Maringá () is a municipality in southern Brazil founded on 10 May 1947 as a planned urban area. It is the third largest city in the state of Paraná, with 429,660 inhabitants in the city proper (IBGE 2025). Located in northwestern Paraná, and crossed by the Tropic of Capricorn, it is a regional centre for commerce, services, agro-industries, and universities, including the State University of Maringá.

History

Toponymy

Maringá takes its name from a song by Joubert de Carvalho in honour of his great love, Maria do Ingá, later shortened to Maringá. As a result, the city is nicknamed "Song City". At the time the settlement was established, the song was very popular in the media.

Settlement

In 1925, the Northern Paraná Land Company was established in London, England and was responsible for the management of more than in the northern part of the State, which today contains some of the largest cities in Paraná.

The region's fertile land encouraged São Paulo colonists to move in and acquire new areas for production of coffee beans, an important product for exportation.

The northern region of Paraná encloses nearly 100 thousand km<sup>2</sup>. It is watered by the Rivers Paranapanema, Paraná, Ivaí and Piquiri.

The urban project requested by the British Company Improvements North of the Paraná (Melhoramentos Co.) and elaborated by the city planner Jorge Macedo Vieira, defined the outlines of the new city. Maringá received the status of municipality on 14 November 1951.

The company, worried about deforestation proceeding from the occupation foreseen in the urbanistics projects, reserved three great ecological areas within the urban limits: the Forest Horto, the Park of the Ingá and Forest II and the city was planned as a "garden city" from the beginning.

Demography

thumb|The [[Cathedral of Maringá, the city's most famous landmark, was completed in 1972. At , it is the tallest church building in South America.]]

thumb|Madre Paulina Chapel.

Ethnicity

The region of Maringá has been greatly influenced by Japanese immigrants, alongside Italian and German immigrants. Portuguese descendants also have a considerable presence in the city. Other prevalent ethnic groups are African and Amerindian descendants, Poles, Spaniards, Ukrainians, Arabs, Jews, Russians, and a small group of British descendants.

Distribution of the population living in Maringá according to race or skin color:

{| class="wikitable"

|- style="background:#009966;" colspan="2"

!<span style="color:green;">Color/Race</span>

!<span style="color:green;">Percentage</span>

|-

|White

|70.8%

|-

|Mixed

|19.6%

|-

|Asian

|3.6%

|-

|Black

|3.4%

|-

|Amerindian

|0.1%

|}

Source: Census 2012

People born in Maringá

  • Sônia Braga - Actress
  • Celso Portiolli :pt:Celso Portiolli - TV host
  • Fernanda Machado :pt:Fernanda Machado - Actress
  • Felipe Drugovich - Fia Formula 2 champion racing driver

Religion

Roman Catholicism is the single largest religious denomination in the city; other major denominations include the various branches of Protestantism, and also Islam, Buddhism, Shinto, Spiritism, among others. Roman Catholics are the majority and have remained constant, while Protestants have grown 2.41%, and those who do not profess a religion have dropped to 2.03%.

  • Roman Catholicism: 73.72%
  • Protestantism: 21.15%
  • Islam, Buddhism, Spiritism, Atheism and others: 5.13%.

Source: Observatório das Metrópoles UFRJ.

|date=Jan 2013

Flora

200px|thumb|right|[[Handroanthus serratifolius]]

200px|thumb|right|Ingá Lake

Maringá has a high rate of concentration of green area per capita, there are of native forest on 17 preserved areas.

The city preserves within its limits large areas of native forest in the Horto Florestal, Parque dos Pioneiros (Bosque II) and Parque do Inga, this being open to the public. It also includes smaller preserved areas as the Parque do Cinquentenário, private areas and so on.

Throughout the year it is possible to observe its tree-lined streets that produce a good air to breathe, but especially in the passage from winter to spring, many trees explode in flowers.

Maringá has one of the highest concentration rates of green area, per inhabitant, 90 bushels of native forest in 17 forests.

Pollution

Even with the normal problems of urban centers, Maringá preserves its reputation as a green city, ecologically well cared for. Its origin had planning, urban planning - forest reserves, central construction site, wide avenues, several species of trees that follow a Master Plan

Proportionally, Maringá has one of the largest fleets per capita of vehicles of Paraná State. Because of it, there are some places of the city with pollution levels above the recommended. Two regions in the city are the biggest problems, they are the avenue Duque de Caxias and Colombo. Industries, pesticides, noise pollution and household waste, also contribute very significantly to the pollution of the city. In spite of this, Maringá still preserves a reputation of green city.

Economy

thumb|Downtown Maringá

thumb|Perola Park mall.

Maringá is highlighted today by the commercial sector and service delivery. The service sector is

Maringá's largest (76,74%), followed by industrial (22,29%) and farming (0,97%). Within industry, the food-processing, chemical and textile sectors predominate.

Agriculture

The agriculture still is fundamental for Maringá, although its importance has declined in recent years. Farming is diversified, and besides coffee, today are produced corn, wheat, cotton, ramie, beans, peanuts, rice, sugar cane, and especially soybeans.

Industry

Among the various segments in the industrial sector of Maringá, there are metal-mechanics, agribusiness, textile and food companies.

The industrial sector is not as expressive as agriculture, but it's growing. The city has a growing fleet that handles weaving and agribusiness, but mostly clothing. Big industries such as Cocamar, Coca-Cola, Noma, among others, foster job creation in the region, and even other cities. Metalworking industries serving the entire country and also exports to countries in Latin America a very large range of products. Maringá is the fashion hub in the south of Brazil, with the largest wholesale mall in Latin America, the Mercosul. Recently, Maringá also has been highlighted in the software market, with a consolidated APL (Local Productive Arrangements).

