Maricá has been experiencing rapid growth and an equally rapid socio-economic transformation in recent years. The engine of this movement has been the municipal government, with royalties from the pre-salt layer.
The city has seen a notable increase in its population, driven by a series of innovative public policies. Public transportation, with the Zero Tariff, the Basic Citizenship Income (RBC) program, distributed through the Mumbuca social currency, the University Passport, which guarantees full scholarships to local residents, and the Dr. Ernesto Che Guevara Municipal Hospital are some examples of this management model
In addition to social policies, Maricá has been attracting more investors, which is reflected, for example, in the arrival of new private enterprises and the growth in operations at the municipality’s airport.
According to the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), Maricá is the city that gained the most share in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) between 2020 (an increase of 0.47%) and 2021 (an increase of 0.95%). GDP per capita reached 511,810.82 in 2021.
Maricá has the eighth highest GDP among Brazilian cities, with a 0.95% share.
The IBGE also shows that Maricá’s population reached 197,300 in the 2022 Census. This figure represents an increase of 54.87% compared to the 127,461 inhabitants registered in the 2010 Census.
As a comparison, the state of Rio de Janeiro experienced a modest increase of 0.4% in relation to the previous census. Maricá now ranks 15th in the state population hierarchy, 74th in the Southeast region and 154th nationally.
The indicators reflect Maricá’s transformation from a mere dormitory town to a place that offers job opportunities, housing and a solid social protection network.
Data from the General Register of Employed and Unemployed (Caged) for 2022 indicates that Maricá stands out among the municipalities with more than 150,000 inhabitants in Brazil, registering the highest relative variation in formal employment.
At the same time, this brings additional challenges for public policies, as people from other places who come to work in Maricá have an impact on the demand for municipal services.
The municipality plans its future with programs designed to stimulate the local economy and provide economic protection. The Worker Protection Program (PPT) formalizes and protects the rights of informal workers, while Fomenta Maricá provides credit lines for informal workers and entrepreneurs.
