Most populous cities in Latin America - statistics & facts
Over 650 million people (or around 8.14 percent of the global population) call Latin America their home. Likewise, Brazil and Mexico ranked among the top ten most populous countries in the world, with over 217 million and 128 million inhabitants, respectively, only surpassed by the United States on the American continent. Alongside the high concentration of residents, São Paulo and Mexico City also won a place on the list of top ten most populous cities globally. Like many other megacities, Latin America's metropolitan areas suffer from many problems, such as unorganized development, scarcity of resources, pollution, crime, poverty, transport, and waste management.
Apart from its historic and cultural value, São Paulo started to grow exponentially during the first half of the 20th century and became the economic powerhouse of the country. For example, the B3 Stock Exchange, located in the city center, has the highest market capitalization among the Stock Exchanges in Latin America. Vital to the country’s economy, the city contributed with around 829 billion Brazilian Reais to Brazil’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2021, the highest figure in Brazil. Despite the city's wealth, inequality and violence rank among the main problems society faces, with more than 1.17 million crimes reported only 2023, almost half of them being thefts.
Nowadays, Mexico City, also formerly known as the Federal District, is the cultural, economic, and political capital of Mexico. It ranks, by far, as the federal entity with the highest contribution to the country’s GDP. Nonetheless, following two of the main problems of Mexico, the capital records a poverty rate of almost 25 percent, which means that one out of four residents live under poverty conditions, without considering the population at risk of poverty. The city also reported over 3.4 million crimes in one year, theft, fraud, and extortion being the most recorded felonies.
After the country’s independence, Buenos Aires had a turbulent history embedded by prevailing disasters and crises, such as yellow fever, civil conflicts, or the so-called Dirty war, among many others. The city overcame all adversities and was established as a strategic place in the region. Not only being one of the main economic drivers of Argentina, it is also one of the biggest container ports in Latin America and the Caribbean. As a place for business, Buenos Aires places far above other cities in Argentina, ranking as the leading city for startups over Córdoba, Rosario, and Mendoza.
On the other side of Rio’s beauty, the violence resulted from the confrontation between the police and drug dealers in the favelas has been a constant struggle for the inhabitants of the city. In 2023, almost 1,000 people were killed in police operations or actions. But, despite the struggles, Rio’s tourism, oil, and financial industries make it the second-largest contributor to Brazil’s GDP, with a total of more than 359 billion Brazilian Reais in 2021.
The capital of Colombia is not only the fifth most populous metropolitan area, but it also ranks as the most densely populated in all Latin America, with over 18,000 inhabitants per square kilometer. Due to the high concentration of people, Bogotá has other problems to solve, such as transportation, with over 94 hours per year lost on average per inhabitant, the city recorded the worse traffic jams in the region. Another challenge faced is the high poverty rate, with over 35 percent of the population, or one out of every three inhabitants, living below the poverty line.
São Paulo, Brazil
São Paulo is known as the financial heart of Brazil. With a population within the city limits of over 11.45 million inhabitants it ranks not only as the most populous city in Brazil but in America. Before the arrival of the Portuguese, the region that encompassed the city and state was already a popular geographic area among many indigenous tribes, such as the Guaianás or the Tupiniquim. Afterward, the city owns its name to the foundation of a Jesuit College on January 25th, 1554, the day that the Catholic Church celebrates the Conversion of Saint Paul.Apart from its historic and cultural value, São Paulo started to grow exponentially during the first half of the 20th century and became the economic powerhouse of the country. For example, the B3 Stock Exchange, located in the city center, has the highest market capitalization among the Stock Exchanges in Latin America. Vital to the country’s economy, the city contributed with around 829 billion Brazilian Reais to Brazil’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2021, the highest figure in Brazil. Despite the city's wealth, inequality and violence rank among the main problems society faces, with more than 1.17 million crimes reported only 2023, almost half of them being thefts.
Mexico City, Mexico
The history of Mexico City goes far beyond its colonial foundation, the capital of Mexico, was already one of the major cities in America before the arrival of the Spanish. The city was founded on Lake Texcoco following the command of Huitzilopochtli, the Aztec god of war, to find a place with an eagle perched on a cactus devouring a snake. After the conquest, the city was rebuilt and renamed as Mexico City (Ciudad de México) and became the capital of the Viceroyalty of the New Spain, one of the four Spanish Viceroyalties in the region. The importance of the city got bigger with time, only within the city limits, the population grew almost by one million in the last 30 years.Nowadays, Mexico City, also formerly known as the Federal District, is the cultural, economic, and political capital of Mexico. It ranks, by far, as the federal entity with the highest contribution to the country’s GDP. Nonetheless, following two of the main problems of Mexico, the capital records a poverty rate of almost 25 percent, which means that one out of four residents live under poverty conditions, without considering the population at risk of poverty. The city also reported over 3.4 million crimes in one year, theft, fraud, and extortion being the most recorded felonies.
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Firstly founded in 1536, by Pedro de Mendoza as “City of the Most Holy Trinity and Port of Saint Mary of the Fair Winds” (Ciudad de la Santísima Trinidad y Puerto de Santa María del Buen Ayre), Buenos Aires saw no real success and had to be re-founded by Juan de Garay 44 years later. This second time, it began to see development until it became the capital city of the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata.After the country’s independence, Buenos Aires had a turbulent history embedded by prevailing disasters and crises, such as yellow fever, civil conflicts, or the so-called Dirty war, among many others. The city overcame all adversities and was established as a strategic place in the region. Not only being one of the main economic drivers of Argentina, it is also one of the biggest container ports in Latin America and the Caribbean. As a place for business, Buenos Aires places far above other cities in Argentina, ranking as the leading city for startups over Córdoba, Rosario, and Mendoza.
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Placed between beautiful mountains and some of Brazil's most famous beaches, Rio de Janeiro stands as one of Brazil’s most iconic cities. During the colonial era, Rio de Janeiro became the capital of the Portuguese Empire in 1763, when the King and his family moved fleeing an imminent attack from Napoleon. Rio continued to hold the title of Brazil’s capital after the independence and until 1960. Among other things, Rio is renowned for its historical architecture, beaches and, specially, the Carnival. The colorful and agitated party brought over five million spectators to the stands in 2023.On the other side of Rio’s beauty, the violence resulted from the confrontation between the police and drug dealers in the favelas has been a constant struggle for the inhabitants of the city. In 2023, almost 1,000 people were killed in police operations or actions. But, despite the struggles, Rio’s tourism, oil, and financial industries make it the second-largest contributor to Brazil’s GDP, with a total of more than 359 billion Brazilian Reais in 2021.
Bogota, Colombia
Bogotá is often called the economic, industrial, historical, and financial capital of Colombia, and not without a reason. The city raises well above 2,635 meters above sea level and had pre-Hispanic importance by being founded by the Muiscas as Bacatá. Afterward, the formerly known Santa Fe de Bogotá, was also the capital of the Viceroyalty of New Granada.The capital of Colombia is not only the fifth most populous metropolitan area, but it also ranks as the most densely populated in all Latin America, with over 18,000 inhabitants per square kilometer. Due to the high concentration of people, Bogotá has other problems to solve, such as transportation, with over 94 hours per year lost on average per inhabitant, the city recorded the worse traffic jams in the region. Another challenge faced is the high poverty rate, with over 35 percent of the population, or one out of every three inhabitants, living below the poverty line.
