Ipea: Brazil Posts Series Lows for Poverty and Inequality in 2024 as Incomes Reach Record

Overview

• Ipea’s technical note released Nov. 25, based on IBGE household surveys, reports the strongest readings for income, poverty and inequality since the series began in 1995.
• Real per‑capita household income is up about 70% since 1995, the Gini index is down nearly 18%, and extreme poverty stands near 4.8% in 2024.
• Progress was concentrated in two episodes—2003–2014 and 2021–2024—after setbacks during 2014–2021.
• From 2021 to 2024 the Gini fell 3.9 percentage points, with about 1.9 points attributed to labor and 1.7 points to social transfers such as Bolsa Família, BPC, Auxílio Brasil and Auxílio Emergencial.
• The authors say transfer expansion lost traction in 2023–2024, making continued gains more dependent on employment and wages, and they caution that household surveys understate very high incomes and some benefits.