More than 60 million companies have already been opened in Brazil, research shows | Economy

According to research carried out by BigDataCorp, a leader in data analysis in Latin America, Brazil has surpassed the mark of more than 60 million National Registers of Legal Entities (CNPJ) registered throughout the country’s history. Currently, 36.35% of these registrations are active, indicating a dynamic market where new companies are born and others leave, keeping the business ecosystem in constant renewal. The majority of active companies are Headquarters, with 94.50%, and only 5.50% are Branches. The data is from April 2024.

Micro Companies (ME) represent 77.9% of the market, and the majority of them are individual companies (MEIs), which total 75.62%. Apart from MEIs, most companies have two partners. This highlights the importance of small entrepreneurs for the national economy. The share capital declared by active companies amounts to a total of R21 trillion.

This number represents the investment made by entrepreneurs in the country’s economy, in the form of money invested to start businesses. If we look at all 60 million CNPJs, including companies that have already closed their activities, this number rises to almost R185 trillion.

For Thoran Rodrigues, CEO of BigDataCorp, the milestone of 60 million CNPJs reflects the Brazilian entrepreneur’s energy and capacity for innovation. “Each CNPJ is a planted seed that can blossom into a prosperous business, contributing to the economy and society. It is essential that we recognize the diversity and resilience of our market”, comments the executive.

The state of São Paulo continues to be the epicenter of business in Brazil, with 30.9% of active companies. Minas Gerais appears in second place, with 10.42%, having surpassed Rio de Janeiro (8.4%) and demonstrating the expansion of entrepreneurship beyond traditional borders.

The average age of active companies is 8 years, with a mortality rate that increases in the first years of activity. Around 77.9% of companies close their operations before completing 4 years, and less than 1% reach 10 years of life. These numbers highlight the importance of policies to support entrepreneurship, especially those aimed at those starting their journey.

The Brazilian business sector is characterized by a great diversity of activities, with the retail trade of clothing items leading with 7.73% of active CNPJs. Other areas also stand out, below is the list of the 10 main registered activities of Brazilian companies: