In 2025, approximately 23 million people lived in the São Paulo metropolitan area, making it the biggest in Latin America and the Caribbean and the sixth most populated in the world. The homonymous state of São Paulo was also the most populous federal entity in the country. The second place for the region was Mexico City with 22.75 million inhabitants. Brazil's cities Brazil is home to two large metropolises, only counting the population within the city limits, São Paulo had approximately 11.45 million inhabitants, and Rio de Janeiro around 6.21 million inhabitants. It also contains a number of smaller, but well known cities such as Brasília, Salvador, Belo Horizonte and many others, which report between 2 and 3 million inhabitants each. As a result, the country's population is primarily urban, with nearly 88 percent of inhabitants living in cities. Mexico City Mexico City's metropolitan area ranks sevenths in the ranking of most populated cities in the world. Founded over the Aztec city of Tenochtitlan in 1521 after the Spanish conquest as the capital of the Viceroyalty of New Spain, the city still stands as one of the most important in Latin America. Nevertheless, the preeminent economic, political, and cultural position of Mexico City has not prevented the metropolis from suffering the problems affecting the rest of the country, namely, inequality and violence. Only in 2023, the city registered a crime incidence of 52,723 reported cases for every 100,000 inhabitants and around 24 percent of the population lived under the poverty line.

Chart and table of population level and growth rate for the Sao Paulo, Brazil metro area from 1950 to 2025.

According to an online survey as of June 2024, the majority of vegetarians registered in the state of São Paulo lived in its homonymous capital, the city of São Paulo, where more than four thousand people identified themselves as vegetarian, vegan or supporter thereof. The second largest population was found in Campinas, with 545 respondents.

In 2024, approximately 11.9 million people lived in São Paulo, making it the largest municipality in Brazil and one of the most populous cities in the world. The homonymous state of São Paulo was also the most populous federal entity in the country. Brazil's cities Brazil is home to two large metropolises: São Paulo with close to 11.9 million inhabitants, and Rio de Janeiro with around 6.7 million inhabitants. It also contains a number of smaller but well-known cities, such as Brasília, Salvador, Belo Horizonte, and many others, which report between 2 and 3 million inhabitants each. As a result, the country's population is primarily urban, with nearly 88 percent of inhabitants living in cities. While smaller than some of the other cities, Brasília was chosen to be the capital because of its relatively central location. The city is also well-known for its modernist architecture and utopian city plan, which is quite controversial - criticized by many and praised by others. Sports venues capitals A number of Brazil’s medium-sized and large cities were chosen as venues for the 2014 World Cup, and the 2015 Summer Olympics also took place in Rio de Janeiro. Both of these events required large sums of money to support infrastructure and enhance mobility within a number of different cities across the country. Billions of dollars were spent on the 2014 World Cup, which went primarily to stadium construction and renovation but also to a number of different mobility projects. Other short-term spending on infrastructure for the World Cup and the Rio Olympic Games was estimated at 50 billion U.S. dollars. While these events have poured a lot of money into urban infrastructure, a number of social and economic problems within the country remain unsolved.

In 202, according to the estimation, the Brazilian state of São Paulo was home to nearly 46 million people, making it the most populous state in the South American country. With less than half of São Paulo's population, Minas Gerais was the second most populous state in Brazil at that time. These two states are located in the South-East region of the country. Along with Rio de Janeiro and Espírito Santo, these states constitute Brazil's most populated region.

GDP per Capita: State of São Paulo: Previous Year Price data was reported at 73,294.083 BRL in 2024. This records an increase from the previous number of 69,535.500 BRL for 2023. GDP per Capita: State of São Paulo: Previous Year Price data is updated yearly, averaging 38,761.524 BRL from Dec 2003 (Median) to 2024, with 22 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 73,294.083 BRL in 2024 and a record low of 13,465.070 BRL in 2003. GDP per Capita: State of São Paulo: Previous Year Price data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by State System of Data Analysis Foundation. The data is categorized under Brazil Premium Database’s National Accounts – Table BR.AG022: SNA 2008: Gross Domestic Product per Capita: Southeast: São Paulo.

