Vitória, Espírito Santo

Vitória
Municipality of Vitória
Skyline from Penha Convent
Enseada do Suá
Praça dos Namorados and Ilha do Boi
Carlos Gomes Theater
Third Bridge crossing Vitória Bay
Nickname(s): 
Ilha do Mel
Cidade Ensolarada
Vix
Location in Espírito Santo
Coordinates: 20°17′20″S 40°18′30″W / 20.28889°S 40.30833°W / -20.28889; -40.30833
Country Brazil
RegionSoutheast
State Espírito Santo
Founded8 September 1551
Government
  MayorLorenzo Pazolini (REP)
Area
93.381 km2 (36.055 sq mi)
  Metro
3,204.26 km2 (1,237.17 sq mi)
Elevation
4 m (13 ft)
Population
 (2022 estimate)
322,869
  Estimate 
(2024)
342,800
  Density3,324.33/km2 (8,610.0/sq mi)
  Metro
1,880,828
Demonymvitoriense
GDP (PPP, constant 2015 values)
  Year2023
  Total$32.6 billion
Time zoneUTC-3 (BRT)
Postal code
29000-001 to 29099-999
Area code+55 27
HDI (2010)0.845 – very high
Major airportVitória International Airport
Federal Highways
Websitevitoria.es.gov.br

Vitória (Portuguese pronunciation: [viˈtɔɾjɐ]; lit.'Victory') is the capital of the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil. It is located on a small island within a bay where a number of rivers meet the sea. It was founded in 1551. The city proper is 93 square kilometres (36 square miles) and has a population of 322,869 (2022), whilst the Greater Vitória metropolitan area has a population of more than 1,880,828, the 14th largest in Brazil.

Vitória is a riverine island surrounded by Vitória's Bay. In addition to Vitória, the main island, another 34 islands and a mainland portion are part of the municipality, totalling 93.381 square kilometres (36.05 square miles). Originally there were 50 islands, many of which were joined to the largest island by landfill.

In 1998, the United Nations rated Vitória as the fourth best state capital in Brazil to live in, rating cities on health, education, and social improvement projects. Among the Brazilian capitals, Vitória currently maintains the second best human development index (HDI) (after Florianópolis) according to research from the Getulio Vargas Foundation. It was considered the fourth best Brazilian city to live in by the United Nations in 2013, behind São Caetano do Sul, Águas de São Pedro and Florianópolis, and it was ranked as having the highest GDP per capita.

The city has two major ports: the Port of Vitória and the Port of Tubarão. These ports are part of the largest port complex of the country, which are considered the best in quality of Brazil. The city, which lies on the coast, is close to the mountains of Espírito Santo. Through the city's port authority, the city council also manages the Trindade and Martim Vaz islands, 1,100 kilometres (680 miles) off the coast, which are important meteorological bases because of their strategic position: located in an area of dispersion of air masses.