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São José dos Campos: population and official figures

Population (IBGE estimate, 1 July)
729,153
2026
Population, 2022 census
697,054
2022
Area (km²)
1,099.4
2022
People per km² (2022 census)
634.0
2022

In depth

What is the population of São José dos Campos?

IBGE, Brazil's national statistics institute, estimated the population of São José dos Campos at 729,153 on 1 July 2026, the 30th largest of Brazil's 5,570 municipalities, the 9th largest of the 645 municipalities in São Paulo state. The 2022 census counted 697,054 residents.

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

Is the population of São José dos Campos growing?

Between the 2010 and 2022 censuses the population of São José dos Campos grew by 67,133, from 629,921 (2010 count adjusted to 2022 boundaries) to 697,054, an average of +0.85% a year; the 160th 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 São José dos Campos changed since the 2022 census?

IBGE's estimates put São José dos Campos' population 32,099 above the 2022 census count by July 2026 (+4.6%), against +5.5% for Brazil as a whole; the estimate was 727,078 in 2025 and 724,756 in 2024.

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

How big is São José dos Campos?

São José dos Campos covers 1,099.4 km² and had 634.0 residents per km² at the 2022 census, the 116th 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 São Paulo state's population lives in São José dos Campos?

São José dos Campos holds 1.6% of the estimated 46,179,008 people in São Paulo state and 0.34% of Brazil's 214,211,951 (2026 estimates).

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

Is São José dos Campos a metropolis?

IBGE's urban hierarchy (REGIC) ranks São José dos Campos (as part of the São José dos Campos/SP urban area) as a regional capital, level 2B on a scale whose top level is 1A, and São José dos Campos is part of the Região Metropolitana do Vale do Paraíba e Litoral Norte.

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

Who runs São José dos Campos?

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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