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South America
Page last updated: July 24, 2024
After more than three centuries under Portuguese rule, Brazil gained its independence in 1822, maintaining a monarchical system of government until the abolition of slavery in 1888 and the subsequent proclamation of a republic by the military in 1889. Brazilian coffee exporters politically dominated the country until populist leader Getúlio VARGAS rose to power in 1930. VARGAS governed through various versions of democratic and authoritarian regimes from 1930 to 1945. Democratic rule returned in 1945 -- including a democratically elected VARGAS administration from 1951 to 1954 -- and lasted until 1964, when the military overthrew President João GOULART. The military regime censored journalists and repressed and tortured dissidents in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The dictatorship lasted until 1985, when the military regime peacefully ceded power to civilian rulers, and the Brazilian Congress passed its current constitution in 1988.
By far the largest and most populous country in South America, Brazil continues to pursue industrial and agricultural growth and development of its interior. Having successfully weathered a period of global financial difficulty in the late 20th century, Brazil was soon seen as one of the world's strongest emerging markets and a contributor to global growth under President Luiz Inácio LULA da Silva (2003-2010). The awarding of the 2014 FIFA World Cup and 2016 Summer Olympic Games -- the first ever to be held in South America -- to Brazil was symbolic of the country's rise. However, from about 2013 to 2016, Brazil was plagued by a sagging economy, high unemployment, and high inflation, only emerging from recession in 2017. Congress removed then-President Dilma ROUSSEFF (2011-2016) from office in 2016 for having committed impeachable acts against Brazil's budgetary laws, and her vice president, Michel TEMER, served the remainder of her second term. A money-laundering investigation, Operation Lava Jato, uncovered a vast corruption scheme and prosecutors charged several high-profile Brazilian politicians with crimes. Former President LULA was convicted of accepting bribes and served jail time (2018-19), although his conviction was overturned in 2021. LULA's revival became complete in 2022 when he narrowly defeated incumbent Jair BOLSONARO (2019-2022) in the presidential election. Positioning Brazil as an independent global leader on climate change and promoting sustainable development, LULA took on the 2024 G20 presidency, balancing the fight against deforestation with sustainable energy and other projects designed to alleviate poverty and promote economic growth, such as expanding fossil fuel exploration.
Eastern South America, bordering the Atlantic Ocean
10 00 S, 55 00 W
South America
Total : 8,515,770 km²
Land: 8,358,140 km²
Water: 157,630 km²
Note: includes Arquipelago de Fernando de Noronha, Atol das Rocas, Ilha da Trindade, Ilhas Martin Vaz, and Penedos de Sao Pedro e Sao Paulo
Slightly smaller than the US
Area comparison map:
Total: 16,145 km
Border countries (10): Argentina 1,263 km; Bolivia 3,403 km; Colombia 1,790 km; French Guiana 649 km; Guyana 1,308 km; Paraguay 1,371 km; Peru 2,659 km; Suriname 515 km; Uruguay 1,050 km; Venezuela 2,137 km
7,491 km
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Contiguous zone: 24 nm
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Continental shelf: 200 nm or to edge of the continental margin
Mostly tropical, but temperate in south
Mostly flat to rolling lowlands in north; some plains, hills, mountains, and narrow coastal belt
Highest point: Pico da Neblina 2,994 m
Lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Mean elevation: 320 m
Alumina, bauxite, beryllium, gold, iron ore, manganese, nickel, niobium, phosphates, platinum, tantalum, tin, rare earth elements, uranium, petroleum, hydropower, timber
Agricultural land: 32.9% (2018 est.)
Arable land: 8.6% (2018 est.)
Permanent crops: 0.8% (2018 est.)
Permanent pasture: 23.5% (2018 est.)
Forest: 61.9% (2018 est.)
Other: 5.2% (2018 est.)
