Economy, jobs and prices in Maranhao, Brazil: official figures
The gross domestic product of Maranhao was R$149.2 billion in 2023 at current prices, 1.4% of Brazil's R$10.94 trillion and 11th smallest of 27. In current reais it was up 6.8% on 2022.
How fast is the economy of Maranhao growing?
After removing price changes, the economy of Maranhao grew 3.6% in 2023, against 3.2% for Brazil; 10th fastest growth of 27.
Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatistica (IBGE) · saved copyHas the economy of Maranhao grown since 2010?
In real terms, GDP in Maranhao was 34.3% higher in 2023 than in 2010 (Brazil: 15.1% higher), 7th largest growth of 27 over the period. Its share of national GDP moved from 1.19% in 2010 to 1.36% in 2023.
Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatistica (IBGE) · saved copyWhat is the GDP per capita of Maranhao?
Dividing 2023 GDP by the 2022 census population (IBGE used the census count for 2023 because no 2023 estimate was made) gives R$22,021 per person, 0.41 times the Brazilian figure of R$53,887; the lowest of 27.
Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatistica (IBGE) · saved copyWhat are the main industries in Maranhao?
In 2023 services made up 72.7% of gross value added in Maranhao, industry 16.2% and agriculture and livestock 11.1% (10th highest agricultural share of 27; Brazil 6.9%).
Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatistica (IBGE) · saved copyHow big is the public sector in the economy of Maranhao?
The largest activities in the economy of Maranhao in 2023 were public administration, defence, public education and health, and social security (26.8% of gross value added), other services (15.7%) and trade and vehicle repair (12.4%). The public sector (administration, public education and health, social security) accounted for 26.8%, 10th highest of 27.
Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatistica (IBGE) · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Maranhao?
The unemployment rate in Maranhao was 6.0% in April to June 2026, according to IBGE's PNAD Continua survey, against 5.4% for Brazil; 13th highest of 27. A year earlier (April to June 2025) it was 6.6%.
Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatistica (IBGE) · saved copyWhat was the highest unemployment rate in Maranhao?
Since the PNAD Continua series began in 2012, quarterly unemployment in Maranhao peaked at 16.7% in January to March 2019; its lowest rate was 5.6% in October to December 2013.
Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatistica (IBGE) · saved copyWhat is the labour force participation rate in Maranhao?
In April to June 2026, 52.3% of people aged 14 and over in Maranhao were in the labour force (working or looking for work), 5th lowest of 27 (Brazil 62.1%).
Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatistica (IBGE) · saved copyHow many people are employed in Maranhao?
About 2,729,000 people in Maranhao were employed in April to June 2026 and 174,000 were unemployed; 49.2% of the population aged 14 and over had a job (6th lowest of 27).
Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatistica (IBGE) · saved copyHow many workers in Maranhao are informal?
56.9% of employed people in Maranhao worked informally in April to June 2026 (about 1,552,000 people), against 37.4% nationally; the highest of 27. A year earlier the rate was 56.2%.
Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatistica (IBGE) · saved copyWhat is the average salary in Maranhao?
Employed people in Maranhao usually earned an average of R$2,218 a month from their main job in April to June 2026 (Brazil R$3,621); the lowest of 27. Adjusted for inflation that is up 1.1% on a year earlier and up 19.1% on April to June 2019.
Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatistica (IBGE) · saved copyWhat is the average household income in Maranhao?
Average household income per person in Maranhao was R$1,231 a month in 2025, against R$2,264 for Brazil; the lowest of 27.
Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatistica (IBGE) · saved copyHow big is the gap between rich and poor in Maranhao?
In 2025 the richest 10% of people in Maranhao had an average household income of R$4,754 per person a month and the poorest 10% R$151, a ratio of 31.5 to 1 (8th widest gap of 27).
Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatistica (IBGE) · saved copyHow unequal is income in Maranhao?
