Brazil has 15 cities with more than 1 million inhabitants – with 42.8 million inhabitants – find out which ones they are

Written by Fabio Lucas Carvalho

Published on 09/06/2026 at 00:53

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IBGE population estimate shows that 42.8 million Brazilians live in just 15 municipalities with more than 1 million inhabitants, while capitals lose residents to metropolitan regions and small cities continue with less than a thousand people in different regions of the country.

Brazil has 15 cities with more than 1 million inhabitants, where 42.8 million people live, 20.1% of the national population. The IBGE estimate, based on July 1, 2025, shows strong urban concentration.

Capitals dominate the list of 1 million inhabitants

Among the municipalities with over 1 million inhabitants, only Guarulhos and Campinas, both in São Paulo, are not capitals. The capital of São Paulo leads, with 11.9 million residents.

If it were a state, São Paulo would be the fourth most populous in Brazil.

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Five capitals lost population

Despite national growth, five capitals experienced a population decline between 2024 and 2025. Salvador decreased by 0.18%; Belo Horizonte, 0.02%; Belém, 0.09%; Porto Alegre, 0.04%; and Natal, 0.14%.

Natal was left out of the list, with 784.2 thousand inhabitants. The loss in large capitals is linked to the urban dynamics between central municipalities and neighboring areas.

Marcio Minamiguchi, from IBGE, states that larger capitals tend to have conurbated surroundings and lose population to them. The growth moves from the center to the periphery.

With the exception of Salvador, these capitals have seen an increase in inhabitants in their metropolitan regions.

Metropolitan regions concentrate almost half of the country

Brazil has 30 metropolitan regions, which gather 103.5 million people, 48.5% of the population. The largest are São Paulo, with 21.6 million; Rio de Janeiro, with 12.9 million; and Belo Horizonte, with 6 million.

On the other end, 26 Brazilian cities have fewer than 1.5 thousand inhabitants. Serra da Saudade has 856 residents; Anhanguera, 913; Borá, 932; and Araguainha, 997.

The estimates are based on the 2022 Census and incorporate annual projections of births and deaths. The disclosure meets legal requirements and guides the TCU in the Participation Fund.

The IBGE projects population growth until 2041, when the country is expected to reach 220.43 million. From 2042, it is expected to shrink, reaching 199.2 million in 2070.

The concentration in a few cities helps explain urban challenges, pressure on services, and metropolitan changes. Do you live in a big city or a small municipality? Tell us in the comments how this reality appears in transportation, housing, work, cost of living, and routine in your region.

Source: agenciabrasil.

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Brazil has 15 cities with more than 1 million inhabitants – with 42.8 million inhabitants – find out which ones they are

IBGE population estimate shows that 42.8 million Brazilians live in just 15 municipalities with more than 1 million inhabitants, while capitals lose residents to metropolitan regions and small cities continue with less than a thousand people in different regions of the country.

Capitals dominate the list of 1 million inhabitants

Five capitals lost population

Metropolitan regions concentrate almost half of the country

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Brazil has 15 cities with more than 1 million inhabitants – with 42.8 million inhabitants – find out which ones they are

IBGE population estimate shows that 42.8 million Brazilians live in just 15 municipalities with more than 1 million inhabitants, while capitals lose residents to metropolitan regions and small cities continue with less than a thousand people in different regions of the country.

Capitals dominate the list of 1 million inhabitants

Five capitals lost population

Metropolitan regions concentrate almost half of the country

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