How Big Is São Paulo?

Brazil · South America

Area

1,521 km²

587 mi²

Population

12.3M

Metro: 22.0M

Density

8,107/km²

Founded

1554

São Paulo Size Overview

São Paulo covers an area of 1,521 km² (587 mi²) in Brazil, South America. Most populous city in Brazil. The city is often called "Sampa". To put this in perspective, São Paulo is roughly the same size as London. In more relatable units, that's about 213,000 American football fields, 26 times the area of Manhattan, or 14 times the area of Paris.

São Paulo is the capital city of the state of the same name, as well as the most populous city in Brazil, South America, the Americas, and in both the Western and Southern Hemispheres. The city exerts international influence in commerce, finance, culture, gastronomy, arts, fashion, technology, entertainment and media, having been listed by UNESCO's Creative Cities Network as a "City of Film" and the title of "World Capital of Gastronomy", and by the Globalization and World Cities Research…

With a population of 12.3 million (22.0 million in the metropolitan area), São Paulo has a population density of 8,107 people per km². The greater São Paulo metropolitan area extends to 7,947 km².

São Paulo has a history stretching back to 1554. The city is renowned for Avenida Paulista, Ibirapuera Park, São Paulo Museum of Art, and Mercado Municipal.

São Paulo has a humid subtropical climate, with summer temperatures averaging 23°C and winters around 17°C. The city's main public transit system is the São Paulo Metro. At 760 meters above sea level, São Paulo is one of the higher-elevation major cities.

Did You Know?

  • São Paulo is the most populous city in Brazil, the Americas, and both the Western and Southern Hemispheres.
  • UNESCO's Creative Cities Network designated São Paulo a 'City of Film' and gave it the title 'World Capital of Gastronomy'.
  • São Paulo exerts international influence in commerce, finance, culture, gastronomy, fashion, technology, and media.

Compare São Paulo with Other Cities

Compare São Paulo with any city using our interactive map tool.

Cities Similar in Size to São Paulo

São Paulo covers 1,521 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Mexico City (1,485 km²), Delhi (1,484 km²), Bangkok (1,569 km²), London (1,572 km²), or Bogotá (1,578 km²).

Frequently Asked Questions about São Paulo

How big is São Paulo in square miles?
São Paulo covers 1,521 km², which is approximately 587 square miles. The metropolitan area extends to 7,947 km² (3,068 mi²).
What is the population of São Paulo?
São Paulo has a population of approximately 12.3 million people. The greater metropolitan area is home to 22.0 million.
What is the population density of São Paulo?
São Paulo has a population density of 8,107 people per km² (20,997 per mi²).
How does São Paulo compare to Buenos Aires?
São Paulo covers 1,521 km² while Buenos Aires covers 203 km². São Paulo is 7.5x larger. Use our interactive map tool to compare them side by side.
Can I compare São Paulo with other cities on a map?
Yes! City Map Compare lets you compare São Paulo with any of 50+ cities side by side on synchronized maps. Both maps maintain the same zoom level so you can see the real difference in size.