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Belém

PA · North · State capital

Population: 1,396,157 (IBGE estimate 2026)

About Belém

Photo of Belém
Photo: Heitor Carvalho Jorge · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Machine translation of the Portuguese Wikipedia article (November 2026 version).

Belém, also called Belém do Pará, is a Brazilian municipality and the capital of the state of Pará. Located in the North Region of the country, on the shores of Guajará Bay and about 2,120 kilometers from Brasília, its population is 1,303,403 inhabitants according to the 2022 Census. It is the most populous municipality in the state, the second in the North Region, and the twelfth in the country. With a total area of 1,059.458 square kilometers, the city encompasses forty-two islands that make up 65% of its territory, and it has a hot and humid equatorial climate, making it the rainiest state capital in Brazil. Ranked among the municipalities with the best quality of life in the North Region, it has a Human Development Index (HDI) of 0.746 (high), ranking 22nd among Brazilian state capitals.

Founded in 1616 by Francisco Caldeira Castelo Branco as the colonial settlement of Feliz Lusitânia, Belém was built on the former territory of the Tupinambá Indigenous people, taking shape around the Presépio Fort, built to secure Portuguese control of the Amazon during the Iberian Union. Throughout its history, it stood out as a trading post in the 17th century and later as an important urban and economic center during the rubber boom of the 19th century. From the 1940s onward, a process of vertical urban growth began, concentrated mainly along Presidente Vargas Avenue.

Text: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Read the full article on Wikipedia (in Portuguese)

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Attractions nearby

Well-known places within 50 km of the city center, closest first. Source: Wikidata (public domain).

Scores by topic

0 to 100, compared with Brazilian municipalities of 100,000+ residents (rent: compared among the 36 cities with rent data).

Cost of living

16

All 36 cities: 46

Asking rent (BRL/m²)

Higher rent Shown as a band among the 36 cities with rent data (thirds). See the source for exact prices.

Source: Índice FipeZAP de Locação Residencial · Reference: Sep 2026 · License: Proprietary

Healthcare

49

PA average (15 cities): 20 · All 338 cities: 34

Hospital beds per 1,000

3.38 per 1,000 residents

Source: CNES / DATASUS (TabNet) · Reference: Sep 2026 · License: Public data

Doctors per 1,000

3.66 per 1,000 residents

Source: CNES / DATASUS (TabNet) · Reference: Sep 2026 · License: Public data

Airport access

82

PA average (15 cities): 50 · All 338 cities: 60

Distance to intl. airport (km)

8.38 km

Source: ANAC – Voo Regular Ativo e Aeródromos · Reference: Sep 2025–Aug 2026 · License: Open data

International departures within 100 km

895 departures in 12 months

Source: ANAC – Voo Regular Ativo e Aeródromos · Reference: Sep 2025–Aug 2026 · License: Open data

Nearest international airport

Internacional de Belém/Val de Cans/Júlio Cezar Ribeiro (SBBE), 8 km in a straight line · 895 international departures in 12 months

Social Progress Index (overall)

63.9

score 0–100 · Source: Índice de Progresso Social Brasil · Reference: SPI Brazil 2026 (2024 data) · License: CC BY 4.0 (report)

Climate month by month

Hot Average temperature: 27.7 °C (Average temperature 25 °C (77 °F) or higher)

20 25 30 35 °C 0200400600 mm Jan: 394 mm Feb: 438 mm Mar: 506 mm Apr: 466 mm May: 324 mm Jun: 206 mm Jul: 156 mm Aug: 129 mm Sep: 120 mm Oct: 136 mm Nov: 151 mm Dec: 284 mm Jan: 31.4 °CFeb: 31 °CMar: 31.1 °CApr: 31.5 °CMay: 32.2 °CJun: 32.5 °CJul: 32.6 °CAug: 33 °CSep: 33.2 °COct: 33.1 °CNov: 33.1 °CDec: 32.5 °C Jan: 23 °CFeb: 23.1 °CMar: 23.3 °CApr: 23.4 °CMay: 23.4 °CJun: 23.1 °CJul: 22.8 °CAug: 22.9 °CSep: 22.9 °COct: 22.9 °CNov: 23.1 °CDec: 23.1 °C JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Avg. high (°C) Avg. low (°C) Rain (mm)
Show monthly table
Month JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Avg. high (°C) 31.431.031.131.532.232.532.633.033.233.133.132.5
Avg. low (°C) 23.023.123.323.423.423.122.822.922.922.923.123.1
Rain (mm) 394438506466324206156129120136151284

Weather station Belém, 8 km away · climate normals 1991-2020 · Source: INMET Normais Climatológicas · License: Public data

Location

Nearby cities

Up to 150 km in a straight line. Scores use your weights.

  1. Barcarena PA · 14 km 46
  2. Ananindeua PA · 18 km 48
  3. Marituba PA · 21 km 43
  4. Abaetetuba PA · 52 km 45
  5. Castanhal PA · 67 km 48
  6. Cametá PA · 141 km 39

Cities with a similar profile

Topic scores closest to those of Belém. Scores use your weights.

  1. Betim MG · Southeast 59
  2. Caxias do Sul RS · South 64
  3. Canoas RS · South 56
  4. Rio de Janeiro RJ · Southeast 61
  5. Araucária PR · South 65
  6. Novo Hamburgo RS · South 61

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