About the State of São Paulo

São Paulo is one of the country’s 27 Federative Republics. The State is part of the Southeast Region and has 645 municipalities, with a total of 248.209,426 km2, of which 4971,0469 km2 are urban areas. The State’s capital is São Paulo, the largest city in South America.

 

The State has over 41 million inhabitants, which is about 22% of the Brazilian population. It is the most populous State in Brazil and the third most populous politic unit in South American. Like Brazil, São Paulo is composed of various ethnic groups (mainly Italian and Portuguese, but with an influence from Native Americans, Africans and other immigrants).

 

São Paulo has a strong economy and is the State with the largest GDP in the country, which represents about 30% of the total wealth produced in Brazil. Its economy is very diverse: metalworking, textile, food, automotive and airplane industries, financial and service sectors, and orange, coffee, ethanol and sugar cane production. Another interesting economic factor is the good investment infrastructure, with the São Paulo Securities, Commodities and Futures Exchange, the second biggest exchange market in the world in terms of market value.

 

The State’s social indicators are also worth noting: in comparison to other Brazilian States, São Paulo holds the third best Human Development Index (HDI), at 0,833, the second biggest GDP per capita, at US$13346,42, the second smallest infant mortality rate (14,5 deaths per 1000 babies) and the forth lowest illiteracy rate, at 4%.

More Information

Vittoria Zuccolo Phone: +55 16 3315-0100 Email: international.lawrp@usp.br