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Brasília

#83 largest metro areaSouth America

In Brazil

Metro population
4,803,000
0.058% of world population
Archive estimate
Annual growth
+1.35%
About 178 people a day
Archive estimate
Density
828/km²
5,802 km² metro area
City proper
2,207,718
Within the administrative boundary
GeoNames

About Brasília

At an elevation of 1,136 meters on the South American plateau, Brasília is home to 2.2 million residents within city limits, with a metropolitan population of 4.8 million. Founded in 1960, the city maintains an annual growth rate of 1.4%, supporting a population density of 828 people per km². The city is served by Presidente Juscelino Kubitschek International Airport (BSB), which provides regional and international connectivity.

This summary is AI-generated from the statistics on this page. The figures themselves come from the sources cited beside each value.

Key Facts

Country
Brazil
Continent
South America
World rank
#83 of 140
Share of country
2.3%
Founded
1960
Elevation
1,136 m
Coordinates
-15.780, -47.930

Airports

Scheduled-service airports within 100 km, nearest first.

  • Presidente Juscelino Kubitschek International AirportBSB

    10 km from the city centre

Source: OurAirports, matched by distance.

Compared with the World's Largest Cities

Metropolitan population against the fifteen largest metro areas.

  1. Tokyo37.4M
  2. Delhi32.9M
  3. Shanghai29.2M
  4. São Paulo22.6M
  5. Dhaka22.5M
  6. Mexico City22.3M
  7. Cairo22.2M
  8. Mumbai21.7M
  9. Beijing21.5M
  10. Osaka19M
  11. New York18.9M
  12. Karachi17.1M
  13. Kinshasa17.1M
  14. Chongqing16.9M
  15. Lagos15.9M
  16. Brasília4.8M
Metro populations are archive estimates; boundaries differ between national statistical agencies.
Brasília compared with the fifteen largest metropolitan areas
NameMetro population
Tokyo37.4M
Delhi32.9M
Shanghai29.2M
São Paulo22.6M
Dhaka22.5M
Mexico City22.3M
Cairo22.2M
Mumbai21.7M
Beijing21.5M
Osaka19M
New York18.9M
Karachi17.1M
Kinshasa17.1M
Chongqing16.9M
Lagos15.9M
Brasília4.8M

Population Trend in Brazil

No free source publishes metropolitan population back to 1950, so the parent country's series is shown instead.

050M100M150M200M1950197520002025205020752100projected →
This is Brazil's national population, not Brasília's. The legacy city series this page previously carried was generated by scaling the current figure, so it has been dropped rather than presented as history. Source: UN World Population Prospects 2024.
Brazil population, 1950 to 2100
YearPopulation
195053,408,551
196072,388,126
197095,375,651
1980121,207,461
1990149,143,223
2000174,018,282
2010193,701,929
2020208,660,842
2030216,074,411
2040219,237,084
2050217,489,299
2060211,038,801
2070200,893,056
2080188,598,788
2090175,780,972
2100163,364,064

Other Major Cities in Brazil

3 more cities in our dataset.

Nearest Major Cities

Closest cities in our dataset by great-circle distance.

Brasília Population FAQ

What is the population of Brasília?

Brasília's metropolitan area has about 4,803,000 people, making it the 83rd largest metro area in our dataset of 140 major cities.

What is the difference between Brasília's city and metro population?

About 2,207,718 people live within the city proper, while the wider metropolitan area holds roughly 4,803,000. Metro figures include surrounding commuter areas that fall outside the city's administrative boundary.

Is Brasília growing or shrinking?

Brasília is growing at +1.35% a year.

What share of Brazil's population lives in Brasília?

Brasília's metro area holds about 2.3% of Brazil's total population.

How densely populated is Brasília?

Brasília has roughly 828 people per km² across a metro area of about 5,802 km².

Which airports serve Brasília?

The nearest major airports are Presidente Juscelino Kubitschek International Airport (BSB).

Which country is Brasília in?

Brasília is in Brazil, in South America.

Explore More Cities

All 140 cities →Brazil country profile →