Did you know?
| indicator | value | unit |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 209.5 | mil. |
| Visitors per year | 5.2 | mil. |
| Renewable energy | 45.8 | % |
How’s Life?
Brazil has made tremendous progress over the last decade in terms of improving the quality of life of its citizens.. Brazil performs well in a limited number of dimensions of well-being relative to other countries in the Better Life Index. Brazil outperforms the average in civic engagement. It underperforms the average in income, jobs, education, health, social connections and life satisfaction. These assessments are based on available selected data.
Money, while it cannot buy happiness, is an important means to achieving higher living standards. In Brazil,the average household net-adjusted disposable income per capita is less than the OECD average of USD30 490 a year.
In terms of employment,about 57% of people aged 15 to 64 in Brazil have a paid job, below the OECD employment average of 66%. Some 67% of men are in paid work, compared with 47% of women.In Brazil, 6% of employees work very long hours in paid work, below the OECD average of 10%, with 7% of men working very long hours in paid work compared with 4% of women.
Good education and skills are important requisites for finding a job. In Brazil,57% of adults aged 25-64 have completed upper secondary education, lower than the OECD average of 79%. However, completion varies between men and women, as 53% of men have successfully completed high school compared with 60% of women. In terms of the quality of the education system,the average student scored 400 in reading literacy, maths and science in the OECD's Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). This score is lower than the OECD average of 488. On average in Brazil,girls outperformed boys by 6 points, slightly above the average OECD gap of 5 points.
In terms of health,life expectancy at birth in Brazil is around 76 years, five years lower than the OECD average of 81 years. Life expectancy for women is 80 years, compared with 72 for men.The level of atmospheric PM2.5– tiny air pollutant particles small enough to enter and cause damage to the lungs –is 11.7 micrograms per cubic meter, below the OECD average of 14 micrograms per cubic meter. In Brazil, 70% of people say they are satisfied with the quality of their water, lower than the OECD average of 84%.
Concerning the public sphere, there is a moderate sense of community and high levels of civic participation in Brazil, where83% of people believe that they know someone they could rely on in time of need, less than the OECD average of 91%. Voter turnout,a measure of citizens' participation in the political process,was 80% during recent elections, higher than the OECD average of 69%, and reflecting the practice of compulsory voting in Brazil. Social and economic status can affect voting rates; voter turnout for the top 20% of the population is an estimated 81% and for the bottom 20% it is an estimated 79%.
When asked to rate their general satisfaction with life on a scale from 0 to 10, Brazilians gave ita 6.1 grade on average,lower than the OECD average of 6.7.
For more information on estimates and years of reference, seeFAQ sectionandBLI database.
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OECD in Action
OECD Economic Surveys: Brazil
OECD’s periodic surveys of the Brazilian economy. Each edition surveys the major challenges faced by the country, evaluates the short-term outlook, and makes specific policy recommendations. Special chapters take a more detailed look at specific challenges. Extensive statistical information is included in charts and graphs.
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Brazil in Detail
Housing – Brazil expand
Key Findings
Living in satisfactory housing conditions is one of the most important aspects of people's lives. Housing is essential to meet basic needs, such as shelter, but it is not just a question of four walls and a roof. Housing should offer a place to sleep and rest where people feel safe and have privacy and personal space; somewhere they can raise a family. All of these elements help make a house a home. And of course there is the question whether people can afford adequate housing.
Housing costs take up a large share of the household budget and represent the largest single expenditure for many individuals and families, by the time you add up elements such as rent, gas, electricity, water, furniture or repairs.
But in addition to housing costs it is also important to examine living conditions, such as the average number of rooms shared per person and whether households have access to basic facilities. The number of rooms in a dwelling, divided by the number of persons living there, indicates whether residents are living in crowded conditions. Overcrowded housing may have a negative impact on physical and mental health, relations with others and children's development. In addition, dense living conditions are often a sign of inadequate water and sewage supply. In Brazil,the average home contains less rooms per person, than the OECD average of 1.7 rooms per person. In terms of basic facilities, 93.3% of dwellings in Brazil contain private access to an indoor flushing toilet, less than the OECD average of 97%.
