Poverty in Rio Grande do Norte reaches historic low of 33.5%

Poverty in Rio Grande do Norte reached a historic low of 33.5% in 2024, according to IBGE data. This marks the first time less than 40% of the state's population lives below the poverty line. The state saw a significant 10.3 percentage point drop from 2023's 43.8%. This reduction positions Rio Grande do Norte as the best performer in the Northeast region, which had an average poverty rate of 39.4%. The study defines poverty as living on less than R$692 per capita monthly. Despite the progress, income inequality persists, with structural disparities evident across race and gender.