69,029 km² (2017)
Fresh water lake(s): Lagoa dos Patos - 10,140 km²
Salt water lake(s): Lagoa Mirim (shared with Uruguay) - 2,970 km²
Amazon river mouth (shared with Peru [s]) - 6,400 km; Río de la Plata/Paraná river source (shared with Paraguay, Argentina, and Uruguay [m]) - 4,880 km; Tocantins - 3,650 km; São Francisco - 3,180 km; Paraguay river source (shared with Argentina and Paraguay [m]) - 2,549 km; Rio Negro river mouth (shared with Colombia [s] and Venezuela) - 2,250 km; Uruguay river source (shared with Argentina and Uruguay [m]) - 1,610 km
Note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Atlantic Ocean drainage: Amazon (6,145,186 km²), Orinoco (953,675 km²), Paraná (2,582,704 km²), São Francisco (617,814 km²), Tocantins (764,213 km²)
Amazon Basin, Guarani Aquifer System, Maranhao Basin
The vast majority of people live along, or relatively near, the Atlantic coast in the east; the population core is in the southeast, anchored by the cities of São Paolo, Brasília, and Rio de Janeiro
Recurring droughts in northeast; floods and occasional frost in south
Note 1: largest country in South America and in the Southern Hemisphere; shares common boundaries with every South American country except Chile and Ecuador; most of the Pantanal, the world's largest tropical wetland, extends through the west central part of the country; shares Iguaçu Falls (Iguazú Falls), the world's largest waterfalls system, with Argentina
Note 2: cassava (manioc) the sixth most important food crop in the world -- after maize, rice, wheat, potatoes, and soybeans -- probably originated in the west-central part of Brazil; pineapples are probably indigenous to the southern Brazil-Paraguay region
Note 3: Rocas Atoll, located off the northeast coast of Brazil, is the only atoll in the South Atlantic
Rocas Atoll:
Total: 220,051,512
Male: 108,166,491
Female: 111,885,021 (2024 est.)
Comparison rankings: female 7; male 7; total 7
Noun: Brazilian(s)
Adjective: Brazilian
Mixed 45.3%, White 43.5%, Black 10.2%, Indigenous 0.6%, Asian 0.4% (2022 est.)
Portuguese (official and most widely spoken language); note - less common languages include Spanish (border areas and schools), German, Italian, Japanese, English, and a large number of minor Amerindian languages
Major-language sample(s):
O Livro de Fatos Mundiais, a fonte indispensável para informação básica. (Brazilian Portuguese)
The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Roman Catholic 52.8%, Protestant 26.7% (Evangelical 25.5%, other Protestant 1.2%), African-American cultist/Umbanda 1.8%, other 3%, agnostic/atheist 0.6%, none 13.6%, unspecified 1.4% (2023 est.)
Brazil's rapid fertility decline since the 1960s is the main factor behind the country's slowing population growth rate, aging population, and fast-paced demographic transition. Brasilia has not taken full advantage of its large working-age population to develop its human capital and strengthen its social and economic institutions but is funding a study abroad program to bring advanced skills back to the country. The current favorable age structure will begin to shift around 2025, with the labor force shrinking and the elderly starting to compose an increasing share of the total population. Well-funded public pensions have nearly wiped out poverty among the elderly, and Bolsa Familia and other social programs have lifted tens of millions out of poverty. More than half of Brazil's population is considered middle class, but poverty and income inequality levels remain high; the Northeast, North, and Center-West, women, and black, mixed race, and indigenous populations are disproportionately affected. Disparities in opportunities foster social exclusion and contribute to Brazil's high crime rate, particularly violent crime in cities and favelas (slums).
Brazil has traditionally been a net recipient of immigrants, with its southeast being the prime destination. After the importation of African slaves was outlawed in the mid-19th century, Brazil sought Europeans (Italians, Portuguese, Spaniards, and Germans) and later Asians (Japanese) to work in agriculture, especially coffee cultivation. Recent immigrants come mainly from Argentina, Chile, and Andean countries (many are unskilled illegal migrants) or are returning Brazilian nationals. Since Brazil's economic downturn in the 1980s, emigration to the United States, Europe, and Japan has been rising but is negligible relative to Brazil's total population. The majority of these emigrants are well-educated and middle-class. Fewer Brazilian peasants are emigrating to neighboring countries to take up agricultural work.
