Fortaleza has a population of more than 2.5 million. The people of Fortaleza are known to be hospitable and are generally with a happy disposition.

The city has also produced a number of locals that have given pride to the city they were born in. They are known for their outstanding performance in each of their chosen field. There are Fortaleza natives that have excelled in arts, music, and sports.

Shelda Bede is one of the Fortalezans that excelled in sports. She is a beach volleyball player that got silver medals in the 2000 and 2004 Summer Olympics. Mário Jardel, on the other hand, is a professional football player who plays for the Rio Negro, a Brazilian club.

There are also a number of Fortaleza natives that excels in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and mixed martial arts. Wilson Gouveia and Thiago Alves are Brazilian mixed martial artists who are part of the American Top Team, a prestigious training part in Florida. They have competed world-renowned players from all over the country in the UFC – Ultimate Fighting Championship. Other mixed martial artists from Fortaleza are Hermes França and Jorge Gurgel.

In the field of music and arts, Fortaleza Ed Lincoln, a composer, and arranger; Karim Aïnouz, a film director; and José de Alencar, known as the most famous writer in Brazilian romanticism in its first years bring pride to their native city.

Perhaps the most noteworthy is the Fortaleza native, Humberto de Alencar Castelo Branco, who became the 26th president of Brazil. He was in office for 3 years until 1967. Branco was a military leader who was among those who led the coup d’etat that overthrew Goulant, the president before him.