Quick answerBrasília is the capital of Brazil, with 2,996,899 people inside the city limits in 2025. The wider metropolitan area had about 3.5 million people in 2025. It is best known for the Modernist architecture, the Oscar Niemeyer and the National Congress. Its official language is Portuguese, and its currency is the Brazilian real.
Brasília is the capital of Brazil, with about 3.0 million people inside the city limits and about 3.5 million in the wider metropolitan area (2025). It was built from scratch on the central plateau in the late 1950s and is known for its modernist architecture.
Key facts
| Country | Brazil |
|---|---|
| Population (city) | 2,996,899 (2025) |
| Population (metro) | 3,548,438 (2025) · Área Metropolitana de Brasília (AMB), 2025 |
| Elevation | 1172 m above sea level |
| Time zone | America/Sao_Paulo |
| Language | Portuguese |
| Currency | Brazilian real (BRL, R$) |
| Coordinates | 15.7939° S, 47.8828° W |
Overview
Brasília is the capital of Brazil and the centre of the Federal District, a territory of 5,802 square kilometres on the central plateau. The city had 2,996,899 residents in 2025, while the wider metropolitan area held 3,548,438 people. Brasília stands about 1,170 metres above sea level, in the middle of the country, far from the coast.
The city was built from scratch in the late 1950s, after President Juscelino Kubitschek moved the capital inland from Rio de Janeiro to develop the interior. Planned by Lúcio Costa and built to the designs of architect Oscar Niemeyer, Brasília was inaugurated in 1960. Its layout, shaped like an aeroplane, groups government buildings along a central axis and housing in residential blocks. The whole city centre is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Today Brasília is Brazil's political capital. It hosts the federal government, the National Congress and the Supreme Court, in buildings that are among the most famous works of modernist architecture in the world. The city is known for the National Congress with its twin towers and dishes, the Cathedral of Brasília and the wide, quiet avenues of the planned city. Unlike Brazil's coastal cities, Brasília has a dry season and a mild climate for its latitude, and its man-made Lake Paranoá is a centre for sailing and swimming.
What Brasília is known for
- Modernist architecture
- Oscar Niemeyer
- National Congress
- Planned city
- Lake Paranoá
Landmarks
- National Congress
- Cathedral of Brasília
- Palácio da Alvorada
- Three Powers Plaza
- Lake Paranoá
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Brasília?
About 3.0 million people live inside the Brasília city limits (2,996,899 in 2025, according to IBGE). The wider metropolitan area had 3,548,438 people that year. Brasília is the largest city in Brazil's Central-West region and the seat of the Federal District government.
What is Brasília famous for?
Brasília is famous for its modernist architecture, planned from scratch in the late 1950s and inaugurated in 1960. Its best-known buildings are the National Congress, the Cathedral of Brasília and the presidential palace, all designed by Oscar Niemeyer. The whole city centre is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Where is Brasília located?
Brasília is in the centre of Brazil, on the central plateau, about 1,170 metres above sea level. It is the capital of Brazil and of the Federal District, surrounded by the state of Goiás. Its coordinates are 15.79° S, 47.88° W, and its time zone is UTC−3.
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Keep exploring
- Brazil — the country Brasília is in
- São Paulo — another city in Brazil
- Rio de Janeiro — another city in Brazil
- Salvador — another city in Brazil
- All cities in Brazil
- All countries — the full list
Sources & last updated
Last updated: . Figures are shown with their year; where sources disagree, the value is left out rather than estimated.