São Francisco do Conde has GDP of R$ 338k per capita — but disappointing HDI in Northeast
São Francisco do Conde (BA) produces annually the equivalent of R$ 338,000 per capita — nearly 20 times the Northeast average of R$ 16,900. But the HDI of 0.674 of the Bahian city, considered “Medium” by UNDP, reveals one of the greatest contradictions of Brazilian territorial development: very high GDP, unsatisfactory quality of life.
The phenomenon is not isolated. Of the 10 municipalities with the highest GDP per capita in the Northeast, five have HDI below the regional average of 0.591 — most of them dominated by oil, agribusiness or mining. The data expose how the statistical wealth of a city may not reach the local population.
The 10 richest municipalities in the Northeast by GDP per capita
| # | City | State | GDP per capita | HDI | Paradox |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | São Francisco do Conde | BA | R$ 338,000 | 0.674 — Medium | ⚠️ High GDP, Medium HDI |
| 2 | Tasso Fragoso | MA | R$ 265,000 | 0.599 — Low | ⚠️ High GDP, Low HDI |
| 3 | Godofredo Viana | MA | R$ 261,000 | 0.604 — Medium | ⚠️ High GDP, Medium HDI |
| 4 | Santo Antônio dos Lopes | MA | R$ 214,000 | 0.566 — Low | ⚠️ High GDP, Low HDI |
| 5 | Formosa do Rio Preto | BA | R$ 178,000 | 0.618 — Medium | ⚠️ High GDP, Medium HDI |
| 6 | São Desidério | BA | R$ 178,000 | 0.579 — Low | ⚠️ High GDP, Low HDI |
| 7 | São Bento do Norte | RN | R$ 166,000 | 0.555 — Low | ⚠️ High GDP, Low HDI |
| 8 | São Gonçalo do Amarante | CE | R$ 159,000 | 0.665 — Medium | ⚠️ High GDP, Medium HDI |
| 9 | Alhandra | PB | R$ 156,000 | 0.582 — Low | ⚠️ High GDP, Low HDI |
| 10 | Ipojuca | PE | R$ 151,000 | 0.619 — Medium | ⚠️ High GDP, Medium HDI |
Why doesn't GDP turn into HDI in the Northeast?
The pattern repeats itself in the 5 paradoxical municipalities: all are mono-industrial. São Francisco do Conde has Petrobras' Landulpho Alves Refinery (RLAM). Santo Antônio dos Lopes (MA) with R$ 214k per capita lives off soy agribusiness. São Bento do Norte (RN) with R$ 166k is dominated by wind energy. Baixa Grande do Ribeiro (PI), with R$ 133k per capita, has an HDI of only 0.564.
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Cofundador do Seu Crédito Digital e idealizador do Score de Cidades. Jornalista, bacharel em Administração de Empresas pela UFRGS e especialista em SEO e inteligência territorial. Responsável pela curadoria e metodologia dos dados de cidades, estados e bairros.