The Gini index of household income per person in Maranhao was 0.491 in 2025 (Brazil 0.511), tied for 14th most unequal of 27; in 2019 it was 0.531.
Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatistica (IBGE) · saved copyWhat is the average income in Maranhao?
Average household income per person in Maranhao was R$1,079 a month in 2024 and the median was R$717; the average is the lowest of the 26 states and the Federal District (Brazil: R$2,017 average, R$1,328 median).
Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatistica (IBGE) · saved copyIs income growing in Maranhao?
In 2024 prices, average household income per person in Maranhao rose from R$820 a month in 2019 to R$1,079 in 2024, 5.6% a year (Brazil: 2.2% a year); for the poorest 40% it grew 11.3% a year.
Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatistica (IBGE) · saved copyMore figures
- White residents of Maranhao had an average household income of R$1,451 per person a month in 2024, against R$1,001 for Black and mixed-race (preto or pardo) residents. Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatistica (IBGE) · saved copy
How Maranhao compares with other states
GDP at current prices, 2023 (2023)
Maranhao ranks 17 of 27, highest first.
| Rank | Region | GDP at current prices, 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| 14 | Espirito Santo | R$209.8 billion |
| 15 | Mato Grosso do Sul | R$184.4 billion |
| 16 | Amazonas | R$161.8 billion |
| 17 | Maranhao | R$149.2 billion |
| 18 | Rio Grande do Norte | R$101.7 billion |
| 19 | Paraiba | R$97.0 billion |
| 20 | Alagoas | R$89.7 billion |
GDP per person, 2023 (2023 GDP / 2022 census population) (2023)
Maranhao ranks 27 of 27, highest first.
| Rank | Region | GDP per person, 2023 (2023 GDP / 2022 census population) |
|---|---|---|
| 21 | Pernambuco | R$29,857 |
| 22 | Alagoas | R$28,676 |
| 23 | Sergipe | R$27,519 |
| 24 | Ceara | R$26,406 |
| 25 | Piaui | R$24,736 |
| 26 | Paraiba | R$24,395 |
| 27 | Maranhao | R$22,021 |
Real GDP growth, 2023 (2023)
Maranhao ranks 10 of 27, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Real GDP growth, 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Parana | 4.3% |
| 8 | Rio Grande do Norte | 4.2% |
| 9 | Roraima | 4.2% |
| 10 | Maranhao | 3.6% |
| 11 | Alagoas | 3.5% |
| 12 | Minas Gerais | 3.4% |
| 13 | Espirito Santo | 3.4% |
Real GDP growth, 2010-2023 (cumulative) (2010-2023)
Maranhao ranks 7 of 27, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Real GDP growth, 2010-2023 (cumulative) |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Mato Grosso do Sul | 49.6% |
| 5 | Acre | 42.7% |
| 6 | Piaui | 36.7% |
| 7 | Maranhao | 34.3% |
| 8 | Amazonas | 27.5% |
| 9 | Paraiba | 26.9% |
| 10 | Goias | 26.8% |
Agriculture and livestock share of gross value added, 2023 (2023)
Maranhao ranks 10 of 27, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Agriculture and livestock share of gross value added, 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Goias | 16.8% |
| 8 | Piaui | 13.2% |
| 9 | Para | 12.9% |
| 10 | Maranhao | 11.1% |
| 11 | Parana | 11.1% |
| 12 | Bahia | 10.4% |
| 13 | Roraima | 8.9% |
Unemployment rate, Q2 2026 (Q2 2026)
Maranhao ranks 13 of 27, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Unemployment rate, Q2 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Acre | 6.6% |
| 11 | Distrito Federal | 6.5% |
| 12 | Para | 6.2% |
| 13 | Maranhao | 6.0% |
| 14 | Rio Grande do Norte | 5.6% |
| 15 | Sao Paulo | 5.4% |
| 16 | Paraiba | 5.4% |
Labour force participation rate (age 14+), Q2 2026 (Q2 2026)
Maranhao ranks 23 of 27, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Labour force participation rate (age 14+), Q2 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | Paraiba | 54.5% |
| 21 | Acre | 54.4% |
| 22 | Piaui | 52.9% |
| 23 | Maranhao | 52.3% |
| 24 | Pernambuco | 51.8% |
| 25 | Ceara | 51.8% |
| 26 | Alagoas | 51.6% |
