# São Paulo

> Municipality of São Paulo state, Brazil

**Wikidata**: [Q174](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q174)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/São_Paulo)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/sao-paulo

## Key Facts
- **Official Name:** São Paulo
- **Inception:** January 25, 1554
- **Country:** Brazil
- **Located In:** São Paulo (state)
- **Instance Of:** Municipality of Brazil, largest city, big city, megacity, city
- **Population (2022 Census):** 11,451,999 (preferred value)
- **Population (2025 Est.):** 11,904,961 (July 1, 2025)
- **Area:** 1,523 square kilometres
- **Coordinates:** -23.550394444444, -46.633947222222
- **Demonym:** paulistano
- **Elevation:** 760 metres above sea level
- **Highest Point:** Pico do Jaraguá (1,135 metres)
- **Timezone:** UTC−03:00 (standard time)
- **Local Dialing Code:** 11
- **Postal Code:** 01000-000
- **UN/LOCODE:** BRSAO
- **IATA Airport Code:** SAO
- **Human Development Index:** 0.805
- **Brazilian Municipality Code:** 3550308
- **Head of Government:** Ricardo Nunes (incumbent since May 16, 2021)
- **Legislative Body:** Municipal Chamber of São Paulo
- **Website:** http://www.prefeitura.sp.gov.br/
- **Twitter Handle:** @prefsp (253,208 followers as of April 22, 2020)
- **Facebook:** PrefSP

## FAQs

**What is the population of São Paulo?**
The population of São Paulo has grown from 31,385 in 1872 to over 11 million today. As of the 2022 census, the population is 11,451,999. Recent estimates place the population at 11,904,961 as of July 1, 2025.

**What is the historical origin of São Paulo?**
São Paulo was founded on January 25, 1554. The city is named after Paul the Apostle.

**What are the main geographical features of São Paulo?**
The city covers an area of 1,523 square kilometers with an elevation of 760 meters above sea level. Its highest point is Pico do Jaraguá at 1,135 meters. It is situated near the Pinheiros River and Tietê River.

**Who governs São Paulo?**
The city is governed by a mayor, with Ricardo Nunes currently serving as the head of government since May 16, 2021. The legislative body is the Municipal Chamber of São Paulo.

**What cities are twinned with São Paulo?**
São Paulo has numerous sister city relationships, including Milan (since 1961), Seoul (since 1977), Osaka (since 1985), Shanghai (since 1988), Lisbon (since 1995), Beijing (since 1999), and Buenos Aires (since 1999).

## Why It Matters
São Paulo stands as one of the most significant urban centers in South America and the world. As the largest city in Brazil and a megacity, it serves as a crucial economic, cultural, and political hub. The city's history dates back to the mid-16th century, making it one of the oldest cities in Brazil. Its strategic location in the state of São Paulo, which it serves as the capital, positions it as a key player in Brazilian and South American affairs. The city's substantial population of over 11 million residents and its high Human Development Index of 0.805 reflect its importance as a center of human settlement and development. São Paulo's global connectivity is evidenced by its extensive sister city relationships spanning five continents and its inclusion in major international networks.

## Notable For
- Being the largest city in Brazil and a megacity
- Serving as the capital of São Paulo state
- Having a population exceeding 11 million people
- Being founded in 1554, making it one of Brazil's oldest cities
- Having a Human Development Index of 0.805
- Pico do Jaraguá as its highest point at 1,135 meters
- Extensive network of sister city relationships including Milan, Seoul, Beijing, and London
- Being a major economic and cultural center in South America

## Body

### Geography and Location
São Paulo is located in South America within the country of Brazil. The city is part of the São Paulo metropolitan area and Greater São Paulo. Its precise coordinates are -23.550394444444 latitude and -46.633947222222 longitude. The municipality encompasses an area of 1,523 square kilometres. The city's elevation is 760 metres above sea level, while its highest point is Pico do Jaraguá, reaching 1,135 metres in height. São Paulo is situated near two significant bodies of water: the Pinheiros River and the Tietê River.

