Paraíba

Paraíba
Anthem: Hino da Paraíba
Location in Brazil
Coordinates: 7°10′S 36°50′W / 7.167°S 36.833°W / -7.167; -36.833
CountryBrazil
Capital and largest cityJoão Pessoa
Government
  GovernorJoão Azevêdo (PSB)
  Vice GovernorLucas Ribeiro (PP)
  SenatorsDaniella Ribeiro (PSD)
Efraim Filho (UNIÃO)
Veneziano Vital (MDB)
Area
  Total
56,440 km2 (21,790 sq mi)
  Rank21st
Population
 (2022)
  Total
3,974,687
  Rank13th
  Density70/km2 (180/sq mi)
   Rank8th
DemonymParaibano
GDP
  TotalR$ 77.470 billion
(US$ 14.371 billion)
HDI
  Year2021
  Category0.698 – medium (21st)
Time zoneUTC-3 (BRT)
Postal Code
58000-000 to 58990-000
ISO 3166 codeBR-PB
Websiteparaiba.pb.gov.br

Paraíba (/ˌpærəˈbə/ PARR-ə-EE-bə, Brazilian Portuguese: [paɾaˈibɐ] ; Tupinambá: pa'ra a'íba) is a state of Brazil. It is located in the Brazilian Northeast, and it is bordered by Rio Grande do Norte to the north, Ceará to the west, Pernambuco to the south and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Paraíba is the third most densely populated state of the Northeast; João Pessoa, the coastal state capital, and Campina Grande, in the countryside, rank among the fifteen largest municipalities in the Northeast of Brazil. The state is home to 1.9% of the Brazilian population and produces 0.9% of the Brazilian GDP and it is divided into 223 municipalities.

Paraíba is mostly populated along the Atlantic coast, which extends as far as Ponta do Seixas, the easternmost point of the Americas. The state is a tourist and industrial hotspot; it is known for its cultural heritage, amenable climate and geographical features, ranging from the seaside beaches to the Borborema Plateau. It is named after the Paraíba river.

Some of the most notable Brazilian writers and poets are from Paraíba like Augusto dos Anjos, José Américo de Almeida, José Lins do Rego, Ariano Suassuna and Pedro Américo, the last being also known for his historical paintings.