Brazilian poll finds 51% of citizens rate Lula government better than Bolsonaro

A PoderData telephone survey conducted between 18 and 20 July 2026 sampled 2,500 respondents across 147 municipalities in all 27 Brazilian states. The poll shows 51% of Brazilians say President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s administration is better than former President Jair Bolsonaro’s, while 34% view the current government as worse. An additional 8% consider the two administrations equal and 6% could not answer.

Compared with the previous survey in March, positive assessment of Lula’s government rose by about 19 points, and negative assessment fell by eight points. Regional differences are pronounced: 63% of respondents in the Northeast favor Lula over Bolsonaro, the highest share nationwide. Income‑based splits show 56% of those earning up to two minimum wages rate Lula better, versus 31% who think he is worse; among earners above five minimum wages the views are evenly split at 42% each.

The poll’s margin of error is ±2 percentage points with a 95% confidence level. It measures only comparative perception, not voting intention.