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Montes Claros: population and official figures

Population (IBGE estimate, 1 July)
440,700
2026
Population, 2022 census
414,240
2022
Area (km²)
3,589.8
2022
People per km² (2022 census)
115.4
2022

In depth

What is the population of Montes Claros?

IBGE, Brazil's national statistics institute, estimated the population of Montes Claros at 440,700 on 1 July 2026, the 57th largest of Brazil's 5,570 municipalities, the 5th largest of the 853 municipalities in Minas Gerais state. The 2022 census counted 414,240 residents.

Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE) · saved copy

Is the population of Montes Claros growing?

Between the 2010 and 2022 censuses the population of Montes Claros grew by 52,092, from 362,148 (2010 count adjusted to 2022 boundaries) to 414,240, an average of +1.13% a year; the 120th fastest of 320 major Brazilian cities (Brazil: +0.52% a year).

Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE) · saved copy

How has the population of Montes Claros changed since the 2022 census?

IBGE's estimates put Montes Claros' population 26,460 above the 2022 census count by July 2026 (+6.4%), against +5.5% for Brazil as a whole; the estimate was 437,601 in 2025 and 434,321 in 2024.

Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE) · saved copy

How big is Montes Claros?

Montes Claros covers 3,589.8 km² and had 115.4 residents per km² at the 2022 census, the 79th least densely populated of 320 major Brazilian cities (Brazil: 23.86 per km²).

Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE) · saved copy

What share of Minas Gerais state's population lives in Montes Claros?

Montes Claros holds 2.1% of the estimated 21,460,311 people in Minas Gerais state and 0.21% of Brazil's 214,211,951 (2026 estimates).

Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE) · saved copy

Is Montes Claros a metropolis?

IBGE's urban hierarchy (REGIC) ranks Montes Claros as a regional capital, level 2B on a scale whose top level is 1A; it is not part of an officially defined metropolitan region.

Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE) · saved copy

More figures

Who runs Montes Claros?

In Brazil, cities and towns are run by municipalities: Mayor (prefeito) and council (câmara de vereadores) directly elected for four years; mayors can serve two terms in a row. Primary schools, basic health care, urban planning, local transport, waste; each has its own organic law.

How local power works in Brazil

Cities of a similar size in Brazil

Up a level: all cities in Brazil · Brazil · government and power

Sources

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