Poverty and living standards in Piaui, Brazil: official figures
37.3% of people in Piaui lived on household income below the World Bank poverty line of US$6.85 a day (PPP 2017) in 2024, about 1.26 million people; 10th highest of the 26 states and the Federal District (Brazil: 23.1%).
Is poverty falling in Piaui?
The poverty rate in Piaui was 52.7% in 2019 and 55.6% in 2012, so the 2024 figure of 37.3% is down 15.4 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 Piaui?
4.0% of people in Piaui were in extreme poverty in 2024, living on less than US$2.15 a day (PPP 2017), about R$218 a month per person; 13th 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 Piaui live on less than a quarter of the minimum wage?
12.6% of people in Piaui 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 26.9% on between a quarter and half (R$704); the first share is 12th 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 Piaui?
The Gini index of household income per person in Piaui was 0.493 in 2024 (0 means everyone has the same income, 1 that one person has all of it), 11th most unequal of the 26 states and the Federal District; Brazil's was 0.504. In 2019 Piaui's index was 0.538.
Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatistica (IBGE) · saved copyHow much income do the richest 10% get in Piaui?
The richest 10% of people in Piaui received 40.8% of all household income in 2024 and the poorest 40% received 13.2%, a Palma ratio of 3.10 (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 Piaui would have been 0.576 in 2024 instead of 0.493 (Brazil: 0.542 instead of 0.504). Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatistica (IBGE) · saved copy
How Piaui compares with other states
People below the US$6.85 a day poverty line (%) (2024)
Piaui ranks 10 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 (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Para | 38.6% |
| 8 | Paraiba | 38.3% |
| 9 | Roraima | 37.6% |
| 10 | Piaui | 37.3% |
| 11 | Sergipe | 36.4% |
| 12 | Amapa | 35.8% |
| 13 | Bahia | 35.7% |
People in extreme poverty, below US$2.15 a day (%) (2024)
Piaui ranks 13 of 27, highest first.
| Rank | Region | People in extreme poverty, below US$2.15 a day (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Paraiba | 4.7% |
| 11 | Para | 4.6% |
| 12 | Sergipe | 4.5% |
| 13 | Piaui | 4.0% |
| 14 | Amapa | 3.9% |
| 15 | Tocantins | 3.8% |
| 16 | Rio de Janeiro | 3.1% |
Poverty rate without government social benefits (%) (2024)
Piaui ranks 8 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 (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Amazonas | 48.8% |
| 6 | Alagoas | 48.4% |
| 7 | Pernambuco | 48.0% |
| 8 | Piaui | 47.1% |
| 9 | Paraiba | 46.3% |
| 10 | Roraima | 46.2% |
| 11 | Amapa | 44.8% |
Gini index of household income per person (2024)
Piaui ranks 11 of 27, highest first. 0 = complete equality, 1 = complete inequality.
| Rank | Region | Gini index of household income per person |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | Acre | 0.502 |
| 9 | Sergipe | 0.498 |
| 10 | Paraiba | 0.496 |
| 11 | Piaui | 0.493 |
| 12 | Para | 0.490 |
| 13 | Sao Paulo | 0.489 |
| 14 | Maranhao | 0.487 |
People living on up to 1/4 minimum wage per person (%) (2024)
Piaui ranks 12 of 27, highest first.
| Rank | Region | People living on up to 1/4 minimum wage per person (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Paraiba | 12.9% |
| 10 | Roraima | 12.9% |
| 11 | Sergipe | 12.6% |
| 12 | Piaui | 12.6% |
| 13 | Rio Grande do Norte | 12.5% |
| 14 | Amapa | 10.2% |
| 15 | Tocantins | 8.6% |
More on Piaui: 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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