São Gonçalo has a high population growth rate. 1,016,128 people live in the city, up from 960,631 in 2007. According to the 2012 census, the racial makeup of São Gonçalo includes: Whites (22.7%), Brown (54.1%), Black or African (20.2%), two or more races (3%) and Asian (0.02%). The non-Brazilian population was 3.5% (Paraguayan 2%, Bolivian 1%, Chinese 0.5%), which is a high number compared to other cities in Brazil. The same census said that São Gonçalo has a large amount of poverty. 31.5% of the population was officially living in poverty in 2012, down from 81% in 1990. People considered "Class A" were only 4.7% of the population.