Brazil BR: Sao Paulo-Guarulhos Intl Airport: Passenger Movement data was reported at 3,680,984.000 Person in Mar 2025. This records an increase from the previous number of 3,351,371.000 Person for Feb 2025. Brazil BR: Sao Paulo-Guarulhos Intl Airport: Passenger Movement data is updated monthly, averaging 3,172,000.000 Person from Jan 2013 (Median) to Mar 2025, with 147 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 4,233,709.000 Person in Jan 2020 and a record low of 279,407.000 Person in Apr 2020. Brazil BR: Sao Paulo-Guarulhos Intl Airport: Passenger Movement data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by São Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Brazil – Table BR.TA019: Airport Statistics: Sao Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport. [COVID-19-IMPACT]

In 2011, the installed capacity of interconnection bandwidth in São Paulo, Brazil stood at *** terabits per second and it has been projected that it would increase to *** terabits per second by 2024. In Latin America, it is expected to grow as well in the same period.

Among the nine Brazilian states surveyed, São Paulo registered the highest number of femicide in 2024. During that year, at least 144 women were murdered on account of their gender in the state of São Paulo. In Pernambuco, 69 femicides were recorded. The state of Rondônia had the highest femicide rate in Brazil in 2023.

Brazil BR: Sao Paulo-Guarulhos Intl Airport: Passenger Movement: Intl data was reported at 1,341,372.000 Person in Mar 2025. This records an increase from the previous number of 1,231,525.000 Person for Feb 2025. Brazil BR: Sao Paulo-Guarulhos Intl Airport: Passenger Movement: Intl data is updated monthly, averaging 1,122,505.000 Person from Jan 2013 (Median) to Mar 2025, with 147 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1,464,534.000 Person in Jul 2024 and a record low of 39,889.000 Person in Apr 2020. Brazil BR: Sao Paulo-Guarulhos Intl Airport: Passenger Movement: Intl data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by São Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Brazil – Table BR.TA019: Airport Statistics: Sao Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport. [COVID-19-IMPACT]

GDP per Capita: Metropolitan Region of São Paulo: Current Price data was reported at 84,562.969 BRL in 2024. This records an increase from the previous number of 78,102.846 BRL for 2023. GDP per Capita: Metropolitan Region of São Paulo: Current Price data is updated yearly, averaging 47,377.104 BRL from Dec 2002 (Median) to 2024, with 23 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 84,562.969 BRL in 2024 and a record low of 16,022.710 BRL in 2002. GDP per Capita: Metropolitan Region of São Paulo: Current Price data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by State System of Data Analysis Foundation. The data is categorized under Brazil Premium Database’s National Accounts – Table BR.AG022: SNA 2008: Gross Domestic Product per Capita: Southeast: São Paulo.

In 2024, TV (including free and pay TV) accounted for approximately **** percent of Brazil's total advertising spending, while the internet held a share of **** percent, according to data collected from ad agencies across the country. Out-of-home (OOH) media rounded up the top three with **** percent. According to another source, ad spending in Brazil reached an estimated **** billion U.S. dollars in 2024. The Brazilian digital ad market Brazil's online ad revenues reached almost ** billion Brazilian reals in 2024 – an annual growth of little more than ***** percent. Compared to 2020, the value increased by ** percent. Mobile dominates the Brazilian digital ad industry, attracting roughly ***** out of **** online ad dollars throughout 2024. Brazil's OOH giant Although the South American country welcomes foreign outdoor ad media companies such as JCDecaux, São Paulo-based Eletromídia emerges as the world's largest OOH firm based in Brazil. In 2024, its net revenue reached nearly **** billion Brazilian reals, up ** percent from *** million reals a year earlier. Eletromídia also ranked among the world's leading outdoor ad companies in 2024.

Brazilian startups are mostly localized in the South-Eastern region of the country. In 2024, the city with the largest share of startups in Brazil was São Paulo, with more than ** percent. With *** percent of the startups located there, Rio de Janeiro was in second place.