0-14 years: 19.6% (male 22,025,593/female 21,088,398)
15-64 years: 69.5% (male 75,889,089/female 77,118,722)
65 years and over: 10.9% (2024 est.) (male 10,251,809/female 13,677,901)
2023 population pyramid:
Total dependency ratio: 43.1
Youth dependency ratio: 29.4
Elderly dependency ratio: 13.7
Potential support ratio: 7.3 (2021 est.)
Total: 35.1 years (2024 est.)
Male: 34 years
Female: 36.1 years
0.61% (2024 est.)
13.2 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)
7 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)
-0.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)
The vast majority of people live along, or relatively near, the Atlantic coast in the east; the population core is in the southeast, anchored by the cities of São Paolo, Brasília, and Rio de Janeiro
Urban population: 87.8% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 0.87% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Total population growth rate v. urban population growth rate, 2000-2030
22.620 million São Paulo, 13.728 million Rio de Janeiro, 6.248 million Belo Horizonte, 4.873 million BRASÍLIA (capital), 4.264 million Recife, 4.212 million Porto Alegre (2023)
At birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
72 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)
Total: 12.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
Male: 14.6 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 11.1 deaths/1,000 live births
Total population: 76.3 years (2024 est.)
Male: 72.6 years
Female: 80.1 years
1.74 children born/woman (2024 est.)
0.85 (2024 est.)
80.5% (2019)
Improved: urban: 99.8% of population
Rural: 96.9% of population
Total: 99.4% of population
Unimproved: urban: 0.2% of population
Rural: 3.1% of population
Total: 0.6% of population (2020 est.)
10.3% of GDP (2020)
2.31 physicians/1,000 population (2019)
2.1 beds/1,000 population (2017)
Improved: urban: 94.1% of population
Rural: 63.6% of population
Total: 90.2% of population
Unimproved: urban: 5.9% of population
Rural: 36.4% of population
Total: 9.8% of population (2020 est.)
Degree of risk: very high (2023)
Food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea and hepatitis A
Vectorborne diseases: dengue fever, malaria, sexually transmitted diseases: hepatitis B (2024)
Water contact diseases: schistosomiasis
22.1% (2016)
Total: 6.12 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Beer: 3.84 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Wine: 0.24 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Spirits: 2 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Other alcohols: 0.04 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Total: 12.8% (2020 est.)
Male: 16.2% (2020 est.)
Female: 9.4% (2020 est.)
NA
55.9% (2023 est.)
6% of GDP (2019 est.)
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 94.7%
Male: 94.4%
Female: 94.9% (2022)
Total: 16 years
Male: 15 years
Female: 16 years (2020)
Deforestation in Amazon Basin destroys the habitat and endangers a multitude of plant and animal species indigenous to the area; illegal wildlife trade; illegal poaching; air and water pollution in Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, and several other large cities; land degradation and water pollution caused by improper mining activities; wetland degradation; severe oil spills
Party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
Signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping-London Protocol
Mostly tropical, but temperate in south
Agricultural land: 32.9% (2018 est.)
Arable land: 8.6% (2018 est.)
Permanent crops: 0.8% (2018 est.)
Permanent pasture: 23.5% (2018 est.)
Forest: 61.9% (2018 est.)
Other: 5.2% (2018 est.)
Urban population: 87.8% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 0.87% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Total population growth rate v. urban population growth rate, 2000-2030
0.62% of GDP (2018 est.)
0.01% of GDP (2018 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 10.94 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 462.3 megatons (2016 est.)
Methane emissions: 401.83 megatons (2020 est.)
