Economy, jobs and prices in Piaui, Brazil: official figures
The gross domestic product of Piaui was R$80.9 billion in 2023 at current prices, 0.7% of Brazil's R$10.94 trillion and 7th smallest of 27. In current reais it was up 11.1% on 2022.
How fast is the economy of Piaui growing?
After removing price changes, the economy of Piaui grew 3.1% in 2023, against 3.2% for Brazil; 12th slowest growth of 27.
Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatistica (IBGE) · saved copyHas the economy of Piaui grown since 2010?
In real terms, GDP in Piaui was 36.7% higher in 2023 than in 2010 (Brazil: 15.1% higher), 6th largest growth of 27 over the period. Its share of national GDP moved from 0.57% in 2010 to 0.74% in 2023.
Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatistica (IBGE) · saved copyWhat is the GDP per capita of Piaui?
Dividing 2023 GDP by the 2022 census population (IBGE used the census count for 2023 because no 2023 estimate was made) gives R$24,736 per person, 0.46 times the Brazilian figure of R$53,887; 3rd lowest of 27.
Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatistica (IBGE) · saved copyWhat are the main industries in Piaui?
In 2023 services made up 71.7% of gross value added in Piaui, industry 15.0% and agriculture and livestock 13.2% (8th 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 Piaui?
The largest activities in the economy of Piaui in 2023 were public administration, defence, public education and health, and social security (31.3% of gross value added), other services (13.6%) and agriculture and livestock (13.2%). The public sector (administration, public education and health, social security) accounted for 31.3%, 6th highest of 27.
Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatistica (IBGE) · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Piaui?
The unemployment rate in Piaui was 8.3% in April to June 2026, according to IBGE's PNAD Continua survey, against 5.4% for Brazil; tied for 3rd highest of 27. A year earlier (April to June 2025) it was 8.5%.
Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatistica (IBGE) · saved copyWhat was the highest unemployment rate in Piaui?
Since the PNAD Continua series began in 2012, quarterly unemployment in Piaui peaked at 14.2% in January to March 2020; its lowest rate was 6.0% in October to December 2014.
Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatistica (IBGE) · saved copyWhat is the labour force participation rate in Piaui?
In April to June 2026, 52.9% of people aged 14 and over in Piaui were in the labour force (working or looking for work), 6th lowest of 27 (Brazil 62.1%).
Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatistica (IBGE) · saved copyHow many people are employed in Piaui?
About 1,330,000 people in Piaui were employed in April to June 2026 and 121,000 were unemployed; 48.5% of the population aged 14 and over had a job (tied for 4th lowest of 27).
Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatistica (IBGE) · saved copyHow many workers in Piaui are informal?
49.5% of employed people in Piaui worked informally in April to June 2026 (about 658,000 people), against 37.4% nationally; 5th highest of 27. A year earlier the rate was 51.8%.
Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatistica (IBGE) · saved copyWhat is the average salary in Piaui?
Employed people in Piaui usually earned an average of R$2,413 a month from their main job in April to June 2026 (Brazil R$3,621); 2nd lowest of 27. Adjusted for inflation that is down 0.9% on a year earlier and up 22.2% on April to June 2019.
Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatistica (IBGE) · saved copyWhat is the average household income in Piaui?
Average household income per person in Piaui was R$1,534 a month in 2025, against R$2,264 for Brazil; 8th lowest of 27.
Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatistica (IBGE) · saved copyHow big is the gap between rich and poor in Piaui?
In 2025 the richest 10% of people in Piaui had an average household income of R$6,345 per person a month and the poorest 10% R$224, a ratio of 28.3 to 1 (13th widest gap of 27).
Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatistica (IBGE) · saved copyHow unequal is income in Piaui?
The Gini index of household income per person in Piaui was 0.508 in 2025 (Brazil 0.511), 8th most unequal of 27; in 2019 it was 0.538.
Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatistica (IBGE) · saved copyWhat is the average income in Piaui?
Average household income per person in Piaui was R$1,351 a month in 2024 and the median was R$858; the average is 8th 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 Piaui?
In 2024 prices, average household income per person in Piaui rose from R$1,071 a month in 2019 to R$1,351 in 2024, 4.7% a year (Brazil: 2.2% a year); for the poorest 40% it grew 10.6% a year.
Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatistica (IBGE) · saved copyMore figures
- White residents of Piaui had an average household income of R$1,773 per person a month in 2024, against R$1,244 for Black and mixed-race (preto or pardo) residents. Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatistica (IBGE) · saved copy
How Piaui compares with other states
GDP at current prices, 2023 (2023)
Piaui ranks 21 of 27, highest first.
| Rank | Region | GDP at current prices, 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| 18 | Rio Grande do Norte | R$101.7 billion |
| 19 | Paraiba | R$97.0 billion |
| 20 | Alagoas | R$89.7 billion |
| 21 | Piaui | R$80.9 billion |
| 22 | Rondonia | R$76.5 billion |
| 23 | Tocantins | R$64.3 billion |
| 24 | Sergipe | R$60.8 billion |
GDP per person, 2023 (2023 GDP / 2022 census population) (2023)
Piaui ranks 25 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)
Piaui ranks 16 of 27, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Real GDP growth, 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | Espirito Santo | 3.4% |
| 14 | Distrito Federal | 3.3% |
| 15 | Sergipe | 3.1% |
| 16 | Piaui | 3.1% |
| 17 | Ceara | 3.0% |
| 18 | Paraiba | 3.0% |
| 19 | Amapa | 2.9% |
Real GDP growth, 2010-2023 (cumulative) (2010-2023)
Piaui ranks 6 of 27, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Real GDP growth, 2010-2023 (cumulative) |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Tocantins | 59.4% |
| 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% |
Agriculture and livestock share of gross value added, 2023 (2023)
Piaui ranks 8 of 27, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Agriculture and livestock share of gross value added, 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Rondonia | 18.9% |
| 6 | Acre | 17.1% |
| 7 | Goias | 16.8% |
| 8 | Piaui | 13.2% |
| 9 | Para | 12.9% |
| 10 | Maranhao | 11.1% |
| 11 | Parana | 11.1% |
Unemployment rate, Q2 2026 (Q2 2026)
Piaui ranks 4 of 27, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Unemployment rate, Q2 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Amapa | 9.8% |
| 2 | Bahia | 9.1% |
| 3 | Pernambuco | 8.3% |
| 4 | Piaui | 8.3% |
| 5 | Alagoas | 7.9% |
| 6 | Sergipe | 7.9% |
| 7 | Amazonas | 7.5% |
Labour force participation rate (age 14+), Q2 2026 (Q2 2026)
Piaui ranks 22 of 27, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Labour force participation rate (age 14+), Q2 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| 19 | Sergipe | 56.8% |
| 20 | Paraiba | 54.5% |
| 21 | Acre | 54.4% |
| 22 | Piaui | 52.9% |
| 23 | Maranhao | 52.3% |
| 24 | Pernambuco | 51.8% |
| 25 | Ceara | 51.8% |
Informality rate of employed people, Q2 2026 (Q2 2026)
Piaui ranks 5 of 27, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Informality rate of employed people, Q2 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Para | 55.9% |
| 3 | Amazonas | 51.7% |
| 4 | Bahia | 50.7% |
| 5 | Piaui | 49.5% |
| 6 | Ceara | 48.7% |
| 7 | Sergipe | 47.3% |
| 8 | Paraiba | 45.8% |
Average usual monthly earnings, main job, Q2 2026 (Q2 2026)
Piaui ranks 26 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)
Piaui ranks 20 of 27, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Average monthly household income per person, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 17 | Amapa | R$1,675 |
| 18 | Pernambuco | R$1,568 |
| 19 | Paraiba | R$1,542 |
| 20 | Piaui | R$1,534 |
| 21 | Bahia | R$1,452 |
| 22 | Amazonas | R$1,450 |
| 23 | Para | R$1,435 |
Gini index of household income per person, 2025 (2025)
Piaui ranks 8 of 27, highest first. Gini index: 0 means everyone has the same income, 1 means one person has all of it.
| Rank | Region | Gini index of household income per person, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Pernambuco | 0.520 |
| 6 | Alagoas | 0.512 |
| 7 | Acre | 0.509 |
| 8 | Piaui | 0.508 |
| 9 | Paraiba | 0.507 |
| 10 | Ceara | 0.506 |
| 11 | Roraima | 0.506 |
Average monthly household income per person (R$) (2024)
Piaui ranks 20 of 27, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Average monthly household income per person (R$) |
|---|---|---|
| 17 | Sergipe | R$1,426 |
| 18 | Pernambuco | R$1,407 |
| 19 | Paraiba | R$1,377 |
| 20 | Piaui | R$1,351 |
| 21 | Bahia | R$1,329 |
| 22 | Para | R$1,322 |
| 23 | Alagoas | R$1,318 |
More on Piaui: 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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