Sao Paulo is a Brazilian state belonging to the southeastern region and embracing 248,808 square kilometers and a population of 36,966,527 inhabitants nicknamed Paulistas. Its territory takes 2.9% of the total surface and the population stands for 21.8% of all Brazilians. Its capital is the homonymous Sao Paulo, named after the state.
Located southwest of the southeastern region, Sao Paulo abuts the State of Minas Gerais to the north; Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais to the northeast; the State of Parana to the south, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the State of Mato Grosso do Sul to the west.
The highest urban concentration resides in the capital Sao Paulo with 10,406,166 inhabitants. Other major cities are Guarulhos, Campinas, Santo Andre, Osasco, Sao Bernardo do Campo, Sao José dos Campos, Ribeirao Preto, Santos, Sorocaba, Bauru, Carapicuiba, Diadema, Maua, Moji das Cruzes, Piracicaba and Jundiai.
This is a region brimming with mineral resources and its agriculture is Brazil’s most advanced. This development is applied in growing coffee, cereals for export and a great variety of fresh and processed foodstuffs such as milk and meat.
The State of Sao Paulo currently counts on public schools, technical schools, technological faculties and both public and private universities, as well as research institutes. This cluster of schools makes the state the biggest scientific and technological hub in all Latin America and generates half of the country’s scientific production. Furthermore, the state’s cities harbor 270 museums, 168 theaters and roughly 1,000 cultural institutions outfitted for theatricals, shows and other popular and classical presentations.
The capital has numerous historical monuments, yet only a handful of them harking back from colonial times has been preserved to date.
