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Santa Cruz do Sul: population and official figures

Population (IBGE estimate, 1 July)
138,273
2026
Population, 2022 census
133,230
2022
Area (km²)
733.9
2022
People per km² (2022 census)
181.5
2022

In depth

What is the population of Santa Cruz do Sul?

IBGE, Brazil's national statistics institute, estimated the population of Santa Cruz do Sul at 138,273 on 1 July 2026, the 230th largest of Brazil's 5,570 municipalities, the 14th largest of the 497 municipalities in Rio Grande do Sul state. The 2022 census counted 133,230 residents.

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

Is the population of Santa Cruz do Sul growing?

Between the 2010 and 2022 censuses the population of Santa Cruz do Sul grew by 14,856, from 118,374 (2010 count adjusted to 2022 boundaries) to 133,230, an average of +0.99% a year; the 141st 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 Santa Cruz do Sul changed since the 2022 census?

IBGE's estimates put Santa Cruz do Sul's population 5,043 above the 2022 census count by July 2026 (+3.8%), against +5.5% for Brazil as a whole; the estimate was 138,270 in 2025 and 138,104 in 2024.

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

How big is Santa Cruz do Sul?

Santa Cruz do Sul covers 733.9 km² and had 181.5 residents per km² at the 2022 census, the 99th 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 Rio Grande do Sul state's population lives in Santa Cruz do Sul?

Santa Cruz do Sul holds 1.2% of the estimated 11,233,317 people in Rio Grande do Sul state and 0.06% of Brazil's 214,211,951 (2026 estimates).

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

Is Santa Cruz do Sul a metropolis?

IBGE's urban hierarchy (REGIC) ranks Santa Cruz do Sul (as part of the Santa Cruz do Sul/RS urban area) as a regional capital, level 2C 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

Who runs Santa Cruz do Sul?

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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