### Administrative Divisions
The city contains several administrative territorial entities, including the Central Zone of São Paulo, South-Central Zone, East Zone of São Paulo, Northeast Zone, Northwest Zone, North Zone of São Paulo, West Zone of São Paulo, Southeast Zone, Southwest Zone, and South Zone of São Paulo.

### Neighboring Municipalities
São Paulo shares borders with numerous municipalities: Cajamar, Santo André, Juquitiba, Embu-Guaçu, Itapecerica da Serra, Embu das Artes, Taboão da Serra, Cotia, Osasco, Barueri, Santana de Parnaíba, Caieiras, Mairiporã, Guarulhos, Itaquaquecetuba, Poá, Ferraz de Vasconcelos, Mauá, São Caetano do Sul, São Bernardo do Campo, Diadema, São Vicente, and Itanhaém.

### Demographics
São Paulo has experienced significant population growth throughout its history:
- 1872: 31,385
- 1890: 64,934
- 1900: 239,820
- 1920: 579,033
- 1940: 1,326,261
- 1950: 2,198,096
- 1960: 3,825,351
- 1970: 5,978,977
- 1980: 8,587,665
- 1991: 9,626,894
- 2000: 10,405,867
- 2010: 11,253,503
- 2020: 12,325,232
- 2022: 11,451,999 (census)
- 2025: 11,904,961 (estimate)

The electorate as of March 2022 was 9,141,350.

### Governance
The head of government is the mayor of São Paulo. Historical mayors include:
- Antônio da Silva Prado (1899-1911)
- Washington Luís (1914-1919)
- Prestes Maia (1938-1945, 1961-1965)
- Jânio Quadros (1953-1955, 1986-1988)
- Paulo Maluf (1993-1996, 1969-1971)
- Marta Suplicy (2001-2004)
- José Serra (2005-2006)
- Gilberto Kassab (2006-2012)
- Fernando Haddad (2013-2016)
- João Doria (2017-2018)
- Bruno Covas (2018-2021)
- Ricardo Nunes (2021-present)

The legislative body is the Municipal Chamber of São Paulo.

### International Relations
São Paulo maintains sister city relationships with numerous cities worldwide, including:
- Milan, Italy (since 1961)
- Seoul, South Korea (since 1977)
- Osaka, Japan (since 1985)
- Shanghai, China (since 1988)
- Lisbon, Portugal (since 1995)
- Amman, Jordan (since 1997)
- Havana, Cuba (since 1997)
- La Paz, Bolivia (since 1999)
- Macau, China (since 1999)
- Beijing, China (since 1999)
- Damascus, Syria (since 1999)
- Buenos Aires, Argentina (since 1999)
- Santiago, Chile (since 1998)
- Montevideo, Uruguay (since 2001)
- Tel Aviv, Israel (since 2004)
- Yerevan, Armenia (since 2002)
- Mexico City, Mexico

### Cultural and Civic Symbols
- **Flag:** Flag of the City of São Paulo
- **Coat of Arms:** Coat of arms of São Paulo
- **Anthem:** Anthem of the Municipality of São Paulo (unofficial regional hymn)
- **Patron Saint:** Paul the Apostle (city named after him)
- **Nicknames:** Sampa, Terra da garoa (Land of drizzle)

### Infrastructure and Services
The city maintains an official website at http://www.prefeitura.sp.gov.br/ in Brazilian Portuguese. Social media presence includes Twitter (@prefsp) with 253,208 followers as of April 2020, and Facebook (PrefSP).

