MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

State of Sao Paulo, a country on its own

The state of Sao Paulo in Brazil reached the 40 million inhabitants mark this weekend which makes it more populated than at least 178 countries, according to the Regional Data Analysis System.

A girl, Maria Aparecida born in one of the megalopolis hospitals confirmed Sao Paulo holds 11% of all of South America's population and in the region only Colombia has over 40 million people.

The capital city of Sao Paulo has 10.7 million people only behind Beijing and Mexico DF.

Sao Paulo which is considered the locomotive of Brazil represents almost half the country's GDP, has a faster growth rate and has for decades attracted internal immigrants looking for work in the state's ever expanding industry.

One of those families which became famous is the Da Silvas who thirty years ago arrived from northeast Brazil.

Luiz Inacio Lula da Sivla a metal worker and union leader was elected Brazilian president in October 2002.