Demographics of Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro City is home to more than 6 million people, accounting for about 35% of the population of Rio de Janeiro State. Portuguese remains the most widely spoken language and Rio de Janeiro is the second city in the Portuguese speaking world.
Póvoa de Varzim
In Brazil, Póvoa de Varzim is twinned with major cities. It is twinned with Rio de Janeiro since November 8, 1989 it also built town-twinning links with the city of São Paulo. These metropolises hold Casa dos Poveiros, voluntary associations of immigrants from Póvoa de Varzim. The one from Rio was established in 1930 and the one from São Paulo in 1991. There are also Casa dos Poveiros in Germiston, Johannesburg, South Africa and Toronto, Canada. The partnership with Rio was established by Brazilian actress Neuza Amaral when she was an alderwoman and president of Rio de Janeiro's chamber of parliament, who since the age of 6 was frequently seen in Rio's Casa dos Poveiros and visited Póvoa de Varzim for the 21st anniversary commemorations. Mata de São João (Bahia) is a sister-community (Comunidade-irmã) of Rates parish in Póvoa de Varzim since 2010. It is not a regular program, it is based on affection due to very strong cultural and historical connections, as Mata de São João was one of the towns in Bahia established by settlers from Rates and the establishment of Brazil itself.