### Identifiers and Classifications
São Paulo is recognized by numerous identification systems:
- **Wikidata ID:** Q174
- **ISNI:** 000000012108298X
- **VIAF ID:** 126223335
- **GND ID:** 4051667-2
- **Library of Congress Authority ID:** n79077404
- **GeoNames ID:** 6324358
- **UN/LOCODE:** BRSAO
- **IATA Code:** SAO
- **Brazilian Municipality Code:** 3550308
- **Brazilian Electoral Unit ID:** 71072
- **OpenStreetMap Relation ID:** 298285

### Media and Documentation
The city has extensive media coverage and documentation:
- **Wikipedia:** Available in over 250 language editions
- **Commons Category:** São Paulo
- **BBC Things ID:** 91dfae31-dac6-4c48-8287-411182142c03
- **Encyclopædia Britannica Online ID:** place/Sao-Paulo-Brazil
- **Google Arts & Culture Entity ID:** m022pfm
- **IMDb Keyword:** sao-paulo-brazil

### Historical References
The earliest written record of São Paulo dates to January 25, 1554. The city has been documented in numerous historical encyclopedias including:
- Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary
- The Nuttall Encyclopædia
- Encyclopædia Britannica 11th edition (1911)

### Categories and Topics
- **Main Category:** Category:São Paulo (city)
- **Main Portal:** Portal:São Paulo (city)
- **Economy Topic:** Economy of São Paulo
- **History Topic:** Timeline of São Paulo
- **People Born Here:** Category:Births in São Paulo (city)
- **People From Here:** Category:People from São Paulo
- **Deaths:** Category:Deaths in São Paulo
- **Films Shot Here:** Category:Films shot in São Paulo
- **Maps:** Category:Maps of São Paulo

