During a 2023 survey, around 35 percent of respondents interviewed in Brazil said they belonged to the middle class. Meanwhile, 24.3 percent of the interviewees defined their social class as "low" and 25.7 percent stated that they were part of the middle class.Furthermore, Brazil's Gini coefficient, an indicator that measures wealth distribution, shows Brazil is one of the most unequal countries in the Latin American region.

In Brazil, 70.6 percent of consumers earned at least the equivalent of the highest 40 percent of global income earners as of 2022 in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms. Those who earned at least the equivalent of the top 10 percent of global income earners stood at 7.4 percent.

Abstract This paper analyses the discursive construction of Brazil’s new middle class (also called new class C) in the Brazilian telenovela (soap opera) I Love Paraisópolis, applying French semiotics as theoretical reference. Therefore, the first chapter of this telenovela, broadcasted by Rede Globo, in 2015, is taken as corpus. In the story, the main character, Marizete, lives in Paraisópolis favela, in São Paulo. It is noticeable, in this case, that the new class C does not play a peripheral part, but stars the central plot in the script. Thereby, acknowledging that the Brazil’s new middle class has privileged locus in the favela the telenovela is named after, the scenes are analyzed concerning the narrative and discursive levels of the generative path of meaning. Finally, taking into account Landowski’s (2002) model about the modes of relation to the otherness, it is presented how the relations between city and favela are established, also considering some elements of visual language. This pathway, therefore, allows to understand some of the social configurations in I Love Paraisópolis, considering, evidently, this society as an effect of meaning.

Replication Data for: "The Elusive New Middle Class in Brazil" as published in BPSR, vol. 9, nº 3, 2015.

Brazil BR: Imports: Low- and Middle-Income Economies: % of Total Goods Imports: East Asia & Pacific data was reported at 25.576 % in 2023. This records a decrease from the previous number of 25.586 % for 2022. Brazil BR: Imports: Low- and Middle-Income Economies: % of Total Goods Imports: East Asia & Pacific data is updated yearly, averaging 3.293 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2023, with 64 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 27.496 % in 2020 and a record low of 0.034 % in 1976. Brazil BR: Imports: Low- and Middle-Income Economies: % of Total Goods Imports: East Asia & Pacific data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Brazil – Table BR.World Bank.WDI: Imports. Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in East Asia and Pacific are the sum of merchandise imports by the reporting economy from low- and middle-income economies in the East Asia and Pacific region according to the World Bank classification of economies. Data are expressed as a percentage of total merchandise imports by the economy. Data are computed only if at least half of the economies in the partner country group had non-missing data.;World Bank staff estimates based data from International Monetary Fund's Direction of Trade database.;Weighted average;

ABSTRACT The article presents a panorama of socioeconomic hierarchies in late Nineteenth-century Brazil. Income analysis of social classes underpins these echelons. Within a theoretical and historical approach focused on social class, the article reckons that the Brazilian Empire was relatively egalitarian in terms of wages. A broad expressiveness of the lower classes, rather than a hypothetical robustness of the middle or the upper classes, explains this equality. The analysis of purchasing power and patterns of consumption made it possible to identify the degree of precariousness of the popular classes, as well as the existence of mainly urban middle classes. Lastly, salary data on the upper classes should not hide concentration of wealth, a main characteristic of the Empire’s decay, which was largely due to a polarized structure of slave property.

The poorest five percent of the population in Brazil received a monthly income of merely *** reals in 2024, with their jobs as their only source of income. By contrast, the average income of workers who fall within the 40 percent to 50 percent percentile, and from 50 percent to 60 percent are **** and **** Brazilian reals, respectively.

Brazil BR: Imports: Low- and Middle-Income Economies: % of Total Goods Imports: Outside Region data was reported at 32.519 % in 2023. This records a decrease from the previous number of 32.983 % for 2022. Brazil BR: Imports: Low- and Middle-Income Economies: % of Total Goods Imports: Outside Region data is updated yearly, averaging 16.240 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2023, with 64 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 33.953 % in 2020 and a record low of 0.463 % in 1960. Brazil BR: Imports: Low- and Middle-Income Economies: % of Total Goods Imports: Outside Region data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Brazil – Table BR.World Bank.WDI: Imports. Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside region are the sum of merchandise imports by the reporting economy from other low- and middle-income economies in other World Bank regions according to the World Bank classification of economies. Data are expressed as a percentage of total merchandise imports by the economy. Data are computed only if at least half of the economies in the partner country group had non-missing data.;World Bank staff estimates based data from International Monetary Fund's Direction of Trade database.;Weighted average;

