State Guides - Santa Catarina

Capital Florianópolis
Population (as at 2010) 6,248,436
Urban Population (found under Synopsis of the 2010 Population Census) (as at 2010) 5,247,913
Area (km²) 95,703
Population Density (inhab / km²) (as at 2010) 65
Number of Municipalities 293
Occupied Private Housing Units (as at 2010) 1,995,572
Average of Residents in Occupied Private Housing Units (as at 2010) 3
Housing Deficit (as at 2008) 140,770
Number of Active Construction Companies (as at 2009)
Employed Personnel in Construction Companies (as at 2009)
Total Salaries and Other Compensation (as at 2008)
Credit Operations Total (as at 2009) R$ 35,336,056,072
Savings Total (as at 2009) R$ 14,916,308,776
Average Monthly Household Income from Work (as at 2009) R$ 2,052
Average Monthly Household Expenditure on Housing (as at 2009) R$ 1,003
Average Multiple of Minimum Wage (as at 2009)
Population Earning No Income 3.7 %
Population Earning up to 3 Times the Minimum Salary (as at 2008) 72.9 %
Population Earning Between 3 and 5 Times the Minimum Salary (as at 2008) 19.1 %
Population Earning Between 5 and 10 Times the Minimum Salary (as at 2008) 3.7 %
Population Earning 10 Times and Over the Minimum Salary (as at 2008) 0.5 %
Gini Coefficient (as at 2009) 0.39
UN Human Development Index Rating (as at 2009)
Permanent Private Households with a Septic Tank (as at 2009)
Number of Municipalities with Solid Waste Management (as at 2009) 293
Poverty Incidence (as at 2009) 27 %
GDP at Current Prices (as at 2008)
GDP per Capita (as at 2008)

Whilst being a relatively small state in the south of the country, Santa Catarina has much to offer for real estate and land investors. Bordering Paraná to the north and Rio Grande so Sul to the south (with the Atlantic ocean to the east and Misiones in Argentina to the west), a large majority of its inhabitants are of Portuguese, German, Italian, Polish and Japanese descent (the state was officially inaugurated in 1783).

The majority of the states gross domestic product is generated by industrial activity followed by services, agriculture and tourism.

With over 560 kilometres of coastline complemented by islands, bays, inlets, lagoons, monuments, mineral pools the region is popular visiting point for both Brazilian and foreign tourists. The main tourist attraction of the state is Florianópolis (also known as Floripa) city as well as Garopaba (a popular surfing spot); São Joaquin (one of the only areas of Brazil that sees snow); Blumenau (home of the second biggest Oktoberfest after the one held in Germany) and Joinville (home of several festivals held throughout the year). The main airport (Hercílio Luz) serves all parts of Brazil and neighbouring Latin American countries.

Data / Information Sources: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE), World Bank, Inter American Development Bank (IADB), Index of Social and Economic Freedom, Globo, Estado (São Paulo), Valor Magazine, Istoé Dinheiro, Cushman & Wakefield, Jones Lang LaSalle, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Financial Times, The Economist, Embratur, Association for Real Estate and Tourism Development (ADIT), Brazilian American Chamber of Commerce and the Embassy of Brazil in the UK.