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São Luís: population and official figures

Population (IBGE estimate, 1 July)
1,090,229
2026
Population, 2022 census
1,037,775
2022
Area (km²)
583.1
2022
People per km² (2022 census)
1,779.9
2022

In depth

What is the population of São Luís?

IBGE, Brazil's national statistics institute, estimated the population of São Luís at 1,090,229 on 1 July 2026, the 15th largest of Brazil's 5,570 municipalities, the largest municipality in Maranhão state. The 2022 census counted 1,037,775 residents.

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

Is the population of São Luís growing?

Between the 2010 and 2022 censuses the population of São Luís grew by 22,446, from 1,015,329 (2010 count adjusted to 2022 boundaries) to 1,037,775, an average of +0.18% a year; the 66th 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 Luís changed since the 2022 census?

IBGE's estimates put São Luís' population 52,454 above the 2022 census count by July 2026 (+5.1%), against +5.5% for Brazil as a whole; the estimate was 1,089,215 in 2025 and 1,088,057 in 2024.

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

How big is São Luís?

São Luís covers 583.1 km² and had 1,779.9 residents per km² at the 2022 census, the 68th 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 Maranhão state's population lives in São Luís?

São Luís holds 15.5% of the estimated 7,024,557 people in Maranhão state and 0.51% of Brazil's 214,211,951 (2026 estimates).

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

Is São Luís a metropolis?

IBGE's urban hierarchy (REGIC) ranks São Luís (as part of the São Luís/MA urban area) as a regional capital, level 2A on a scale whose top level is 1A, and São Luís is part of the Região Metropolitana da Grande São Luís.

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

More figures

Who runs São Luís?

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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