Brazil BR: Exports: Low- and Middle-Income Economies: % of Total Goods Exports: South Asia data was reported at 2.128 % in 2023. This records a decrease from the previous number of 3.052 % for 2022. Brazil BR: Exports: Low- and Middle-Income Economies: % of Total Goods Exports: South Asia data is updated yearly, averaging 1.104 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2023, with 63 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 3.234 % in 2017 and a record low of 0.007 % in 1965. Brazil BR: Exports: Low- and Middle-Income Economies: % of Total Goods Exports: South Asia data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Brazil – Table BR.World Bank.WDI: Exports. Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies in South Asia are the sum of merchandise exports from the reporting economy to low- and middle-income economies in the South Asia region according to World Bank classification of economies. Data are as a percentage of total merchandise exports by the economy. Data are computed only if at least half of the economies in the partner country group had non-missing data.;World Bank staff estimates based data from International Monetary Fund's Direction of Trade database.;Weighted average;

Brazil Life & Non-Life Insurance Market size was valued at USD 134.0 Billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 233.7 Billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 7.2% from 2025 to 2032.

Key Market Drivers: Growing Middle Class and Rising Income Levels: The Brazilian Life & Non-Life Insurance Market is being driven by a growing middle class and rising income levels, which are increasing insurance affordability and demand. Brazil's average real household income increased to R$5,925 per month in 2023, from R$5,457 in 2019 (IBGE). This has increased purchasing power, resulting in a 12.8% increase in life insurance premiums in 2022, according to SUSEP, as the increasing middle class becomes more interested in life and personal accident coverage.

Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside region (% of total merchandise imports) in Brazil was reported at 32.52 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Brazil - Merchandise imports from developing economies outside region (% of total merchandise imports) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

In 2024, the top ten percent in Brazil earned an average of 8,034 Brazilian reals per month before income taxes. This is more than 11 times the average income of the bottom half, which was 713 reals per month in that year.

In Brazil, from the total national wealth share in 2021, nearly 80 percent belonged to the top ten percent. Almost half of Brazil's wealth was held by top one percent. On the other hand, the bottom 50 percent had a total of -0.4 percent, that is, on average, this group had more debts than assets. That year, the average personal wealth of the bottom 50 percent was valued at -300 euros.

Brazil BR: Exports: Low- and Middle-Income Economies: % of Total Goods Exports: Sub-Saharan Africa data was reported at 1.855 % in 2023. This records a decrease from the previous number of 1.871 % for 2022. Brazil BR: Exports: Low- and Middle-Income Economies: % of Total Goods Exports: Sub-Saharan Africa data is updated yearly, averaging 2.048 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2023, with 64 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 6.581 % in 1985 and a record low of 0.540 % in 1961. Brazil BR: Exports: Low- and Middle-Income Economies: % of Total Goods Exports: Sub-Saharan Africa data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Brazil – Table BR.World Bank.WDI: Exports. Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies in Sub-Saharan Africa are the sum of merchandise exports from the reporting economy to low- and middle-income economies in the Sub-Saharan Africa region according to World Bank classification of economies. Data are as a percentage of total merchandise exports by the economy. Data are computed only if at least half of the economies in the partner country group had non-missing data.;World Bank staff estimates based data from International Monetary Fund's Direction of Trade database.;Weighted average;

Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in Latin America & the Caribbean (% of total merchandise imports) in Brazil was reported at 10.92 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Brazil - Merchandise imports from developing economies in Latin America & the Caribbean (% of total merchandise imports) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in South Asia (% of total merchandise imports) in Brazil was reported at 3.0303 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Brazil - Merchandise imports from developing economies in South Asia (% of total merchandise imports) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

Brazil BR: Imports: Low- and Middle-Income Economies: % of Total Goods Imports: Europe & Central Asia data was reported at 0.858 % in 2023. This records an increase from the previous number of 0.756 % for 2022. Brazil BR: Imports: Low- and Middle-Income Economies: % of Total Goods Imports: Europe & Central Asia data is updated yearly, averaging 0.371 % from Dec 1966 (Median) to 2023, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1.413 % in 2011 and a record low of 0.000 % in 1976. Brazil BR: Imports: Low- and Middle-Income Economies: % of Total Goods Imports: Europe & Central Asia data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Brazil – Table BR.World Bank.WDI: Imports. Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in Europe and Central Asia are the sum of merchandise imports by the reporting economy from low- and middle-income economies in the Europe and Central Asia region according to the World Bank classification of economies. Data are expressed as a percentage of total merchandise imports by the economy. Data are computed only if at least half of the economies in the partner country group had non-missing data.;World Bank staff estimates based data from International Monetary Fund's Direction of Trade database.;Weighted average;

Brazilian Residential Real Estate Market size was valued at USD 65 Billion in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 100 Billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 5.3% from 2024 to 2031.

Key Market Drivers:

Growing Middle Class and Improved Access to Mortgage Financing: Between 2019 and 2023, Brazil's middle class climbed from 23% to 31%, increasing home demand. According to IBGE and the Central Bank of Brazil, mortgage lending increasing by 14% year on year to R$255 billion in 2023, demonstrating greater access to house finance.