Informality rate of employed people, Q2 2026 (Q2 2026)
Maranhao ranks 1 of 27, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Informality rate of employed people, Q2 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maranhao | 56.9% |
| 2 | Para | 55.9% |
| 3 | Amazonas | 51.7% |
| 4 | Bahia | 50.7% |
| 5 | Piaui | 49.5% |
| 6 | Ceara | 48.7% |
| 7 | Sergipe | 47.3% |
Average usual monthly earnings, main job, Q2 2026 (Q2 2026)
Maranhao ranks 27 of 27, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Average usual monthly earnings, main job, Q2 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| 21 | Paraiba | R$2,644 |
| 22 | Ceara | R$2,636 |
| 23 | Para | R$2,506 |
| 24 | Bahia | R$2,469 |
| 25 | Alagoas | R$2,466 |
| 26 | Piaui | R$2,413 |
| 27 | Maranhao | R$2,218 |
Average monthly household income per person, 2025 (2025)
Maranhao ranks 27 of 27, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Average monthly household income per person, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 21 | Bahia | R$1,452 |
| 22 | Amazonas | R$1,450 |
| 23 | Para | R$1,435 |
| 24 | Alagoas | R$1,401 |
| 25 | Ceara | R$1,379 |
| 26 | Acre | R$1,372 |
| 27 | Maranhao | R$1,231 |
Gini index of household income per person, 2025 (2025)
Maranhao ranks 15 of 27, highest first. Gini index: 0 means everyone has the same income, 1 means one person has all of it.
| Rank | Region | Gini index of household income per person, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | Amapa | 0.496 |
| 13 | Para | 0.492 |
| 14 | Sao Paulo | 0.491 |
| 15 | Maranhao | 0.491 |
| 16 | Amazonas | 0.488 |
| 17 | Espirito Santo | 0.480 |
| 18 | Goias | 0.479 |
Average monthly household income per person (R$) (2024)
Maranhao ranks 27 of 27, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Average monthly household income per person (R$) |
|---|---|---|
| 21 | Bahia | R$1,329 |
| 22 | Para | R$1,322 |
| 23 | Alagoas | R$1,318 |
| 24 | Acre | R$1,250 |
| 25 | Amazonas | R$1,237 |
| 26 | Ceara | R$1,202 |
| 27 | Maranhao | R$1,079 |
More on Maranhao: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · government budget · Brazil
Sources
- Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatistica (IBGE): Sistema de Contas Regionais: Brasil 2023, special tables 2010-2023 (table 1 GDP at current prices, table 3 chained volume index of GDP, table 7 composition of gross value added), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 948efefe5846…)
- Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatistica (IBGE): PNAD Continua trimestral: SIDRA table 5436, average real monthly usual earnings from the main job of employed people aged 14 and over, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 136668052cfe…)
- Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatistica (IBGE): PNAD Continua anual: SIDRA table 7435, Gini index of household income per person, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c1d74e53cf3b…)
- Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatistica (IBGE): PNAD Continua anual: SIDRA table 7531, average monthly household income per person (total, poorest 10%, richest 10%), at each year's average prices, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 fbfec5f10cf3…)
- Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatistica (IBGE): Produto Interno Bruto dos Municipios 2023, table 5: share of the five municipalities with the largest GDP in each state's GDP, municipalities and population, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 3a0c51d647ca…)
- Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatistica (IBGE): PNAD Continua trimestral: SIDRA table 4093, people aged 14 and over by labour force status, participation, employment, unemployment and informality rates, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 56ea7680db47…)
- 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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