Poverty and living standards in Distrito Federal, Brazil: official figures
15.3% of people in Distrito Federal lived on household income below the World Bank poverty line of US$6.85 a day (PPP 2017) in 2024, about 456,000 people; 6th lowest of the 26 states and the Federal District (Brazil: 23.1%).
Is poverty falling in Distrito Federal?
The poverty rate in Distrito Federal was 18.1% in 2019 and 21.2% in 2012, so the 2024 figure of 15.3% is down 2.8 percentage points on 2019 (Brazil: 32.6% in 2019, 23.1% in 2024).
Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatistica (IBGE) · saved copyHow many people live in extreme poverty in Distrito Federal?
1.7% of people in Distrito Federal were in extreme poverty in 2024, living on less than US$2.15 a day (PPP 2017), about R$218 a month per person; 7th lowest of the 26 states and the Federal District (Brazil: 3.5%).
Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatistica (IBGE) · saved copyHow many people in Distrito Federal live on less than a quarter of the minimum wage?
4.7% of people in Distrito Federal lived in households with income of up to a quarter of the minimum wage per person (R$353 a month) in 2024, and a further 11.6% on between a quarter and half (R$704); the first share is 8th lowest of the 26 states and the Federal District (Brazil: 7.9%).
Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatistica (IBGE) · saved copyHow unequal is income in Distrito Federal?
The Gini index of household income per person in Distrito Federal was 0.547 in 2024 (0 means everyone has the same income, 1 that one person has all of it), the most unequal of the 26 states and the Federal District; Brazil's was 0.504. In 2019 Distrito Federal's index was 0.554.
Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatistica (IBGE) · saved copyHow much income do the richest 10% get in Distrito Federal?
The richest 10% of people in Distrito Federal received 41.0% of all household income in 2024 and the poorest 40% received 9.6%, a Palma ratio of 4.28 (Brazil: 3.31).
Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatistica (IBGE) · saved copyMore figures
- Counting only income from work, pensions and other non-benefit sources, the Gini index in Distrito Federal would have been 0.566 in 2024 instead of 0.547 (Brazil: 0.542 instead of 0.504). Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatistica (IBGE) · saved copy
How Distrito Federal compares with other federal districts
People below the US$6.85 a day poverty line (%) (2024)
Distrito Federal ranks 22 of 27, highest first. Household income per person below US$6.85 a day at 2017 purchasing power parity; PNAD Continua.
| Rank | Region | People below the US$6.85 a day poverty line (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 19 | Mato Grosso do Sul | 17.5% |
| 20 | Minas Gerais | 16.8% |
| 21 | Goias | 15.9% |
| 22 | Distrito Federal | 15.3% |
| 23 | Sao Paulo | 14.0% |
| 24 | Parana | 13.7% |
| 25 | Mato Grosso | 13.1% |
People in extreme poverty, below US$2.15 a day (%) (2024)
Distrito Federal ranks 21 of 27, highest first.
| Rank | Region | People in extreme poverty, below US$2.15 a day (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 18 | Minas Gerais | 2.2% |
| 19 | Parana | 1.8% |
| 20 | Espirito Santo | 1.7% |
| 21 | Distrito Federal | 1.7% |
| 22 | Rondonia | 1.7% |
| 23 | Mato Grosso | 1.6% |
| 24 | Goias | 1.6% |
Poverty rate without government social benefits (%) (2024)
Distrito Federal ranks 22 of 27, highest first. IBGE simulation removing income from social programmes such as Bolsa Familia and BPC.
| Rank | Region | Poverty rate without government social benefits (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 19 | Rio de Janeiro | 22.5% |
| 20 | Minas Gerais | 21.9% |
| 21 | Goias | 20.7% |
| 22 | Distrito Federal | 19.6% |
| 23 | Parana | 17.4% |
| 24 | Mato Grosso | 17.2% |
| 25 | Sao Paulo | 17.1% |
Gini index of household income per person (2024)
Distrito Federal ranks 1 of 27, highest first. 0 = complete equality, 1 = complete inequality.
| Rank | Region | Gini index of household income per person |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Distrito Federal | 0.547 |
| 2 | Pernambuco | 0.530 |
| 3 | Roraima | 0.530 |
| 4 | Rio de Janeiro | 0.522 |
| 5 | Rio Grande do Norte | 0.522 |
| 6 | Alagoas | 0.516 |
| 7 | Amapa | 0.509 |
People living on up to 1/4 minimum wage per person (%) (2024)
Distrito Federal ranks 20 of 27, highest first.
| Rank | Region | People living on up to 1/4 minimum wage per person (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 17 | Espirito Santo | 5.2% |
| 18 | Minas Gerais | 4.9% |
| 19 | Rondonia | 4.8% |
| 20 | Distrito Federal | 4.7% |
| 21 | Goias | 4.3% |
| 22 | Mato Grosso do Sul | 4.1% |
| 23 | Sao Paulo | 3.8% |
More on Distrito Federal: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · government budget · Brazil
Sources
- Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatistica (IBGE): Sintese de Indicadores Sociais 2025, chapter 2 tables (income distribution and poverty): Tables 2.1, 2.11, 2.13, 2.14, 2.15, 2.18, 2.20, 2.22, 2.23 (PNAD Continua 2024), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 e2084f0fca81…)
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