Jorge Amado's works have received a wide range of awards in Brazil and abroad, including: the Stalin Peace Prize (USSR, 1951), Latinidade (France, 1971), Nonino (Italy, 1982), Dimitrov (Bulgaria, 1989), Pablo Neruda (Russia, 1989), the Etruria Literary Award (Italy, 1989), Cino del Duca (France, 1990), Mediterranean (Italy, 1990), Vitaliano Brancatti (Italy, 1995), Luís de Camões (Brazil-Portugal, 1995), Jabuti (Brazil, 1959, 1997) and the Ministry of Culture award (Brazil, 1997).

He has been honored with the titles of Commander and Grand Official of the orders of Argentina, Chile, Spain, France, Portugal and Venezuela, as well as honorary doctorates from ten universities in Brazil, Italy, Israel, France and Portugal. The honorary doctorate he received in 1998 from the Sorbonne was the last he accepted in person during his last trip to Paris, France, while in the throes of his final illness.