Catalina Espinosa
Research expert covering society, economy, and politics for Europe and the EU
Poverty and inequality in Brazil - statistics & facts
Poverty affects over 250 million people in Latin America. In this region, poverty tends to be more prevalent among women than men. Brazil suffers from the same problems that neighboring countries face. According to recent data, around 8.4% of Brazilians live below the international poverty line of 3.65 U.S. dollars per day.
Furthermore, almost two out of every five workers in the country are informally employed, which leaves them vulnerable to poverty, as they do not have access to the benefits and social protections associated with formal employment.
Nevertheless, Brazil has made strong efforts to tackle food poverty in the 21st century. In 2003, President Lula da Silva introduced the now internationally acclaimed welfare program Bolsa FamÃlia, which provides financial assistance to low-income families. As of 2023, 19 percent of all households were registered as recipients of Bolsa FamÃlia.
Regional poverty variability
According to national data, 27.5 percent of the population lives on less than 664 Brazilian reals per month. Poverty is unevenly distributed throughout the country. In Brazil's northeast, states such as Ceará and Pernambuco have a poverty rate above 47 percent, and Maranhão, the state with the highest poverty incidence in the country, has a rate of 51 percent. However, poverty transcends geographic boundaries, and, when it comes to extreme poverty, the black population in Brazil faces higher rates than the non-black population.Getting paid may not be enough
In 2022, almost eight percent of those who were employed were considered to be below the poverty line. Income inequality in Brazil is high, as indicated by its Gini coefficient, which stands at approximately 0.53. This measure places Brazil as the most unequal country in Latin America. In 2023, Brazil had a gender pay gap of 617 Brazilian reals per month, and a white to black pay gap of 1,611 monthly reals.Furthermore, almost two out of every five workers in the country are informally employed, which leaves them vulnerable to poverty, as they do not have access to the benefits and social protections associated with formal employment.
Food poverty and welfare
In 2023, nearly 30 percent of all households in the Portuguese-speaking country faced some degree of food insecurity. When gender is considered, nearly 60 percent of female-headed households experienced food poverty. Similar figures were reported for households in which the primary household decision-maker was of Pardo Brazilian ethnicity.Nevertheless, Brazil has made strong efforts to tackle food poverty in the 21st century. In 2003, President Lula da Silva introduced the now internationally acclaimed welfare program Bolsa FamÃlia, which provides financial assistance to low-income families. As of 2023, 19 percent of all households were registered as recipients of Bolsa FamÃlia.
