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 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.

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 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.

The below dataset shows the top 800 biggest cities in the world and their populations in the year 2024. It also tells us which country and continent each city is in, and their rank based on population size. Here are the top ten cities:

• Tokyo, Japan - in Asia, with 37,115,035 people.
• Delhi, India - in Asia, with 33,807,403 people.
• Shanghai, China - in Asia, with 29,867,918 people.
• Dhaka, Bangladesh - in Asia, with 23,935,652 people.
• Sao Paulo, Brazil - in South America, with 22,806,704 people.
• Cairo, Egypt - in Africa, with 22,623,874 people.
• Mexico City, Mexico - in North America, with 22,505,315 people.
• Beijing, China - in Asia, with 22,189,082 people.
• Mumbai, India - in Asia, with 21,673,149 people.
• Osaka, Japan - in Asia, with 18,967,459 people.

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.

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]

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.

Bus: Passengers Transportation: São Paulo: São Paulo data was reported at 3,913,182.000 Person in 22 Nov 2025. This records a decrease from the previous number of 5,546,538.000 Person for 21 Nov 2025. Bus: Passengers Transportation: São Paulo: São Paulo data is updated daily, averaging 3,575,960.000 Person from Sep 2017 (Median) to 22 Nov 2025, with 2764 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.TAD: Bus Transport: Passenger Transportation: São Paulo: São Paulo: Daily.

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.

São Paulo was home to the two busiest airports in Brazil in 2024, having handled **** million passengers in total. The combined total of the top 10 airports in the Latin American country that year was *** million passengers.

Bus: Passengers Transportation: São Paulo: São Paulo: Paid data was reported at 2,057,418.000 Person in 22 Nov 2025. This records a decrease from the previous number of 2,896,555.000 Person for 21 Nov 2025. Bus: Passengers Transportation: São Paulo: São Paulo: Paid data is updated daily, averaging 2,149,965.000 Person from Sep 2017 (Median) to 22 Nov 2025, with 2764 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.TAD: Bus Transport: Passenger Transportation: São Paulo: São Paulo: Daily.

In 2024, there were more than ******* doctors registered in Brazil. That year, São Paulo ranked as the state with the highest amount of doctors in the South American country, with more than ******* medical licenses registered. Meanwhile, the number of physicians licensed in Amapá amounted to around ***** professionals as of 2024.

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.

Bus: Passengers Transportation: São Paulo: São Paulo: Free of Charge data was reported at 799,222.000 Person in 22 Nov 2025. This records a decrease from the previous number of 1,140,028.000 Person for 21 Nov 2025. Bus: Passengers Transportation: São Paulo: São Paulo: Free of Charge data is updated daily, averaging 785,670.000 Person from Jan 2015 (Median) to 22 Nov 2025, with 3758 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 3,730,715.000 Person in 06 Oct 2024 and a record low of 1,755.000 Person in 03 Jun 2017. Bus: Passengers Transportation: São Paulo: São Paulo: Free of Charge 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.TAD: Bus Transport: Passenger Transportation: São Paulo: São Paulo: Daily.

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]

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.

In 2024, around ** percent of all online purchases in Brazil were made in the Southeastern region, where states like São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro are located. The South accounted for almost ** percent of all online orders that year. Most checkouts are made by Brazilian digital shoppers aged between 35 and 44.

Number of Beds: Public Administration: Southeast: São Paulo: Bebedouro data was reported at 10.000 Unit in Mar 2025. This stayed constant from the previous number of 10.000 Unit for Feb 2025. Number of Beds: Public Administration: Southeast: São Paulo: Bebedouro data is updated monthly, averaging 0.000 Unit from Jun 2012 (Median) to Mar 2025, with 154 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 10.000 Unit in Mar 2025 and a record low of 0.000 Unit in Feb 2024. Number of Beds: Public Administration: Southeast: São Paulo: Bebedouro data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Ministry of Health. The data is categorized under Brazil Premium Database’s Health Sector – Table BR.HLB057: Number of Beds: by Municipality: Southeast: São Paulo. [COVID-19-IMPACT]

Number of Establishments: Public Administration: Southeast: São Paulo: Alfredo Marcondes data was reported at 1.000 Unit in Mar 2025. This stayed constant from the previous number of 1.000 Unit for Feb 2025. Number of Establishments: Public Administration: Southeast: São Paulo: Alfredo Marcondes data is updated monthly, averaging 0.000 Unit from Jun 2012 (Median) to Mar 2025, with 154 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1.000 Unit in Mar 2025 and a record low of 0.000 Unit in Jan 2024. Number of Establishments: Public Administration: Southeast: São Paulo: Alfredo Marcondes data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Ministry of Health. The data is categorized under Brazil Premium Database’s Health Sector – Table BR.HLB025: Number of Establishments: by Municipality: Southeast: São Paulo. [COVID-19-IMPACT]