Housing Shortage and Urbanization: Brazil is experiencing a housing deficiency of around 5.8 million units, with 87% concentrated in cities. According to the João Pinheiro Foundation and IBGE's census, the urbanization rate has reached 87.1%, resulting in significant housing demand in metropolitan areas. This highlights the importance of real estate development.

The Brazilian jewelry market, valued at $3.59 billion in 2025, exhibits robust growth potential, projected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.31% from 2025 to 2033. This growth is fueled by several key drivers. A rising middle class with increased disposable income is a significant factor, driving demand for both real and costume jewelry across various segments. Furthermore, the burgeoning e-commerce sector in Brazil provides convenient access to a wider range of jewelry options, stimulating online retail sales. Strong domestic tourism and a growing preference for personalized and ethically sourced jewelry also contribute to market expansion. While economic fluctuations could pose a potential restraint, the overall positive outlook for the Brazilian economy suggests sustained growth in jewelry consumption. The market is segmented by type (necklaces, rings, earrings, charms and bracelets, and others), distribution channel (offline and online retail stores), and category (real and costume jewelry). Key players like Vivara, H Stern, Pandora, and others compete in this dynamic market, leveraging brand recognition and diverse product offerings to cater to consumer preferences. The dominance of offline retail stores is expected to gradually decline as online channels continue their upward trajectory. The forecast period of 2025-2033 promises significant growth opportunities, particularly for companies that can effectively leverage digital marketing strategies and cater to the evolving tastes of Brazilian consumers. The diverse product portfolio within the Brazilian jewelry market caters to a broad spectrum of consumer preferences and price points. Costume jewelry maintains significant market share due to its affordability and fashion-forward designs, while real jewelry, particularly gold and precious stones, continues to appeal to luxury consumers. Regional variations in preferences and purchasing power exist across Brazil, presenting opportunities for targeted marketing and product localization. The market's success hinges on adapting to shifts in consumer trends, leveraging technological advancements, and effectively managing supply chain challenges. While the current economic environment presents some uncertainties, the underlying strength of the Brazilian market, coupled with the inherent appeal of jewelry as a symbol of personal expression and status, strongly suggests a positive long-term outlook. Competitive strategies focusing on innovation, branding, and sustainable practices will be crucial for success in this expanding market. Recent developments include: August 2023: Pandora revealed its intentions to introduce three fresh collections of lab-grown diamond jewelry—Pandora Nova, Pandora Era, and Pandora Talisman—in various global locations, including Mexico and Brazil. The initial availability of select jewelry collections commenced in Mexico and Brazil in October 2023., July 2022: Brazil witnessed the launch of a new jewelry brand named BC & Co. The inauguration of this Brazilian jewelry line comprised an experimental release of 100 pieces. BC & Co. boasted jewelry crafted from 18K gold, touted as anti-allergenic, and featured stones sourced locally from Brazil., March 2021: JTV, a prominent jewelry retailer and broadcast network, introduced its Artisan Collection in Brazil, characterized by eclectic designs inspired by the cultural essence of the region. This collection became accessible through the brand's retail outlets and e-commerce platform.. Key drivers for this market are: Increasing demand for certified jewelry, Increasing product development in terms of designs. Potential restraints include: Increasing demand for certified jewelry, Increasing product development in terms of designs. Notable trends are: Inclination Toward Gemstone Jewelry.

The Brazil Food Service Industry size was valued at USD 16320 Million in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 18112.67 Million by 2032, exhibiting a CAGR of 1.50 % during the forecast periods. The Brazilian food service industry is the fastest growing in the country, driven by urbanization and the growth of the middle class. Examples of these services include everything from restaurants, fast food, and catering. Features include different foods on offer, both local and international. The industry can be segmented into full-service, quick-service, and casual dining, which adopts state-of-the-equipment kitchen technology and digital ordering systems. The power involved in driving employment and contributing to economic growth is huge. The fact that Brazil is a country with an extremely rich culinary heritage and a rapidly growing middle class are some of the pros. The traditional aspects of the industry and the modernity behind it make it more captivating and competitive in its markets and even on a large global scale. Recent developments include: April 2023: Burger King partnered with Bringg, a delivery management platform provider, to help manage their last-mile operations and increase delivery channels across the region. Bringg's delivery management platform will be able to offer more delivery options for Burger King across the country while increasing efficiency and reducing last-mile costs.August 2022: Chiquinho Sorvetes opened its new franchise in Patio Central Shopping, Campo Grande.July 2022: SouthRock announced its exclusive partnership with Eataly Brasil to continue the operation and expansion of the brand in the Brazilian market.. Key drivers for this market are: Increasing demand for meat alternatives. Potential restraints include: Presence of numerous alternatives in the plant proteins. Notable trends are: Popular delivery apps innovating delivery experience are driving the popularity of cloud kitchens..