Economy, jobs and prices in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: official figures
The gross domestic product of Rio de Janeiro was R$1.17 trillion in 2023 at current prices, 10.7% of Brazil's R$10.94 trillion and 2nd largest of 27. In current reais it was up 1.7% on 2022.
How fast is the economy of Rio de Janeiro growing?
After removing price changes, the economy of Rio de Janeiro grew 5.7% in 2023, against 3.2% for Brazil; 5th fastest growth of 27.
Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatistica (IBGE) · saved copyHas the economy of Rio de Janeiro grown since 2010?
In real terms, GDP in Rio de Janeiro was 12.2% higher in 2023 than in 2010 (Brazil: 15.1% higher), 7th smallest growth of 27 over the period. Its share of national GDP moved from 11.58% in 2010 to 10.72% in 2023.
Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatistica (IBGE) · saved copyWhat is the GDP per capita of Rio de Janeiro?
Dividing 2023 GDP by the 2022 census population (IBGE used the census count for 2023 because no 2023 estimate was made) gives R$73,053 per person, 1.36 times the Brazilian figure of R$53,887; 4th highest of 27.
Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatistica (IBGE) · saved copyWhat are the main industries in Rio de Janeiro?
In 2023 services made up 61.1% of gross value added in Rio de Janeiro, industry 38.5% and agriculture and livestock 0.5% (2nd lowest 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 Rio de Janeiro?
The largest activities in the economy of Rio de Janeiro in 2023 were mining and quarrying (including oil and gas) (26.2% of gross value added), other services (16.3%) and public administration, defence, public education and health, and social security (16.0%). The public sector (administration, public education and health, social security) accounted for 16.0%, 9th lowest of 27.
Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatistica (IBGE) · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Rio de Janeiro?
The unemployment rate in Rio de Janeiro was 7.1% in April to June 2026, according to IBGE's PNAD Continua survey, against 5.4% for Brazil; 8th highest of 27. A year earlier (April to June 2025) it was 8.1%.
Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatistica (IBGE) · saved copyWhat was the highest unemployment rate in Rio de Janeiro?
Since the PNAD Continua series began in 2012, quarterly unemployment in Rio de Janeiro peaked at 15.8% in April to June 2017; its lowest rate was 5.8% in October to December 2014.
Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatistica (IBGE) · saved copyWhat is the labour force participation rate in Rio de Janeiro?
In April to June 2026, 61.2% of people aged 14 and over in Rio de Janeiro were in the labour force (working or looking for work), 14th highest of 27 (Brazil 62.1%).
Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatistica (IBGE) · saved copyHow many people are employed in Rio de Janeiro?
About 8,262,000 people in Rio de Janeiro were employed in April to June 2026 and 631,000 were unemployed; 56.9% of the population aged 14 and over had a job (tied for 14th highest of 27).
Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatistica (IBGE) · saved copyHow many workers in Rio de Janeiro are informal?
37.1% of employed people in Rio de Janeiro worked informally in April to June 2026 (about 3,064,000 people), against 37.4% nationally; 10th lowest of 27. A year earlier the rate was 37.6%.
Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatistica (IBGE) · saved copyWhat is the average salary in Rio de Janeiro?
Employed people in Rio de Janeiro usually earned an average of R$4,001 a month from their main job in April to June 2026 (Brazil R$3,621); 6th highest of 27. Adjusted for inflation that is down 5.9% on a year earlier and up 7.3% on April to June 2019.
Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatistica (IBGE) · saved copyWhat is the average household income in Rio de Janeiro?
Average household income per person in Rio de Janeiro was R$2,732 a month in 2025, against R$2,264 for Brazil; 5th highest of 27.
Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatistica (IBGE) · saved copyHow big is the gap between rich and poor in Rio de Janeiro?
In 2025 the richest 10% of people in Rio de Janeiro had an average household income of R$11,894 per person a month and the poorest 10% R$305, a ratio of 39.0 to 1 (2nd widest gap of 27).
Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatistica (IBGE) · saved copyHow unequal is income in Rio de Janeiro?
The Gini index of household income per person in Rio de Janeiro was 0.543 in 2025 (Brazil 0.511), 2nd most unequal of 27; in 2019 it was 0.553.
Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatistica (IBGE) · saved copyWhat is the average income in Rio de Janeiro?
Average household income per person in Rio de Janeiro was R$2,431 a month in 2024 and the median was R$1,422; the average is 5th highest 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 Rio de Janeiro?
In 2024 prices, average household income per person in Rio de Janeiro rose from R$2,299 a month in 2019 to R$2,431 in 2024, 1.1% a year (Brazil: 2.2% a year); for the poorest 40% it grew 3.8% a year.
Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatistica (IBGE) · saved copyMore figures
- White residents of Rio de Janeiro had an average household income of R$3,255 per person a month in 2024, against R$1,772 for Black and mixed-race (preto or pardo) residents. Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatistica (IBGE) · saved copy
How Rio de Janeiro compares with other states
GDP at current prices, 2023 (2023)
Rio de Janeiro ranks 2 of 27, highest first.
| Rank | Region | GDP at current prices, 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sao Paulo | R$3.44 trillion |
| 2 | Rio de Janeiro | R$1.17 trillion |
| 3 | Minas Gerais | R$972.0 billion |
| 4 | Parana | R$670.9 billion |
| 5 | Rio Grande do Sul | R$650.1 billion |
| 6 | Santa Catarina | R$513.4 billion |
| 7 | Bahia | R$431.0 billion |
GDP per person, 2023 (2023 GDP / 2022 census population) (2023)
Rio de Janeiro ranks 4 of 27, highest first.
