The objective of this study was to evaluate the evolution of the visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in Sergipe State, and a possible foci displacement from the Dry Land to the coast in the last decades, characterizing some environmental aspects related with the occurrence of the endemic disease. An analysis of all notifications send to the to National Health Foundation from 1972 to 1998 was performed. The 1.874 case identified were stratified by municipality, per decade and distributed in the three sub-areas of Sergipe: Dry Land, Transition Region and East (coast). The annual average incidence of LV in the decades of 70, 80 and 90 were respectively of, 1.96, 3.37 and 7.6 per inhabitants. An expansion of this disease is verified in all areas, however there is no displacement of the main foci. In areas, where the largest number of cases of visceral leishmaniasis in Sergipe State have been registered, the climate is humid, with pluviometric indexes above 1,400 mm and altitude is low.