| Rank | Region | Net consolidated debt per person |
|---|---|---|
| 14 | Tocantins | R$1,589 |
| 15 | Pernambuco | R$1,567 |
| 16 | Santa Catarina | R$1,451 |
| 17 | Ceara | R$1,291 |
| 18 | Roraima | R$1,106 |
| 19 | Sergipe | R$504 |
| 20 | Para | R$462 |
Federal FPE transfer as a share of net current revenue (2025)
Ceara ranks 12 of 27, highest first. Cota-parte do Fundo de Participacao dos Estados over the 12 months to December 2025
| Rank | Region | Federal FPE transfer as a share of net current revenue |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Maranhao | 44.3% |
| 10 | Rio Grande do Norte | 43.2% |
| 11 | Rondonia | 37.3% |
| 12 | Ceara | 36.7% |
| 13 | Pernambuco | 30.0% |
| 14 | Para | 28.0% |
| 15 | Bahia | 27.3% |
Health as a share of state spending (2025)
Ceara ranks 11 of 27, highest first. Committed expenditure on the health function as a share of all committed expenditure
| Rank | Region | Health as a share of state spending |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | Acre | 17.9% |
| 9 | Paraiba | 17.4% |
| 10 | Rondonia | 16.9% |
| 11 | Ceara | 16.9% |
| 12 | Maranhao | 16.4% |
| 13 | Santa Catarina | 16.2% |
| 14 | Piaui | 15.8% |
Education as a share of state spending (2025)
Ceara ranks 17 of 27, highest first. Committed expenditure on the education function as a share of all committed expenditure
| Rank | Region | Education as a share of state spending |
|---|---|---|
| 14 | Santa Catarina | 16.5% |
| 15 | Minas Gerais | 16.3% |
| 16 | Rio Grande do Norte | 16.2% |
| 17 | Ceara | 16.2% |
| 18 | Mato Grosso do Sul | 15.0% |
| 19 | Tocantins | 14.7% |
| 20 | Mato Grosso | 14.3% |
State spending on public security per person (2025)
Ceara ranks 19 of 27, highest first. Committed expenditure on the public security function (police, civil defence) per resident
| Rank | Region | State spending on public security per person |
|---|---|---|
| 16 | Para | R$631 |
| 17 | Parana | R$619 |
| 18 | Paraiba | R$590 |
| 19 | Ceara | R$583 |
| 20 | Piaui | R$582 |
| 21 | Distrito Federal | R$570 |
| 22 | Rio Grande do Norte | R$568 |
Investment as a share of state spending (2025)
Ceara ranks 11 of 27, highest first. Capital investment (works and equipment) as a share of committed expenditure
| Rank | Region | Investment as a share of state spending |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | Alagoas | 11.6% |
| 9 | Mato Grosso do Sul | 11.1% |
| 10 | Santa Catarina | 10.6% |
| 11 | Ceara | 10.5% |
| 12 | Bahia | 10.3% |
| 13 | Parana | 9.5% |
| 14 | Amapa | 9.3% |
Primary result as a share of net current revenue (2025)
Ceara ranks 23 of 27, highest first. Primary result excluding the pension scheme (RPPS), above the line; positive is a surplus
| Rank | Region | Primary result as a share of net current revenue |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | Bahia | -2.1% |
| 21 | Pernambuco | -2.6% |
| 22 | Rio Grande do Sul | -3.0% |
| 23 | Ceara | -3.1% |
| 24 | Piaui | -6.7% |
| 25 | Paraiba | -8.1% |
| 26 | Parana | -8.5% |
More on Ceara: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · Brazil
Sources
- Secretaria do Tesouro Nacional (National Treasury), SICONFI: RGF 2025, 3rd quadrimester, executive branch, Annex 01: personnel spending against the Fiscal Responsibility Law limits. Bundle of the API responses for the 27 federation units (one JSON file per IBGE state code, with the request URLs in requests.txt), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7d8f1d8fd7ea…)
- Secretaria do Tesouro Nacional (National Treasury), SICONFI: RGF 2025, 3rd quadrimester, Annex 02: consolidated debt (DC), net consolidated debt (DCL) and DCL as a share of net current revenue. Bundle of the API responses for the 27 federation units (one JSON file per IBGE state code, with the request URLs in requests.txt), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 892eae460b6e…)
- Secretaria do Tesouro Nacional (National Treasury), SICONFI: RREO 2025, 6th bimester (January-December), Annex 01: budget balance, revenue realised and expenditure committed, liquidated and paid by economic category. Bundle of the API responses for the 27 federation units (one JSON file per IBGE state code, with the request URLs in requests.txt), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 55a430977b02…)
- Secretaria do Tesouro Nacional (National Treasury), SICONFI: RREO 2025, 6th bimester, Annex 02: expenditure by function and subfunction. Bundle of the API responses for the 27 federation units (one JSON file per IBGE state code, with the request URLs in requests.txt), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0333d62c8b7d…)
- Secretaria do Tesouro Nacional (National Treasury), SICONFI: RREO 2025, 6th bimester, Annex 03: net current revenue (RCL), including ICMS, IPVA and the FPE transfer, last 12 months. Bundle of the API responses for the 27 federation units (one JSON file per IBGE state code, with the request URLs in requests.txt), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 3e095292a3e1…)
- Secretaria do Tesouro Nacional (National Treasury), SICONFI: RREO 2025, 6th bimester, Annex 06: primary and nominal results and the targets set in the budget guidelines law (LDO). Bundle of the API responses for the 27 federation units (one JSON file per IBGE state code, with the request URLs in requests.txt), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 2b7c399333d6…)
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