Sewage Collection Still Missing for Nearly 90 Million Brazilians, Ranking Shows

The 2026 Sanitation Ranking shows an unequal picture of basic sanitation in Brazil. Brazil’s Trata Brasil Institute produced the study in partnership with GO Associados. Together, they reveal troubling figures: more than 30 million Brazilians still lack access to drinking water. Moreover, about 90 million people — equivalent to 43.3% of the population — lack sewage collection. The survey is now in its 18th edition. Also, it analyzed the 100 most populous municipalities in the country based on 2024 data from the National Basic Sanitation Information System (Sinisa), covering both water supply and sewage services. To view the complete study, visit the Trata Brasil Institute’s website.

Sewage collection is nearly universal in the ranking’s top cities

Among the best-performing municipalities, four cities in São Paulo state tied for the lead with nearly universal services. They are Franca, São José do Rio Preto, Campinas, and Santos. In total, nine of the top twenty ranking positions belong to São Paulo state. Moreover, another six positions belong to Paraná state.

Northern cities dominate the ranking’s worst positions

At the other extreme, the five worst-performing municipalities are Santarém (PA), Porto Velho (RO), Rio Branco (AC), Várzea Grande (MT), and Parauapebas (PA). Furthermore, among the twenty worst-ranked cities, seven are state capitals. Most of them are located in Brazil’s North region.

The gap between the extremes is stark. The top twenty municipalities average 98.08% sewage collection coverage. Meanwhile, the bottom twenty average just 28.06% — a 70-percentage-point gap. In sewage treatment, the gap is also wide, at 77.97% versus 28.36%. Moreover, the study finds that 51 of the 100 largest municipalities invest less than R$100 per resident per year in sanitation. That figure falls well below the R$225 considered necessary to achieve universal service by 2033, according to the study’s estimates. Therefore, for more news on infrastructure in Brazil, see more Brazil posts.