Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística

About the publication - 2025

The current IBGE review shows changes in Tocantins and Amapá, with the inclusion of new municipalities in the Palmas Metropolitan Area (TO) and the creation of new Metropolitan Areas in the State of Amapá (AP).

In Tocantins, according to State Complementary Law No. 167/2025, of July 21, 2025, the Palmas Metropolitan Area (TO) was expanded to include the municipalities of Lizarda (TO), Chapada de Areia (TO), Lagoa do Tocantins (TO), Mateiros (TO), Monte Santo do Tocantins (TO), Novo Acordo (TO), Ponte Alta do Tocantins (TO), Rio Sono (TO), Santa Tereza do Tocantins (TO), Nova Rosalândia (TO), São Félix do Tocantins (TO), Rio dos Bois (TO), Lagoa da Confusão (TO), Divinópolis do Tocantins (TO), and Cristalândia (TO).

The State of Amapá, according to State Complementary Law No. 0178, of November 6, 2025, created the Metropolitan Areas of the Jari Valley (AP), the Lakes Region (AP), the North of the State (AP), the Amapari Valley (AP), the Araguari Valley (AP), and the East of the State (AP). These Metropolitan Areas are added to the Metropolitan Area of Macapá (AP), raising the number of Metropolitan Areas in Amapá to 7 and including all municipalities of the State in some Metropolitan Area.

There were no changes in the Brazilian Integrated Development Areas, Urban Clusters, or other Metropolitan Areas of the other Brazilian states. Currently, there are 83 Metropolitan Areas in the country, with the state with the largest number of Metropolitan Areas being Santa Catarina (14), followed by Paraíba (12) and São Paulo (9). Urban Clusters, on the other hand, are three in the state of São Paulo and two in the state of Rio Grande do Sul.

Metropolitan Areas and Urban Clusters are divisions established by state complementary law, in accordance with the determination of the 1988 Federal Constitution, aiming to integrate the organization, planning, and execution of public functions of common interest. The definition of Metropolitan Areas and Urban Clusters is the responsibility of the States, according to paragraph 3 of Article 25 of the Federal Constitution.

Integrated Development Areas (RIDEs), in turn, are defined as administrative regions that encompass different Federation Units. RIDEs are created by specific legislation, in which the municipalities that compose them are listed, in addition to defining the operational structure and the interests of the participating political-administrative units. In the case of RIDEs, the competence to create them belongs to the Union, according to paragraph 1 of article 43 of the Federal Constitution.