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São José: population and official figures

Population (IBGE estimate, 1 July)
301,218
2026
Population, 2022 census
270,299
2022
Area (km²)
150.5
2022
People per km² (2022 census)
1,796.0
2022

In depth

What is the population of São José?

IBGE, Brazil's national statistics institute, estimated the population of São José at 301,218 on 1 July 2026, the 98th largest of Brazil's 5,570 municipalities, the 5th largest of the 295 municipalities in Santa Catarina state. The 2022 census counted 270,299 residents.

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

Is the population of São José growing?

Between the 2010 and 2022 censuses the population of São José grew by 60,495, from 209,804 (2010 count adjusted to 2022 boundaries) to 270,299, an average of +2.13% a year; the 36th 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 São José changed since the 2022 census?

IBGE's estimates put São José's population 30,919 above the 2022 census count by July 2026 (+11.4%), against +5.5% for Brazil as a whole; the estimate was 295,658 in 2025 and 289,949 in 2024.

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

How big is São José?

São José covers 150.5 km² and had 1,796.0 residents per km² at the 2022 census, the 67th 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 Santa Catarina state's population lives in São José?

São José holds 3.6% of the estimated 8,312,759 people in Santa Catarina state and 0.14% of Brazil's 214,211,951 (2026 estimates).

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

Is São José a metropolis?

IBGE's urban hierarchy (REGIC) ranks São José (as part of the Florianópolis/SC urban area) as a metropolis, level 1C on a scale whose top level is 1A, and São José is part of the Região Metropolitana de Florianópolis.

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

Who runs São José?

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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