Joinville (Portuguese pronunciation: [ʒoĩˈvil⁽ʲ⁾i] ^ⓘ) is the largest city in Santa Catarina, in southern Brazil. It is the third largest municipality in the southern region of Brazil, after the much larger state capitals of Curitiba and Porto Alegre. Joinville is also a major industrial, financial and commerce center.

The city has a very high human development index (0.809) among Brazilian municipalities, being 21st nationally, and has one of the highest standards of living in Latin America. One study pointed to Joinville as the second best city to live in Brazil.

In 2020, the population of Joinville was estimated at 597,658 people, many of whom are of Portuguese, Polish, Austrian, German, Swiss, Czech, and Italian descent. The metropolitan area is home to 1,340,997 residents according to the 2010 census by IBGE, making it the most populous metropolitan region of the state of Santa Catarina.

Owing to urban development and relatively good infrastructure, Joinville has become a major center for events and business conferences. The city It is also the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Joinville.

Empire of Brazil 1851–1889
Republic of Brazil 1889–present

The area surrounding Joinville had been inhabited by the Guarani people for approximately 7,000 years.

From 1851 to 1888, the city of Joinville received 17,000 German immigrants.

The city of Joinville was founded by German, Norwegian, Swiss settlers on 9 March 1851. Immigrants from Norway made up a group of men with several professional qualifications, including carpenters, masons, bakers, agriculturalists, and even a veterinarian and physician. Many of the first Norwegian settlers became ill by dysentery, typhoid, and other illnesses. In the first letter home, dated to July 1851, the author explained that "only" four Norwegians were dead so far: Simon Hansen of Helgeland, Lars C. Steensem of Ytterøy, Hans Petter Luttersen of Horten, and Martin Nordby of Larvik. Between 1851 and 1852, 41 Norwegians left Joinville and seven died.