| Rank | Region | GDP per person, 2023 (2023 GDP / 2022 census population) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Distrito Federal | R$129,790 |
| 2 | Sao Paulo | R$77,566 |
| 3 | Mato Grosso | R$74,620 |
| 4 | Rio de Janeiro | R$73,053 |
| 5 | Santa Catarina | R$67,460 |
| 6 | Mato Grosso do Sul | R$66,885 |
| 7 | Rio Grande do Sul | R$59,736 |
Real GDP growth, 2023 (2023)
Rio de Janeiro ranks 5 of 27, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Real GDP growth, 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Mato Grosso do Sul | 13.4% |
| 3 | Mato Grosso | 12.9% |
| 4 | Tocantins | 7.9% |
| 5 | Rio de Janeiro | 5.7% |
| 6 | Goias | 4.8% |
| 7 | Parana | 4.3% |
| 8 | Rio Grande do Norte | 4.2% |
Real GDP growth, 2010-2023 (cumulative) (2010-2023)
Rio de Janeiro ranks 21 of 27, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Real GDP growth, 2010-2023 (cumulative) |
|---|---|---|
| 18 | Ceara | 18.0% |
| 19 | Pernambuco | 14.9% |
| 20 | Parana | 14.3% |
| 21 | Rio de Janeiro | 12.2% |
| 22 | Minas Gerais | 11.5% |
| 23 | Sao Paulo | 8.9% |
| 24 | Rio Grande do Sul | 8.2% |
Agriculture and livestock share of gross value added, 2023 (2023)
Rio de Janeiro ranks 26 of 27, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Agriculture and livestock share of gross value added, 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| 21 | Espirito Santo | 5.4% |
| 22 | Paraiba | 4.8% |
| 23 | Rio Grande do Norte | 4.2% |
| 24 | Sao Paulo | 2.4% |
| 25 | Amapa | 1.2% |
| 26 | Rio de Janeiro | 0.5% |
| 27 | Distrito Federal | 0.5% |
Unemployment rate, Q2 2026 (Q2 2026)
Rio de Janeiro ranks 8 of 27, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Unemployment rate, Q2 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Alagoas | 7.9% |
| 6 | Sergipe | 7.9% |
| 7 | Amazonas | 7.5% |
| 8 | Rio de Janeiro | 7.1% |
| 9 | Ceara | 6.6% |
| 10 | Acre | 6.6% |
| 11 | Distrito Federal | 6.5% |
Labour force participation rate (age 14+), Q2 2026 (Q2 2026)
Rio de Janeiro ranks 14 of 27, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Labour force participation rate (age 14+), Q2 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Minas Gerais | 64.0% |
| 12 | Espirito Santo | 62.6% |
| 13 | Amazonas | 61.5% |
| 14 | Rio de Janeiro | 61.2% |
| 15 | Amapa | 60.3% |
| 16 | Rondonia | 60.0% |
| 17 | Para | 59.4% |
Informality rate of employed people, Q2 2026 (Q2 2026)
Rio de Janeiro ranks 18 of 27, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Informality rate of employed people, Q2 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| 15 | Rio Grande do Norte | 41.3% |
| 16 | Espirito Santo | 40.0% |
| 17 | Tocantins | 37.8% |
| 18 | Rio de Janeiro | 37.1% |
| 19 | Minas Gerais | 36.5% |
| 20 | Goias | 36.1% |
| 21 | Mato Grosso | 34.1% |
Average usual monthly earnings, main job, Q2 2026 (Q2 2026)
Rio de Janeiro ranks 6 of 27, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Average usual monthly earnings, main job, Q2 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Santa Catarina | R$4,301 |
| 4 | Parana | R$4,083 |
| 5 | Rio Grande do Sul | R$4,009 |
| 6 | Rio de Janeiro | R$4,001 |
| 7 | Mato Grosso | R$3,994 |
| 8 | Goias | R$3,844 |
| 9 | Mato Grosso do Sul | R$3,731 |
Average monthly household income per person, 2025 (2025)
Rio de Janeiro ranks 5 of 27, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Average monthly household income per person, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Sao Paulo | R$2,862 |
| 3 | Rio Grande do Sul | R$2,772 |
| 4 | Santa Catarina | R$2,752 |
| 5 | Rio de Janeiro | R$2,732 |
| 6 | Parana | R$2,687 |
| 7 | Goias | R$2,378 |
| 8 | Mato Grosso do Sul | R$2,369 |
Gini index of household income per person, 2025 (2025)
Rio de Janeiro ranks 2 of 27, highest first. Gini index: 0 means everyone has the same income, 1 means one person has all of it.
| Rank | Region | Gini index of household income per person, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Distrito Federal | 0.570 |
| 2 | Rio de Janeiro | 0.543 |
| 3 | Rio Grande do Norte | 0.540 |
| 4 | Sergipe | 0.532 |
| 5 | Pernambuco | 0.520 |
| 6 | Alagoas | 0.512 |
| 7 | Acre | 0.509 |
Average monthly household income per person (R$) (2024)
Rio de Janeiro ranks 5 of 27, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Average monthly household income per person (R$) |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Sao Paulo | R$2,582 |
| 3 | Santa Catarina | R$2,552 |
| 4 | Rio Grande do Sul | R$2,526 |
| 5 | Rio de Janeiro | R$2,431 |
| 6 | Parana | R$2,408 |
| 7 | Mato Grosso | R$2,245 |
| 8 | Mato Grosso do Sul | R$2,114 |
More on Rio de Janeiro: 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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