BR: Number of Residential Home Sales: Sao Paulo data was reported at 10,401.000 Unit in Feb 2025. This records an increase from the previous number of 6,755.000 Unit for Jan 2025. BR: Number of Residential Home Sales: Sao Paulo data is updated monthly, averaging 2,635.500 Unit from Jan 2004 (Median) to Feb 2025, with 254 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 11,397.000 Unit in Oct 2024 and a record low of 622.000 Unit in Jan 2017. BR: Number of Residential Home Sales: Sao Paulo data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by The Trade Union of Housing. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Brazil – Table BR.RKA007: Real Estate: São Paulo Residential Home Sales. [COVID-19-IMPACT]

Bus: Passengers Transportation: São Paulo: São Paulo data was reported at 2,551,756.000 Person in 20 Apr 2025. This records a decrease from the previous number of 6,758,974.000 Person for 31 Mar 2025. Bus: Passengers Transportation: São Paulo: São Paulo data is updated daily, averaging 5,935,164.000 Person from Sep 2017 (Median) to 20 Apr 2025, with 2529 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 19,068,506.000 Person in 13 Jun 2018 and a record low of 349,689.000 Person in 25 Jan 2024. Bus: Passengers Transportation: São Paulo: São Paulo data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by São Paulo Prefecture. The data is categorized under Brazil Premium Database’s Transportation Sector – Table BR.TAD001: Bus Transport: Passenger Transportation: São Paulo: São Paulo: Daily.

The average price of accommodation in hotels and similar lodging establishments in the Brazilian City of São Paulo in amounted to ** U.S. dollars in February 2024. The average price of hotel rooms reached the highest peak of the previous year in November, at 100 U.S. dollars.

Bus: Passengers Transportation: São Paulo: São Paulo: Paid data was reported at 89.000 Person in 20 Apr 2025. This records a decrease from the previous number of 3,624,883.000 Person for 31 Mar 2025. Bus: Passengers Transportation: São Paulo: São Paulo: Paid data is updated daily, averaging 3,355,738.000 Person from Sep 2017 (Median) to 20 Apr 2025, with 2529 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 9,129,888.000 Person in 27 Sep 2019 and a record low of 39.000 Person in 21 Jul 2024. Bus: Passengers Transportation: São Paulo: São Paulo: Paid data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by São Paulo Prefecture. The data is categorized under Brazil Premium Database’s Transportation Sector – Table BR.TAD001: Bus Transport: Passenger Transportation: São Paulo: São Paulo: Daily.

Brazil Market Capitalization: Annual: Sao Paulo Stock Exchange: USD data was reported at 658.556 USD bn in 2024. This records a decrease from the previous number of 993.395 USD bn for 2023. Brazil Market Capitalization: Annual: Sao Paulo Stock Exchange: USD data is updated yearly, averaging 234.219 USD bn from Dec 1980 (Median) to 2024, with 45 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1,542.076 USD bn in 2010 and a record low of 9.221 USD bn in 1980. Brazil Market Capitalization: Annual: Sao Paulo Stock Exchange: USD data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by B3 S.A. - Brasil, Bolsa, Balcão. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Brazil – Table BR.ZA006: B3 S.A. – Brasil, Bolsa, Balcao: Market Capitalization: Annual.

Close to a quarter of all dental professionals in Brazil in 2024 were located in São Paulo, with over 161,000 professionals available in the state. Mato Grosso and Rio de Janeiro followed in this regard, with over 82,000 and 71,000 professionals, respectively. In 2021, the density of dentists in the South American country amounted to 6.68 per 10,000 people.

GDP: sa: YoY: State of São Paulo data was reported at 918.522 % in Dec 2024. This records an increase from the previous number of 4.115 % for Sep 2024. GDP: sa: YoY: State of São Paulo data is updated quarterly, averaging 3.351 % from Jun 2002 (Median) to Dec 2024, with 89 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 918.522 % in Dec 2024 and a record low of -7.456 % in Jun 2020. GDP: sa: YoY: State of São Paulo data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by State System of Data Analysis Foundation. The data is categorized under Brazil Premium Database’s National Accounts – Table BR.AF023: SNA 2008: Gross Domestic Product: by Municipality: Southeast: São Paulo: State System of Data Analysis Foundation: Quarterly. [COVID-19-IMPACT]