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Indicators
Income – Brazil expand
Key Findings
While money may not buy happiness, it is an important means to achieving higher living standards and thus greater well-being. Higher economic wealth may also improve access to quality education, health care and housing.
Household net adjusted disposable income is the amount of money that a household earns each year after taxes and transfers. It represents the money available to a household for spending on goods or services. In Brazil,the average household net adjusted disposable income per capita is muchlowerthan the OECD average of USD30 490.
Household net wealth is the total value of a household's financial and non-financial worth, such as money or shares held in bank accounts, the principal residence, other real estate properties, vehicles, valuables and other non-financial assets (e.g other consumer durables). In Brazil,the average household net wealth is considerablylowerthan the OECD average of USD 323 960.
For more information on estimates and years of reference, seeFAQ sectionandBLI database.
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Indicators
Jobs – Brazil expand
Key Findings
Having a job brings many important benefits, including: providing a source of income, improving social inclusion, fulfilling one's own aspirations, building self-esteem and developing skills and competencies. In Brazil,57%of the working-age population aged 15 to 64 has a paid job. This figure is lower than the OECD employment average of 66%.
Unemployed persons are defined as those who are not currently working but are willing to do so and are actively searching for work. Long-term unemployment can have a large negative effect on feelings of well-being and self-worth and result in a loss of skills, further reducing employability. In Brazil,the percentage of the labour force that has been unemployed for a year or longer ishigher than the OECD average of 1.3%.
The wages and other monetary benefits that come with employment are an important aspect of job quality.Braziliansearnmuch lessthan the OECD average ofUSD 49 165.
Another essential factor of employment quality is job security, in terms of expected loss of earnings when someone becomes unemployed. This includes how likely you are to lose your job, how long you are likely to remain unemployed and how much financial assistance you can expect from government. Workers facing a high risk of job loss are more vulnerable, especially in countries with smaller social safety nets. In Brazil,workers face a higher expected loss of earnings if they become unemployedthan the OECD average of 5.1%.
For more information on estimates and years of reference, seeFAQ sectionandBLI database.
Better Policies for Better Lives
Reducing informality
Informal jobs put workers at risk of lower pay, benefits and legal protection. In Brazil, the informality rate dropped by over 12 percentage points since 2000 thanks to a combination of stronger economic growth and specific policy interventions. The country is now one of the most successful cases in Latin America in reducing informality. Studies suggest that lower administrative burdens for registering a small business with up to one employee, including the possibility to register in a few steps online and simpler rules for complying with taxes and contributions, contributed to the formalisation of nearly 500 000 microenterprises and nearly two million jobs over five years. At the same time, Brazil’s experience also shows that such programmes involve trade-offs, as too much differential treatment between small and larger firms can create disincentives for firms to grow.
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Indicators
Community – Brazil expand
Key Findings
Humans are social creatures. The frequency of our contact with others and the quality of our personal relationships are thus crucial determinants of our well-being. A strong social network, or community, can provide emotional support during both good and bad times as well as provide access to jobs, services and other material opportunities. In Brazil,83% of people believe that they know someone they could rely on in a time of need, lower than the OECD average of 91%.
A weak social network can result in limited economic opportunities, a lack of contact with others, and eventually, feelings of isolation. Socially isolated individuals face difficulties integrating into society as a contributing member and fulfilling personal aspirations.
Better Policies for Better Lives
Teaching youth about community life
ProJovem Adolescentecomplements the social assistance provided to families, by better preparing young people for family and community life, and creating the necessary conditions for their (re-) insertion and their persistence in the educational system. It is aimed primarily at 15-17 year-olds coming from families in receipt ofBolsa Famíliapolicy, which provides educational support (although it also benefits young people in care).
Participation in the programme is not conditioned on a return to school. However, because the eligibility criteria are linked toBolsa Família, families of 16-17 year-olds will be in receipt of a cash transfer which is conditional on their children’s school enrolment. Young people are put in groups of 15-30 individuals and participate in 12.5 hours of structured activities per week for a period of two years. These activities, which are organised around normal school hours, are built around six cross-cutting themes: human rights and social welfare, work, culture, the environment, health and sports, and leisure.
