Brazil population reaches 214.2 million amid demographic slowdown

New data from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) estimates the national population at 214.2 million as of July 2026. The figures reveal a continuing demographic deceleration, with a growth rate of 0.37%, down from 0.39% in the previous period.

Regional disparities are significant. The Southeast remains the most populous region, housing 41.6% of the population, followed by the Northeast at 26.8%. State-level growth was led by Roraima (3.01%), Santa Catarina (1.54%), and Mato Grosso (1.46%), while Rio de Janeiro, Alagoas, and Rio Grande do Sul saw the lowest growth rates.

In terms of urban centers, São Paulo remains the most populous city with approximately 11.9 million residents, followed by Rio de Janeiro (6.7 million) and Brasília (3 million). Notably, four state capitals—Salvador, Natal, Belém, and Belo Horizonte—recorded population declines. Salvador experienced the largest decrease among capitals at 0.17%.

These estimates serve as critical benchmarks for public policy planning and the calculation of federal fund distributions to states and municipalities by the Federal Court of Accounts (TCU).