Size and presence
Measured franchise networks have establishments in 45.3% of municipalities, home to 87.9% of the population
Share of the 5,571 municipalities with at least one active establishment of the 503 measured networks
See the full table (28 rows)
| State | Network establishments | Per 100,000 inhabitants | Municipalities | With at least one establishment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DF | 1,843 | 61.5 | 1 | 100.0% |
| SC | 3,560 | 43.5 | 295 | 53.6% |
| MT | 1,648 | 42.3 | 142 | 56.3% |
| GO | 2,836 | 38.2 | 246 | 45.5% |
| RJ | 5,744 | 33.3 | 92 | 83.7% |
| SP | 15,229 | 33.0 | 645 | 63.3% |
| TO | 508 | 32.0 | 139 | 21.6% |
| MS | 921 | 31.5 | 79 | 62.0% |
| PR | 3,727 | 31.3 | 399 | 53.9% |
| RO | 527 | 30.1 | 52 | 53.8% |
| ES | 1,138 | 27.6 | 78 | 78.2% |
| MG | 5,287 | 24.7 | 853 | 45.5% |
| RS | 2,593 | 23.1 | 497 | 31.6% |
| RR | 156 | 21.1 | 15 | 33.3% |
| AP | 169 | 21.0 | 16 | 31.2% |
| PB | 849 | 20.4 | 223 | 22.9% |
| AL | 610 | 18.9 | 102 | 41.2% |
| RN | 633 | 18.3 | 167 | 29.9% |
| PA | 1,588 | 18.2 | 144 | 56.2% |
| BA | 2,686 | 18.1 | 417 | 36.5% |
| PI | 600 | 17.7 | 224 | 17.0% |
| AC | 155 | 17.5 | 22 | 36.4% |
| PE | 1,628 | 17.0 | 185 | 52.4% |
| SE | 391 | 17.0 | 75 | 34.7% |
| MA | 1,108 | 15.8 | 217 | 43.3% |
| AM | 599 | 13.9 | 62 | 16.1% |
| CE | 1,207 | 13.0 | 184 | 56.0% |
| Brazil | 57,941 | 27.1 | 5,571 | 45.3% |
The municipality of each establishment in the CNPJ (Brazilian company registry) records makes it possible to measure how far franchise networks reach. The indicator counts the active establishments of the 503 networks measured by the observatory in each of the 5,571 municipalities and cross-references the result with the population estimated by IBGE (the national statistics institute) for 2025.
There is at least one establishment of the networks in 2,526 municipalities, 45.3% of the total, home to 87.9% of the population. Presence follows the size of the municipality. Among municipalities with up to 5,000 inhabitants, 5.3% have an establishment of the networks. In the band from 20,000 to 50,000, the share reaches 81.6%, and all 48 municipalities with more than 500,000 inhabitants have an establishment, with a median of 167 networks present in each.
Density also varies across states. The country has 27.1 establishments of the networks per 100,000 inhabitants. The Federal District leads, with 61.5, followed by Santa Catarina, with 43.5, and Ceará has the lowest density, with 13.0.
How we calculate
In the open CNPJ data of Receita Federal (the federal tax authority), reference month October 2026, we read the active establishments that the observatory's census attributes to each network, with the same trade name expression and the same CNAE (national classification of economic activities) subclasses as the network profile, head office or branch. The 503 networks with at least 30 establishments in the subset are included. The Receita Federal municipality code is converted into the IBGE code by name and state, and the population is the 2025 estimate from SIDRA table 6579. Density by state divides the networks' establishments in the state by the estimated population.
What this figure does not show
- An establishment with a CNPJ is not the same as a unit in operation. Units registered only under the franchisee's legal name, without the brand in the trade name, are left out, and the result is a floor.
- Only networks with at least 30 identified establishments are included. Smaller networks, more present in small municipalities in their region, are not counted.
- The municipality is the one in the records, which may be that of the company's tax address rather than that of the point of sale.
- Population is an IBGE estimate and does not account for the floating population of tourist or transit municipalities.
Frequently asked questions
How many municipalities in Brazil have a franchise?
The 503 franchise networks measured by the observatory have an active establishment in 2,526 of Brazil's 5,571 municipalities, 45.3% of the total, home to 87.9% of the population.
In which Brazilian state do franchises reach the most municipalities?
The state of Rio de Janeiro, where 83.7% of the 92 municipalities have an active establishment of the measured franchise networks. At the other extreme, Amazonas has an establishment of the networks in 16.1% of its 62 municipalities. Density per inhabitant in each state is given in the density by state indicator.
Do small towns in Brazil have franchises?
Among municipalities with up to 5,000 inhabitants, 5.3% have an establishment of the measured franchise networks. In those with 20,000 to 50,000 inhabitants, the share is 81.6%.
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Size and presenceOther indicators in the same group
Maintained by Marktech, which serves franchise networks and franchises. The brands cited belong to their owners and are mentioned here only to identify the network the data refers to.