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Indicators
Education – Brazil expand
Key Findings
A well-educated and well-trained population is essential for a country's social and economic well-being. Education plays a key role in providing individuals with the knowledge, skills and competences needed to participate effectively in society and in the economy. Having a good education greatly improves the likelihood of finding a job and earning enough money. Brazilians can expect to go through16.2 years of educationbetween the ages of 5 and 39, less than the OECD average of 18 years.
Graduating from upper secondary education has become increasingly important in all countries, as the skills needed in the labour market are becoming more knowledge-based. High-school graduation rates therefore provide a good indication of whether a country is preparing its students to meet the minimum requirements of the job market. In Brazil,57% of adults aged 25-64 have completed upper secondary education, much lower than the OECD average of 79%.
But graduation rates, while important, speak little to the quality of education received. The OECD's Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) reviews the extent to which students have acquired some of the knowledge and skills that are essential for full participation in modern societies. In 2018, PISA focused on examining students' reading ability, skills in maths and level in sciences, as research shows that these skills are more reliable predictors of economic and social well-being than the number of years spent in school.
The average student in Brazil scored 400 in reading literacy, maths and sciences,below the OECD average of 488. The best-performing school systems manage to provide high-quality education to all students.
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Indicators
Environment – Brazil expand
Key Findings
The quality of our local living environment has a direct impact on our health and well-being. Outdoor air pollution is one important environmental issue that directly affects the quality of people's lives. Despite national and international interventions and decreases in major pollutant emissions,the health impacts of urban air pollutioncontinue to worsen, with air pollution set to become the top environmental cause of premature mortality globally by 2050. Air pollution in urban centres, often caused by transport and the use of small-scale burning of wood or coal, is linked to a range of health problems, from minor eye irritation to upper respiratory symptoms in the short-term and chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma, cardiovascular diseases and lung cancer in the long-term. Children and the elderly may be particularly vulnerable.
PM2.5 – tiny particulate matter small enough to be inhaled into the deepest part of the lung – is monitored in OECD countries because it can harm human health and reduce life expectancy. In Brazil,PM2.5 levels are 11.7 micrograms per cubic meter, lower than the OECD average of 14 micrograms per cubic meter but higher than the annual guideline limit of 10 micrograms per cubic meter set by theWorld Health Organization.
Access to clean water is fundamental to human well-being. Despite significant progress in OECD countries in reducing water pollution, improvements in freshwater quality are not always easy to discern. In Brazil,70% of people say they are satisfied with water quality,lower than the OECD average of 84%.
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How's Life?: Measuring Well-being OECD Environmental Outlook to 2050
Indicators
Governance – Brazil expand
Key Findings
Trust in government is essential for social cohesion and well-being. High voter turnout is a measure of citizens' participation in the political process. In the most recent elections for which data are available,voter turnout in Brazil was 80%of those registered.This figure is higher than the OECD average of 69%, and reflects the practice of compulsory voting in Brazil.Even if the right to vote is universal in all OECD countries, not everyone exercises this right. There is little difference in the voting rates of men and women in most OECD countries.
Broader public engagement in the decision-making process is also important for holding the government to account and maintaining confidence in public institutions. The formal process for public engagement in developing laws and regulations is one way to measure the extent to which people can become involved in government decisions on key issues that affect their lives. In Brazil, the level of stakeholder engagement in developing regulations is 2.2 (on a scale between 0 and 4), higher than the OECD average of 2.1.
For more information on estimates and years of reference, seeFAQ sectionandBLI database.
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Indicators
Health – Brazil expand
Key Findings
Most OECD countries have enjoyed large gains in life expectancy over the past decades, thanks to improvements in living conditions, public health interventions and progress in medical care.Life expectancy at birth in Brazil stands at almost 76 years,five years below the OECD average of 81 years.Higher life expectancy is generally associated with higher health care spending per person, although many other factors have an impact on life expectancy (such as living standards, lifestyles, education and environmental factors).
