Classes A, B and C will once again represent more than 50% of Brazilian households in 2024, says study by Tendências Consultorias
A study estimates that 50.1% of Brazilian households had an income of more than R$3,400 per month in 2024 – that is, they are part of classes A, B and C. It is the first time since 2015 that these categories together exceed half of the sample content.
The numbers indicate a greater predominance of the middle class in Brazil, an effect influenced by the PT government’s income transfer measures. Examples include Bolsa Família and the appreciation of the minimum wage above inflation. How the Poder360 showed in September, the “welfare state” Brazilian – the main social benefits of transferring resources from the Union and States – in 2024.
As a consequence, the representation of classes D and E fell from 50.4% to 49.9%. Read the details in the infographic below:
Other data also stand out:
- class C (R$3,400 to R$8,100) – has the highest predominance of households since 2020, the year of the pandemic;
- class B (R$8,100 to R$25,200) – highest percentage since 2014;
- class A (+ R$ 25,200) – is at the highest level in the series, above 4%.
“In 2024, the valued minimum wage should increase workers’ bargaining power in salary negotiations and boost the growth of usual real income”says the research. Here is it (PDF – 802 kB).
The higher minimum wage also increases the value of other social benefits, such as the BPC (Continuous Payment Benefit). The lower classes depend more on this type of program.
Read more about income transfer:
Another important point was the employment data. The unemployed population in the country is at the same level as in the historical series, which favors an increase in household income.
“In developing economies, families belonging to the middle class are those who were previously poor and vulnerable. Their return to poverty, therefore, is susceptible to eventualities such as those relating to the family (illness, unemployment, retirement of a member) or the economy (recession).”states the text.
CLASS IN THE REGIONS
The Tendências study also mapped how income is distributed in the regions. In the same patterns as historical data, the Northeast stands out with the highest percentage of households in the lower classes.
Read the detail:
“Geographical inequalities are the result of the distribution of economic activities and social groups across the National Territory. The greatest vulnerabilities are found in the Northeast and North regions, in women, black people, young people and those with a lower level of education”states the survey.
