Paraíba’s GDP will see the second-highest growth in the Northeast in 2026, according to Banco do Brasil’s first projection

With projected growth once again well above the regional and national average, Paraíba's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) will have the second-highest growth rate in the Northeast and the sixth among the 26 states and the Federal District, according to the first GDP projection, as indicated by the Banco do Brasil's Regional Economic Advisory Review study, published this February.

According to the Banco do Brasil study, Paraíba's GDP will expand by 3.5% this year, and should once again grow above the Northeast average (2.2%) and the Brazilian average (2%). The growth rate is second only to Ceará (3.8%) in the Northeast and ranks among the six states that will grow the most in 2026: Rio Grande do Sul (4.6%), Roraima (4.5%), Amapá (4.5%), Ceará (3.8%), Rondônia (3.6%), and Paraíba (3.5%).

CONSTRUCTION AND SERVICES WILL BE PILLARS – According to an analysis by Banco do Brasil, economic activity data shows “a strong performance in the commerce and services sectors, a trend that should continue in 2026, albeit at a moderately slower pace than the previous year. However, the construction and services sectors are expected to be the pillars of Paraíba's growth, placing the state among the two fastest-growing in the Northeast during this period,” it highlighted.

SERVICES GDP IS A HIGHLIGHT IN THE PROJECTION – The GDP of Paraíba's Services sector, which encompasses commerce, public administration, and all service segments, is projected to grow by 3.7%; in addition to being a highlight, it will have the highest growth rate among the three sectors evaluated, growing above the average for the Northeast (2.2%) and the country (2.1%).

PERFORMANCE OF THE AGRICULTURAL AND INDUSTRIAL SECTORS – The GDP of the agricultural sector in Paraíba is projected to increase by 2.7%, while the Northeast region showed no growth (0%) and the country as a whole (1%). The GDP of the Industrial sector will have the lowest projected growth (2.3%).

THIRD CONSECUTIVE YEAR OF GROWTH – The Secretary of State for Finance (Sefaz-PB), Marialvo Laureano, stated that 2026 marks the third consecutive year that Paraíba has stood out in GDP growth, indicating the consistency of the state's economic activity in remaining among the highest-growing in the country year after year.

“In 2024, we ranked first in Brazil with GDP growth of 6.6%, while in 2025, we grew 5.5%. Now, even in this first projection, we stand out in the Northeast Region. This demonstrates the assertive actions of the João Azevêdo administration, which, in partnership with the private sector, has continuously generated employment and income, thus improving the quality of life of the people of Paraíba,” he recalled.

For 2026, the State Finance Secretary reiterates that the Banco do Brasil study points to the construction and service sectors as the pillars of economic growth in Paraíba, placing the State alongside Ceará as the two largest advances in the Northeast.

“The government's plan is to continue investing in public and development policies assertively, whether in structural areas or in attracting and prospecting new private investments so that Paraíba continues to grow, strengthening its economy and, with that, generating more jobs and income for the population of Paraíba,” he concluded.