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Census 2022 Reveals That Workers from the North and Northeast Earn Less Than the National Average and Face Significant Regional Inequalities.
Preliminary data from the 2022 Census, released by IBGE on Thursday (10/09/2025), shows that workers in the North and Northeast regions still face significant regional inequalities compared to other states in the country.
While the national average monthly income is R$ 2,851, the North records R$ 2,238 and the Northeast R$ 2,015.
According to the survey, these differences reflect the concentration of higher-paying economic activities in states in the Central-South region, such as São Paulo, Santa Catarina, and the Federal District.
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The Census also reveals that wage inequality persists between men and women and among different ethnic groups, reinforcing the historical challenge of equity in the Brazilian labor market.
Central-West Leads with the Highest Incomes in the Country
The Central-West region reported the highest average monthly income in the country, at R$ 3,292, exceeding the national average by 16.7%.
Right behind are the South (R$ 3,190) and Southeast (R$ 3,154), regions that concentrate a large part of formal employment opportunities and more profitable industrial sectors.
In contrast, the North and Northeast remain below the average, highlighting regional inequalities.
States such as Maranhão (R$ 1,855), Piauí (R$ 1,905), and Bahia (R$ 1,944) lead the list of the lowest incomes, reinforcing the social challenges of these regions.
More Than a Third of Workers Earn Up to One Minimum Wage
The Census indicates that 35.3% of workers in Brazil earn up to one minimum wage, which in 2022 was R$ 1,212.
On the other hand, only 7.6% of the employed population earns more than five minimum wages (R$ 6,060), highlighting the concentration of income in a small portion of the population.
The most common income range is between one and two minimum wages, affecting 32.7% of workers.
The portion with income exceeding 20 minimum wages represents only 0.7% of the total.
Gender and Race Inequalities in the Labor Market
The Census also highlights that men had an average monthly income of R$ 3,115, a figure 24.3% higher than that of women, who earned R$ 2,506. This difference persists across all education levels.
The breakdown by color or race further highlights regional inequalities: yellow people (R$ 5,942) and white people (R$ 3,659) have incomes above the national average, while brown (R$ 2,186) and black (R$ 2,061) individuals fall below. Indigenous people report the lowest average income, at R$ 1,683.
North and Northeast Have the Highest Income Inequality Indices
The Gini Index, used internationally to measure income concentration, recorded 0.542 in Brazil in 2022. The North (0.545) and Northeast (0.541) regions have the highest indices, confirming that workers in these regions face the greatest wage disparities.
In contrast, the South Region recorded the lowest index (0.476), indicating a more balanced income distribution.
Employment Rate Shows Regional Differences
The employment rate in the country is 53.5% for people aged 14 and older, a decrease from 2010 (55.5%). The South (60.3%), Central-West (59.7%), and Southeast (56%) lead, while the Northeast (45.6%) and North (48.4%) register the lowest rates of employed workers.
Among the states, Santa Catarina (63.5%) and the Federal District (60.4%) have the highest employment percentages, while Piauí (43%), Paraíba (43.5%), and Maranhão (43.6%) are at the bottom of the list.
The preliminary analysis of the 2022 Census confirms that, despite advances in some regions, income and job opportunities continue to be strongly influenced by geographic location, gender, and color or race.
The North and Northeast remain the regions most affected by regional inequalities, signaling the need for targeted public policies to reduce these disparities.
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