In 2025, 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 BrasÃlia, 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, BrasÃlia 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.
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Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics. (January 30, 2026). Most populated cities in Brazil in 2025 (in million inhabitants) [Graph]. In ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ. Retrieved July 19, 2026, from /statistics/259227/largest-cities-in-brazil/
Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics. "Most populated cities in Brazil in 2025 (in million inhabitants)." Chart. January 30, 2026. ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ. Accessed July 19, 2026. /statistics/259227/largest-cities-in-brazil/
Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics. (2026). Most populated cities in Brazil in 2025 (in million inhabitants). ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ. ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ Inc.. Accessed: July 19, 2026. /statistics/259227/largest-cities-in-brazil/
Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics. "Most Populated Cities in Brazil in 2025 (in Million Inhabitants)." ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ, ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ Inc., 30 Jan 2026, /statistics/259227/largest-cities-in-brazil/
Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics, Most populated cities in Brazil in 2025 (in million inhabitants) ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ, /statistics/259227/largest-cities-in-brazil/ (last visited July 19, 2026)
Most populated cities in Brazil in 2025 (in million inhabitants) [Graph], Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics, January 30, 2026. [Online]. Available: /statistics/259227/largest-cities-in-brazil/