Poverty and living standards in Pernambuco, Brazil: official figures
40.2% of people in Pernambuco lived on household income below the World Bank poverty line of US$6.85 a day (PPP 2017) in 2024, about 3.81 million people; 5th highest of the 26 states and the Federal District (Brazil: 23.1%).
Is poverty falling in Pernambuco?
The poverty rate in Pernambuco was 52.0% in 2019 and 54.1% in 2012, so the 2024 figure of 40.2% is down 11.8 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 Pernambuco?
6.2% of people in Pernambuco were in extreme poverty in 2024, living on less than US$2.15 a day (PPP 2017), about R$218 a month per person; 6th highest of the 26 states and the Federal District (Brazil: 3.5%).
Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatistica (IBGE) · saved copyHow many people in Pernambuco live on less than a quarter of the minimum wage?
16.1% of people in Pernambuco 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 26.6% on between a quarter and half (R$704); the first share is 3rd highest 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 Pernambuco?
The Gini index of household income per person in Pernambuco was 0.530 in 2024 (0 means everyone has the same income, 1 that one person has all of it), 2nd most unequal of the 26 states and the Federal District; Brazil's was 0.504. In 2019 Pernambuco's index was 0.573.
Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatistica (IBGE) · saved copyHow much income do the richest 10% get in Pernambuco?
The richest 10% of people in Pernambuco received 43.1% of all household income in 2024 and the poorest 40% received 11.2%, a Palma ratio of 3.84 (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 Pernambuco would have been 0.612 in 2024 instead of 0.530 (Brazil: 0.542 instead of 0.504). Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatistica (IBGE) · saved copy
How Pernambuco compares with other states
People below the US$6.85 a day poverty line (%) (2024)
Pernambuco ranks 5 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 (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Maranhao | 45.8% |
| 3 | Ceara | 43.3% |
| 4 | Alagoas | 40.9% |
| 5 | Pernambuco | 40.2% |
| 6 | Amazonas | 39.2% |
| 7 | Para | 38.6% |
| 8 | Paraiba | 38.3% |
People in extreme poverty, below US$2.15 a day (%) (2024)
Pernambuco ranks 6 of 27, highest first.
| Rank | Region | People in extreme poverty, below US$2.15 a day (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Acre | 7.6% |
| 4 | Alagoas | 6.8% |
| 5 | Roraima | 6.5% |
| 6 | Pernambuco | 6.2% |
| 7 | Bahia | 5.7% |
| 8 | Rio Grande do Norte | 5.2% |
| 9 | Amazonas | 5.1% |
Poverty rate without government social benefits (%) (2024)
Pernambuco ranks 7 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 (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Para | 49.1% |
| 5 | Amazonas | 48.8% |
| 6 | Alagoas | 48.4% |
| 7 | Pernambuco | 48.0% |
| 8 | Piaui | 47.1% |
| 9 | Paraiba | 46.3% |
| 10 | Roraima | 46.2% |
Gini index of household income per person (2024)
Pernambuco ranks 2 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)
Pernambuco ranks 3 of 27, highest first.
| Rank | Region | People living on up to 1/4 minimum wage per person (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maranhao | 20.9% |
| 2 | Ceara | 17.1% |
| 3 | Pernambuco | 16.1% |
| 4 | Acre | 16.0% |
| 5 | Alagoas | 15.3% |
| 6 | Bahia | 13.8% |
| 7 | Para | 13.8% |
More on Pernambuco: 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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