São Paulo in Brazil is a large metropolitan city that has several levels of subdivision. Administratively, the municipality is divided into 32 boroughs, each in turn divided into 96 wards (distritos, or districts). Locally, wards may contain one or more neighborhoods ().
Administrative zones The subprefectures are officially grouped into nine regions (or "zones"), taking into account their geographical position and history of occupation. These regions are used only in technical and governmental agencies and are not identified by any visual communication in the city. Administrative Zones of São Paulo Map Zone Population Area est. 2008 in km² Central 328,59731 Northwest1,007,691144 Northeast1,181,582152 East 11,212,099140 East 21,342,92468,8 Southeast1,494,770128 South2,346,913607 South-Central715,91074 West872,81712810,940,3111509 Source:Observatório Cidadão - Rede Nossa São Paulo, esse site análisa as 31 subprefeituras e os 96 distritos
Subprefectures Boroughs in São Paulo are governed by subprefectures (from 2016 to 2018 named regional prefectures) created—at least in theory—to give more financial autonomy to local governments. There are 32 subprefectures. Subprefecture 1 Aricanduva 17 M'Boi Mirim 2 Butantã 18 Mooca 3 Campo Limpo 19 Parelheiros 4 Capela do Socorro 20 Penha 5 Casa Verde 21 Perus 6 Cidade Ademar 22 Pinheiros 7 Cidade Tiradentes 23 Pirituba-Jaraguá 8 Ermelino Matarazzo 24 Santana-Tucuruvi 9 Freguesia-Brasilândia 25 Santo Amaro 10 Guaianases 26 São Mateus 11 Ipiranga 27 São Miguel Paulista 12 Itaim Paulista 28 Sapopemba 13 Itaquera 29 Sé 14 Jabaquara 30 Vila Maria-Vila Guilherme 15 Jaçanã-Tremembé 31 Vila Mariana 16 Lapa 32 Vila Prudente
Wards Wards in São Paulo, called Distritos (districts), are subdivisions of the boroughs, without a self-government.
Neighborhoods Some districts are further divided into bairros, which are the equivalent of neighborhoods or boroughs in English.
Geographic areas The city of São Paulo recognizes ten geographical areas used to reference locations in the city. These zones were established by dividing the city radially from the center and each is represented by a different color that is used on city buses and street signs. The only criterion used for this division is geographic boundaries (roads, rivers, etc.), having no relation whatsoever to the administrative divisions. Some districts can be partly in one geographic area, and partly in another. Legend
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