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Rio de Janeiro: population and official figures

Population (IBGE estimate, 1 July)
6,731,133
2026
Population, 2022 census
6,211,223
2022
Area (km²)
1,200.3
2022
People per km² (2022 census)
5,174.6
2022

In depth

What is the population of Rio de Janeiro?

IBGE, Brazil's national statistics institute, estimated the population of Rio de Janeiro at 6,731,133 on 1 July 2026, the 2nd largest of Brazil's 5,570 municipalities, the largest municipality in Rio de Janeiro state. The 2022 census counted 6,211,223 residents.

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

Is the population of Rio de Janeiro growing?

Between the 2010 and 2022 censuses the population of Rio de Janeiro fell by 109,223, from 6,320,446 (2010 count adjusted to 2022 boundaries) to 6,211,223, an average of -0.15% a year; the 30th slowest 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 Rio de Janeiro changed since the 2022 census?

IBGE's estimates put Rio de Janeiro's population 519,910 above the 2022 census count by July 2026 (+8.4%), against +5.5% for Brazil as a whole; the estimate was 6,730,729 in 2025 and 6,729,894 in 2024.

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

How big is Rio de Janeiro?

Rio de Janeiro covers 1,200.3 km² and had 5,174.6 residents per km² at the 2022 census, the 18th most 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 Rio de Janeiro state's population lives in Rio de Janeiro?

Rio de Janeiro holds 39.1% of the estimated 17,225,410 people in Rio de Janeiro state and 3.14% of Brazil's 214,211,951 (2026 estimates).

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

Is Rio de Janeiro a metropolis?

IBGE's urban hierarchy (REGIC) ranks Rio de Janeiro (as part of the Rio de Janeiro/RJ urban area) as a national metropolis, level 1B on a scale whose top level is 1A, and Rio de Janeiro is part of the Região Metropolitana do Rio de Janeiro.

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

Who runs Rio de Janeiro?

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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