Mato Grosso do Sul Maintains 6th Economic Performance Rank in Brazil

The Bottom Line

• Mato Grosso do Sul (MS) maintained its 6th position in Brazil's economic competitiveness ranking for the second consecutive year, according to the CLP's "Ranking de Competitividade dos Estados 2026 – Eleições" report.
• The state demonstrated consistent strength in Human Capital, securing the 2nd national position for three years, and showed significant growth in Innovation, ranking 5th nationally for improvement.
• Despite a slight decline from its 5th place in 2023, MS's overall score increased in 2025, reflecting underlying economic resilience and strategic development in key areas.

The Center for Public Leadership (CLP) released its "Ranking de Competitividade dos Estados 2026 – Eleições" report, highlighting Mato Grosso do Sul's (MS) sustained economic performance. For the second consecutive year, MS secured the 6th position among Brazilian states with the best economic performance. This comprehensive study evaluates 33 indicators across four critical areas: human capital, infrastructure, innovation, and market potential.Mato Grosso do Sul's ability to maintain its 6th rank is notable, especially considering its score increased by 1.52 points in 2025, reaching 51.84 points out of a possible 100. This marks an improvement from 50.32 points in 2024. Historically, in the institute's inaugural analysis in 2023, MS achieved 53.38 points, placing it 5th nationally. The current 2025 score positions MS behind Minas Gerais (5th with 52.11 points), Rio Grande do Sul (56.61 points), Paraná (57.37 points), Santa Catarina (63.15 points), and São Paulo, which leads the ranking with 64.14 points.The CLP study, which tracks the trajectory of federal units between 2023 and 2025, noted dynamic shifts within the top tier. Minas Gerais ascended one position to 5th place, consequently causing Mato Grosso do Sul to settle into and maintain its 6th position for both 2024 and 2025. The overall trajectory of the top 10 economies indicates relative stability at the apex, with São Paulo consistently preserving its leadership and Santa Catarina remaining among the top contenders throughout the three-year period. Paraná concluded 2025 in a higher position than at the beginning of the period, while Rio Grande do Sul experienced a one-position decline.To determine the state's position, the CLP considered MS's consistent 2nd national ranking in Human Capital across all three analyzed years, even as its score in this component grew. It reached 67.73 points in 2025, up from 66.58 in 2024 and 65.45 in 2023. Santa Catarina consistently held the 1st position in Human Capital across all three cycles, with a score of 72.8 points. Regarding growth in this specific area, between 2024 and 2025, MS achieved an average score of 45.9, placing it 15th nationally for this component, which assesses the state's internal evolution.In the Infrastructure component, MS's improvement registered an average score of 44.33 points, corresponding to the 16th position nationally. For Innovation, MS recorded the 5th highest growth in the country, achieving an average score of 44.56. Conversely, the Market Potential pillar received the lowest score among the four basic components used for classification. The average increase was 26.05 points, placing the state in 23rd position, near the bottom of this specific category.The survey also indicated that Mato Grosso do Sul recorded the 16th highest overall growth in the country in 2025, with an average economic growth score of 40.21. This parameter, distinct from the positional ranking, considers the progress of states relative to their own performance, highlighting improvements across the four indicator areas. The report observed that "the greatest dynamism of the period was not restricted to states traditionally well-placed in terms of level, but was distributed primarily among states in the Northeast, with significant support from the Southeast and Central-West." This observation specifically cited Bahia, Paraíba, and Piauí, with average scores of 48.52, 48.48, and 47.48, respectively. These federal units occupied the 2nd, 3rd, and 5th places in the economic growth ranking for 2025 within the economic pillar.According to the CLP, the economic segment ranking serves as a tool to measure the capacity of Brazilian federal entities to generate well-being for their populations. Based on official data, the ranking provides a detailed overview of local public management through indicators structured around four pillars: Human Capital, Infrastructure, Innovation, and Market Potential. The General Ranking, which includes the economic component, utilizes 100 indicators deemed fundamental for promoting competitiveness and improving overall state performance.