Quick facts
São Paulo overview
São Paulo (orange) and the other large cities of Brazil
São Paulo lies in Brazil at 23.55°S, 46.64°W, about 769 m above sea level. The local time zone is America/Sao_Paulo (UTC-3); GeoNames classifies it as a regional capital.
It is the biggest urban centre of Brazil: the next largest cities are Rio de Janeiro (6,747,815), Belo Horizonte (2,721,564), Salvador (2,711,840). Together, the three largest cities hold 10.2% of the national population.
The national capital, Brasília, is about 874 km away; the nearest large city is Guarujá, 63 km from São Paulo.
Brazil as a whole has a live population of 213,783,157 (+0.3% a year) and ranks #7 of 238 countries — see the Brazil population page for the full statistics and the Brazil atlas for provinces, terrain and society maps.
Cities near São Paulo
| City | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Guarujá São Paulo | 63 km | 294,871 |
| Itatiba São Paulo | 64 km | 122,581 |
| Bragança Paulista São Paulo | 67 km | 176,811 |
| Itanhaém São Paulo | 72 km | 112,476 |
| Jacareí São Paulo | 74 km | 250,952 |
| Valinhos São Paulo | 74 km | 132,258 |
| Itu São Paulo | 75 km | 175,047 |
| Salto São Paulo | 77 km | 141,111 |
Largest cities in Brazil
| # | City | Region | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | São Paulo | São Paulo | 12,400,232 |
| 2 | Rio de Janeiro | Rio de Janeiro | 6,747,815 |
| 3 | Belo Horizonte | Minas Gerais | 2,721,564 |
| 4 | Salvador | Bahia | 2,711,840 |
| 5 | Fortaleza | Ceará | 2,400,000 |
| 6 | Manaus | Amazonas | 2,219,580 |
| 7 | BrasíliaCapital | Federal District | 2,207,718 |
| 8 | Curitiba | Paraná | 1,948,626 |
| 9 | Recife | Pernambuco | 1,653,461 |
| 10 | Goiânia | Goiás | 1,536,097 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of São Paulo?
São Paulo has about 12,400,232 inhabitants according to the latest official census or estimate compiled by GeoNames. This is the city proper; the metropolitan area is larger.
Is São Paulo the capital of Brazil?
No. The capital of Brazil is Brasília (2,207,718 people), about 874 km away. São Paulo is the largest city of the country and a regional capital.
How big is São Paulo compared with the rest of Brazil?
Its 12,400,232 residents are 5.8% of the 213,783,157 people living in Brazil today. It is the largest city in the country.
Where is São Paulo?
In Brazil, at latitude -23.55 and longitude -46.64, 769 m above sea level. Nearby large cities include Guarujá (63 km), Itatiba (64 km), Bragança Paulista (67 km).
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Cite or link to this page
Glostats. (2026). São Paulo Population 2026 — Brazil. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://glostats.com/cities/brazil/sao-paulo/<a href="https://glostats.com/cities/brazil/sao-paulo/">São Paulo Population 2026 — Brazil</a> — GlostatsFigures on this page may be quoted, charted or republished as long as the page is credited with a link. Terms · Download the data as CSV · Embed a live counter.
City populations are GeoNames figures (CC BY 4.0): the latest official census or estimate for the city proper — the municipality, not the wider metropolitan area — so they can differ from "metro area" numbers you see elsewhere. Country populations are live Glostats estimates from the UN World Population Prospects. Distances are great-circle distances between city centres. Page generated 2026-10-20. More about our data.