## References

1. [Source](https://g1.globo.com/sp/sao-paulo/noticia/2021/05/16/morre-bruno-covas-veja-frases-do-politico.ghtml)
2. [2020](https://www.britannica.com/place/Sao-Paulo-Brazil)
3. OpenStreetMap
4. [Source](http://legislacao.prefeitura.sp.gov.br/leis/lei-14471-de-10-de-julho-de-2007)
5. [Source](https://primariaclujnapoca.ro/cultura/oras-infratit/sao-paulo-brazilia/)
6. [Source](https://www.cm-coimbra.pt/areas/viver/a-cidade/cidades-geminadas/sao-paulo-brasil)
7. [Source](http://legislacao.prefeitura.sp.gov.br/leis/lei-16230-de-29-de-junho-de-2015)
8. [Source](https://www.anmp.pt/anmp/pro/mun1/gem101l0.php?cod_ent=M3330)
9. [Source](https://www.munlima.gob.pe/la-municipalidad/hermanamientos/)
10. [Source](https://www.lisboa.pt/atualidade/noticias/detalhe/sao-paulo-e-lisboa-assinam-acordo-de-cooperacao-e-amizade/)
11. [Source](https://www.comune.milano.it/aree-tematiche/relazioni-internazionali/city-to-city-cooperation/gemellaggi/san-paolo)
12. [Sao Paulo, Brazil & Miami Dade County, Florida](http://www.sister-cities.org/interactive-map/relationship/Sao%20Paulo%2C%20Brazil/Miami%20Dade%20County%2C%20Florida)
13. [Source](https://www.monterrey.gob.mx/pdf/portaln/PPOA/Programa_Operativo_Anual_2018_de_la_Secretaria_de_Desarrollo_Economico.pdf)
14. [Source](http://legislacao.prefeitura.sp.gov.br/leis/lei-16664-de-18-de-maio-de-2017)
15. [Source](http://documentacao.camara.sp.gov.br/iah/fulltext/leis/L16664.pdf)
16. [Source](http://legislacao.prefeitura.sp.gov.br/leis/lei-15132-de-15-de-marco-de-2010)
17. [Source](http://legislacao.prefeitura.sp.gov.br/leis/lei-16270-de-15-de-setembro-de-2015)
18. [Source](http://legislacao.prefeitura.sp.gov.br/leis/lei-17269-de-14-de-janeiro-de-2020)
19. [Source](http://viaf.org/viaf/data/viaf-20170101-links.txt.gz)
20. Virtual International Authority File
21. Act nº 263/2001 of Anatel
22. [Source](https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/São_Paulo)
23. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
24. MusicBrainz
25. [Source](http://cidades.ibge.gov.br/xtras/perfil.php?lang=&codmun=355030&search=sao-paulo|sao-paulo)
26. [Source](https://ftp.ibge.gov.br/Estimativas_de_Populacao/Estimativas_2014/estimativa_dou_2014_ods.zip)
27. [2010 census of Brazil](http://cidades.ibge.gov.br/xtras/perfil.php?lang=&codmun=355030&search=sao-paulo|sao-paulo)
28. [Source](https://sidra.ibge.gov.br/tabela/1287)
29. [Source](https://sidra.ibge.gov.br/tabela/202)
30. [Population estimates for July 1st, 2015](http://www.ibge.gov.br/english/estatistica/populacao/estimativa2015/estimativa_tcu.shtm)
31. [Source](https://ftp.ibge.gov.br/Estimativas_de_Populacao/Estimativas_2015/estimativa_dou_2015_20150915.ods)
32. [Source](http://cidades.ibge.gov.br/painel/populacao.php?lang=&codmun=355030&search=sao-paulo|sao-paulo|infogr%E1ficos:-evolu%E7%E3o-populacional-e-pir%E2mide-et%E1ria)
33. [Population by municipality](http://www.ibge.gov.br/english/estatistica/populacao/censo2010/primeiros_resultados/populacao_por_municipio_zip.shtm)
34. [Source](http://www.ibge.gov.br/home/presidencia/noticias/noticia_visualiza.php?id_noticia=1766&id_pagina=1)
35. [Source](http://www.ibge.gov.br/home/estatistica/populacao/estimativa2009/POP2009_DOU.pdf)
36. [Source](https://ftp.ibge.gov.br/Estimativas_de_Populacao/Estimativas_2011/POP2011_DOU.zip)
37. [Source](https://cidades.ibge.gov.br/xtras/temas.php?codmun=355030&idtema=130)
38. [Source](https://ftp.ibge.gov.br/Estimativas_de_Populacao/Estimativas_2017/estimativa_dou_2017.ods)
39. [Source](https://www.ibge.gov.br/estatisticas/sociais/populacao/9103-estimativas-de-populacao.html)
40. [Source](https://ftp.ibge.gov.br/Estimativas_de_Populacao/Estimativas_2020/estimativa_dou_2020.ods)
41. [Source](https://www.ibge.gov.br/estatisticas/sociais/populacao/9103-estimativas-de-populacao.html?edicao=31451)
42. [Source](https://ftp.ibge.gov.br/Estimativas_de_Populacao/Estimativas_2021/estimativa_dou_2021.ods)
43. Great dictionary of geographical names
44. [Tabela 9605 - População residente, por cor ou raça, nos Censos Demográficos](https://sidra.ibge.gov.br/tabela/9605)
45. [Source](https://ftp.ibge.gov.br/Estimativas_de_Populacao/Estimativas_2008/UF_Municipio.zip)
46. [Source](https://ftp.ibge.gov.br/Estimativas_de_Populacao/Estimativas_2009/UF_Municipio.zip)
47. [Source](https://ftp.ibge.gov.br/Estimativas_de_Populacao/Estimativas_2012/estimativa_2012_DOU_28_08_2012_ods.zip)
48. [Source](https://ftp.ibge.gov.br/Estimativas_de_Populacao/Estimativas_2013/estimativa_2013_dou_ods.zip)
49. [Source](https://ftp.ibge.gov.br/Estimativas_de_Populacao/Estimativas_2024/estimativa_dou_2024.ods)
50. [Source](https://ftp.ibge.gov.br/Estimativas_de_Populacao/Estimativas_2025/estimativa_dou_2025.ods)