Better Policies for Better Lives
Improving hospital management
Sao Paulo has set up a performance-based contracting arrangement between the government health system and a private non- profit management group, OSS, to improve hospital management. The state negotiates a performance contract with the OSS that provides a global budget to manage the hospitals, and the OSS commits to specific volume and performance targets. The OSS managers are granted greater flexibility than their counterparts in traditional state hospitals to run the hospital in the best way to meet their performance targets.
The initiative aimed to provide high quality inpatient services at reasonable cost in more vulnerable communities located outside of the São Paulo metropolitan area. The programme was accompanied by construction of 37 new hospitals, which increased access to inpatient care by expanding services to 5.2 million inhabitants.
External reviews show that OSS-managed hospitals appear to be more efficient and also more productive than their counterparts. Another evaluation concluded that while hospitals managed by OSS received on average 8% more revenues than directly administered hospitals, they also produced a higher volume of services than their counterparts, resulting in a 24% lower cost per bed day than publicly managed hospitals.
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Indicators
Life Satisfaction – Brazil expand
Key Findings
Happiness or subjective well-being can be measured in terms of life satisfaction, the presence of positive experiences and feelings, and the absence of negative experiences and feelings. Such measures, while subjective, are a useful complement to objective data to compare the quality of life across countries.
Life satisfaction measures how people evaluate their life as a whole rather than their current feelings. When asked to rate their general satisfaction with life on a scale from 0 to 10,Brazilians on average gave it a 6.1 grade, below the OECD average of 6.7
Better Policies for Better Lives
Improving living conditions for the poorest
The fight against extreme poverty has long been a priority for the Brazilian government. TheBolsa Famíliacash-transfer programme has proven very successful in this fight. It links four key elements: school attendance, maternal nutrition, child labour and cooking gas subsidies. By addressing issues linked to health, income, education and social conditions, this programme directly contributes to improving life satisfaction for the poorest in Brazil. Reception of the monthly child benefit is conditional on children enrolling in school, health visit requirements and pregnant women undergoing medical check-ups.
Overall,Bolsa Famíliais generally considered to have successfully reduced poverty and raised poor children’s attendance at school. The programme reached 11 million families, accounting for over a quarter of the population in 2013 alone. Evidence also suggests thatBolsa Famíliashifts the allocation of expenditure in poor households towards food, educational materials and children's clothing.
By targeting the poor, this programme has managed to relieve poverty at a relatively low fiscal cost, about 0.5% of GDP. It is estimated that the programme helped reduce inequality by 15% to 20%. It has also contributed to between 33% and 50% of Brazil’s drop in extreme poverty.
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Indicators
Safety – Brazil expand
Key Findings
Personal security is a core element for the well-being of individuals. Do you feel safe out walking, alone at night, for example?In Brazil, about 45% of people say that they feel safe walking alone at night,much less than the OECD average of 74%.
The homicide rate (the number of murders per 100000 inhabitants) is a more reliable measure of a country's safety level because, unlike other crimes, murders are usually always reported to the police. According to the latest OECD data,Brazil's homicide rate is 19,more than seven times the OECD average of 2.6.
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Indicators
Work-Life Balance – Brazil expand
Key Findings
Finding a suitable balance between work and life is a challenge for all workers, especially working parents. The ability to successfully combine work, family commitments and personal life is important for the well-being of all members in a household. Governments can help to address the issue by encouraging supportive and flexible working practices, making it easier for parents to strike a better balance between work and home life.
An important aspect of work-life balance is the amount of time a person spends at work. Evidence suggests that long work hours may impair personal health, jeopardise safety and increase stress. In Brazil,about6%of employees work very long hours in paid work, less than the OECD average of 10%.
The more people work, the less time they have to spend on other activities, such as time with others, leisure activities, eating or sleeping. The amount and quality of leisure time is important for people's overall well-being, and can bring additional physical and mental health benefits.In Brazil, full-time workersdevote a similar amount of their day on average, to personal care(eating, sleeping, etc.)and leisure(socialising with friends and family, hobbies, games, computer and television use, etc.) to the OECD average of 15 hours.
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