Service sector

Maringá has five shopping malls: Avenida Center Mall, Cidade Mall, Mandacaru Boulevard Mall, Maringá Park Mall (formerly Aspen Park Mall) and Catuaí Maringá Mall, this is the second largest shopping mall in the State of Paraná (behind only Londrina Catuaí Mall).

The commercial vocation of Maringá can be proven by dynamism and variety of items offered by companies from the sectors of food products, pharmaceuticals, clothing, appliances, fittings, bookstores, restaurants, snack bars. And for being a polo wholesaler, commodity prices are also competitive. These factors combine to attract consumers from different regions of Paraná, southwest of São Paulo and some cities in Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul.

The companies act in at least seven segments of the wholesale market: food, dry goods and offal, paper, glass, textiles, wood, auto parts and appliances. Not to mention the many garment industries, which basically sell them at wholesale.

The city houses the Maringa and Region Convention & Visitors Bureau, an organization of character and independent nonprofit whose goal is to develop the regional economy by encouraging tourism events. Established and maintained by public and private initiatives related to tourism and events industry, it is responsible for planned development of the same, including the city effectively in the national and international tourist circuits.

Sílvio Name Júnior Regional Airport has scheduled air connections to major centers in Brazil.

Sports

thumb|Maringá football stadium

Maringá currently has two professional football clubs, Grêmio Maringá and Maringá FC, the first play in the 2nd division of the Paranaense Championship and the second play in the 1st division of the Paranaense Championship. Both play their games at the Stadium Willie Davids, with a capacity up to 15,300 fans. The most traditional club is Grêmio Maringá, who has won three State Championships, and has been four times with the vice-championship. Meanwhile, Maringá FC never won titles. The city used to have a third team, currently dormant, Adap Galo Maringá. All the teams play at the city's stadium Estádio Willie Davids.

Universities

Among several private faculties, the ones that usually stand out in terms of number of undergraduates and graduates are:

UEM - Universidade Estadual de Maringá (Paraná State-sponsored Public university)

  • UEM, the only public university of Maringa (in Portuguese)

CESUMAR - Centro de Estudos Superiores de Maringá called Centro Universitario de Maringá

  • Cesumar one of the private faculties in Maringá (in Portuguese)

PUC - Pontificia Universidade Catolica do Paraná - Campus Maringá

Media

Maringá is well served by internet, radio, print newspapers, television, telephone and mobile phone companies. Maringá has 15 TV stations and substations and 14 Radio FM stations.

Twin towns – sister cities

Maringá is twinned with:

  • Caserta, Italy (2000)
  • General San Martín, Argentina (1993)
  • Kakogawa, Japan (1972)
  • Leiria, Portugal (1982)

Notable people

Notable people from Maringá include:

  • Celso Portiolli, television presenter
  • Everaldo Matsuura, chess Grandmaster
  • Felipe Drugovich, racing driver
  • Leonardo Drugovich, former professional footballer
  • Orochinho, streamer and YouTuber
  • Sergio Moro, former judge and politician
  • Sônia Braga, actress

See also

  • Catedral de Maringá

References

  • Official homepage (in Portuguese)
  • Everything about Maringá (in Portuguese, English, French, Italian and Spanish)
  • some pictures can be found here (in Portuguese)
  • everything about Maringá (in Portuguese)

Demographics

According to the 2025 Census, Maringá has a population of 429,660 inhabitants, making it the third most populous city in Paraná State. The city is recognized by the FAO-ONU as a "Tree City of the World" due to its extensive urban green areas and commitment to environmental quality and sustainability.

Economy

Maringá has a diversified economic base centered on commerce, services, and agroindustry sectors. The city's economy benefits from its strategic location in the northern region of Paraná and its well-developed infrastructure, supporting multiple economic activities.

Tourism

Known officially as "Cidade Canção" (Song City), Maringá is recognized for its planned urban layout and green spaces. Major attractions include the Catedral Metropolitana (Metropolitan Cathedral), Parque do Japão (Japanese Park), Bosque das Grevilhas (Grevillea Woods), and Parque de Igarapé. The city hosts the FLIM - Festa Literária Internacional de Maringá (Maringá International Literary Festival), which attracts visitors and cultural enthusiasts from across the region.

Demographics

Maringá had 429,660 inhabitants in the 2025 census. The city is recognized by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO-UN) as a "Tree City of the World" and is celebrated for its commitment to sustainable urban development and environmental conservation.

Economy

Maringá's economy is diverse and dynamic, featuring sectors such as:

  • Agriculture and livestock farming, primarily grain production (corn, soybeans)
  • Commerce and services
  • Small manufacturing and processing facilities
  • Education and research (with several higher education institutions)
  • Tourism and hospitality

The city is a center for economic activity in the Paraná region and contributes significantly to regional development.

Tourism

Maringá is known as the "Song City" (Cidade Canção) and offers several attractions for visitors:

  • The Cathedral Basilica of Nossa Senhora da Glória – one of the tallest church buildings in South America (124 meters high)
  • Ingá Park – a large urban park with beautiful flora
  • Grevillea Woods Park – a scenic park
  • The International Literary Festival of Maringá (FLIM) – an important international literary festival
  • Igarapé Park – another popular green space
  • Japanese gardens and other recreational areas