Evidence of Brazilian metropolization captured in the 2022 Census

Abstract Data from the 2022 Population Census, already available, allowed us to analyze the main evidence of metropolization in Brazil, reflected in the evolution of population distribution, the degree of urbanization, the consolidation of large urban clusters, both metropolitan and non--metropolitan, and their vectors of expansion. The analysis is complemented by a description of the characteristics, in 2022, of households, their sanitation conditions, and residents (race or skin color, age profile, and gender ratio). Four analysis segments encompassed the 5,570 Brazilian municipalities, meticulously covered by the Census. The exploration of these data, in addition to portraying population processes, highlights major challenges for research, policy-making, and urban governance.