Urban hierarchy in Brazil



The urban hierarchy of Brazil places Brazil's cities into categories: global cities, national metropolises, regional metropolises, regional capitols (A, B and C), sub-regional centers (A and B) and zone centers (A, B and C).

Global cities
Brazil's global cities possess areas of influence that surpass the country's borders. Brazil's global cities are the municipalities of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo.

National metropolises
Brasília, São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro are Brazil's national metropolises. They are the first level of territorial management, providing a focus for centers located in all parts of Brazil.

Regional metropolises
Regional metropolises constitute the second level of territorial management, and influence the surrounding macro-region where they are located. Brazil's regional metropolises include Curitiba, Salvador, Porto Alegre, Goiânia, Fortaleza, Recife, Manaus, Belém and Belo Horizonte.

Regional capitals
The regional capitol is the third level of territorial management, and influences its state and its surrounding states. These are subdivided into: A regional capitols (cities such as Natal, Campinas, Florianópolis and Vitória); B regional capitols (cities such as Caxias do Sul, Chapecó, Porto Velho and Campina Grande) and C regional capitols (cities such as Campos, Caruaru, Governador Valadares and Mossoró).

Sub-regional centers
Sub-regional centers possess influence over cities that are within close proximity, and nearby towns and rural areas as well. These are subdivided into: A sub-regional centers (cities such as Alfenas, Anápolis, São Mateus and Umuarama) and B sub-regional centers (Afogados da Ingazeira, Cacoal, Caratinga and Tefé).

Zone centers
The zone centers are the cities or towns that have an important regional influence, but limited to the immediate surrounding area, and exercising elementary management functions. These are subdivided into two levels: A zone centers (cities such as Tabatinga, Lagoa Vermelha, Lins and Três de Maio) and B zone centers (towns such as Afonso Cláudio, Eirunepé, São Bento and Taió).