The concentration of income and assets in Brazil, historically one of the largest in the world, has increased over the past decade. New data shows that the richest 10%, representing 21.2 million people, keep 59% of all income in the country and 70% of all wealth. At the other end, the poorest half of the population, around 106 million people, shares only 9.3% of income and has access to 2.4% of the country’s accumulated wealth.
- The concentration of income in the world is the highest in 30 years: The richest 0.001% have three times as much wealth as 2.8 billion people
- Assessment of inequalities: Brazil is one of the countries that imposes the lowest taxes on the super-rich, behind the United States, France, the Netherlands and Spain.
This information is part of the third edition of the “World Inequality Report 2026”, prepared by researchers from the World Inequality Lab network, led by French economist Thomas Piketty.
According to the study, the income gap between the richest 10% and the poorest 50% of the population increased from 53.7% in 2014 to 63.5% in 2024.
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The number of those at the top of the pyramid makes the concentration obvious. The nation’s richest 1 percent — about 2.1 million people — alone account for 37 percent of all national wealth, a share that includes real estate, businesses, financial investments and other assets. In terms of income, this same group receives almost 27% of everything the country earns.
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The data also helps determine why inequality in Brazil persists even during times of economic growth or increased job creation. Labor income does not compensate for the huge gap in asset ownership and access to capital, which are generally signs of well-being and mobility throughout life.
- In 2024: 8.6 million are lifted out of poverty. Misery also falls to the lowest level in the IBGE series
Another indicator analyzed by the study is the participation of women in the labor market. In a decade, there has been virtually no progress. Their participation rate increased from 37.3% in 2014 to 37.4% in 2024, in other words, it remained stationary.
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