Municipal solid waste generated annually: 79,889,010 tons (2015 est.)
Municipal solid waste recycled annually: 1,118,446 tons (2014 est.)
Percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 1.4% (2014 est.)
Fresh water lake(s): Lagoa dos Patos - 10,140 km²
Salt water lake(s): Lagoa Mirim (shared with Uruguay) - 2,970 km²
Amazon river mouth (shared with Peru [s]) - 6,400 km; Río de la Plata/Paraná river source (shared with Paraguay, Argentina, and Uruguay [m]) - 4,880 km; Tocantins - 3,650 km; São Francisco - 3,180 km; Paraguay river source (shared with Argentina and Paraguay [m]) - 2,549 km; Rio Negro river mouth (shared with Colombia [s] and Venezuela) - 2,250 km; Uruguay river source (shared with Argentina and Uruguay [m]) - 1,610 km
Note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Atlantic Ocean drainage: Amazon (6,145,186 km²), Orinoco (953,675 km²), Paraná (2,582,704 km��), São Francisco (617,814 km²), Tocantins (764,213 km²)
Amazon Basin, Guarani Aquifer System, Maranhao Basin
Municipal: 16.13 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Industrial: 9.51 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Agricultural: 41.42 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
8.65 trillion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Total global geoparks and regional networks: 6
Global geoparks and regional networks: Araripe; Cacapava; Quarta Colonia; Serido; Southern Canyons Pathways; Uberaba (2024)
Conventional long form: Federative Republic of Brazil
Conventional short form: Brazil
Local long form: República Federativa do Brasil
Local short form: Brasil
Etymology: the country name derives from the brazilwood tree that used to grow plentifully along the coast of Brazil and that was used to produce a deep red dye
Federal presidential republic
Name: Brasília
Geographic coordinates: 15 47 S, 47 55 W
Time difference: UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Time zone note: Brazil has four time zones, including one for the Fernando de Noronha Islands
Etymology: name bestowed on the new capital of Brazil upon its inauguration in 1960; previous Brazilian capitals had been Salvador from 1549 to 1763 and Rio de Janeiro from 1763 to 1960
26 states (estados, singular - estado) and 1 federal district* (distrito federal); Acre, Alagoas, Amapa, Amazonas, Bahia, Ceara, Distrito Federal*, Espirito Santo, Goias, Maranhao, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais, Para, Paraiba, Parana, Pernambuco, Piaui, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Norte, Rio Grande do Sul, Rondonia, Roraima, Santa Catarina, Sao Paulo, Sergipe, Tocantins
7 September 1822 (from Portugal)
Independence Day, 7 September (1822)
History: several previous; latest ratified 5 October 1988
Amendments: proposed by at least one third of either house of the National Congress, by the president of the republic, or by simple majority vote by more than half of the state legislative assemblies; passage requires at least three-fifths majority vote by both houses in each of two readings; constitutional provisions affecting the federal form of government, separation of powers, suffrage, or individual rights and guarantees cannot be amended; amended many times, last in 2023
Civil law; note - a new civil law code was enacted in 2002 replacing the 1916 code
Has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship by birth: yes
Citizenship by descent only: yes
Dual citizenship recognized: yes
Residency requirement for naturalization: 4 years
Voluntary between 16 to 18 years of age, over 70, and if illiterate; compulsory between 18 to 70 years of age; note - military conscripts by law cannot vote
Chief of state: President Luiz Inácio LULA da Silva (since 1 January 2023)
Head of government: President Luiz Inácio LULA da Silva (since 1 January 2023)
Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
Elections/appointments: president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 4-year term (eligible for a single consecutive term and additional terms after at least one term has elapsed); election last held on 2 October 2022 with runoff on 30 October 2022 (next to be held on 4 October 2026)
Election results:
2022: Luiz Inácio LULA da Silva elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Luiz Inácio LULA da Silva (PT) 48.4%, Jair BOLSONARO (PSL) 43.2%, Simone Nassar TEBET (MDB) 4.2%, Ciro GOMES (PDT) 3%, other 1.2%; percent of vote in second round - Luiz Inácio LULA da Silva (PT) 50.9%, Jair BOLSONARO (PSL) 49.1%
2018: Jair BOLSONARO elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Jair BOLSONARO (PSL) 46%, Fernando HADDAD (PT) 29.3%, Ciro GOMEZ (PDT) 12.5%, Geraldo ALCKMIN (PSDB) 4.8%, other 7.4%; percent of vote in second round - Jair BOLSONARO (PSL) 55.1%, Fernando HADDAD (PT) 44.9%
Note \- the president is both chief of state and head of government
Description: bicameral National Congress or Congresso Nacional consists of:
Federal Senate or Senado Federal (81 seats; 3 members each from 26 states and 3 from the federal district directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 8-year terms, with one-third and two-thirds of the membership elected alternately every 4 years)
Chamber of Deputies or Camara dos Deputados (513 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by open party-list proportional representation vote to serve 4-year terms)
Elections: Federal Senate - last held on 2 October 2022 for one-third of the Senate (next to be held on 4 October 2026 for two-thirds of the seats)
Chamber of Deputies - last held on 2 October 2022 (next to be held on 4 October 2026)
Election results: Federal Senate - percent of vote by party - PL 25.4%, PSB 13.7%, PT 12.1%, PSD 11.4%, Progressistas 7.6%, Brazil Union 5.5%, PSC 4.3%, Republicans 4.3%, MDB 3.9%, other 11.8%; seats by party - PL 8, Brazil Union 5, PT 4, PP 3, Republicans 2, PSD 2, MDB 1, PSB 1, PSC 1
Note - composition of the Federal Senate as of March 2024 - seats by party - PL 13, Brazil Union 12, MDB 10, PSD 10, PT 9, Progressistas 7, Podemos 6, PSDB 4, Republicans 3, PDT 2, Cidadania 1, PSB 1, PSC 1, PROS 1, REDE 1; composition - men 67, women 14, percentage women 17.3%
Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - PL 16.6%, PT 12.1%, Brazil Union 9.3%, PP 8%, PSD 7.6%, MDB 7.2%, Republicans 7%, PSB 3.8%, PDT 3.5%, PSOL 3.5%, Podemos 3.3%, PSDB 3%, Avante 2%, PSC 1.8%, SD 1.6%, Cidadania 1.5%, Patriota 1.4%, PTB 1.3%, NOVO 1.2%, PCdoB 1.1%, PV 0.9%, PROS 0.7%, REDE 0.7%, other 0.9%; seats by party - PL 99, PT 69, Brazil Union 59, PP 47, MDB 42, PSD 42, Republicans 40, PDT 17, PSB 14, PSDB 13, Podemos 12, PSOL 12, Avante 7, PCdoB 6, PSC 6, PV 6, Cidadania 5, Patriota 4, SD 4, NOVO 3, PROS 3, REDE 2, PTB 1; composition - men 423, women 90, percentage women 17.5%; total National Congress percentage women 17.5%
Highest court(s): Supreme Federal Court or Supremo Tribunal Federal (consists of 11 justices)
Judge selection and term of office: justices appointed by the president and approved by the Federal Senate; justices appointed to serve until mandatory retirement at age 75
Subordinate courts: Tribunal of the Union, Federal Appeals Court, Superior Court of Justice, Superior Electoral Court, regional federal courts; state court system
Act (Agir) [Daniel TOURINHO] (formerly Christian Labor Party or PTC)
Avante [Luis Henrique de Oliveira RESENDE] (formerly Labor Party of Brazil or PTdoB)
Brazil Union (União Brasil); note - founded from a merger between the Democrats (DEM) and the Social Liberal Party (PSL)
Brazilian Communist Party or PCB [Astrogildo PEREIRA]
Brazilian Democratic Movement or MDB [Luiz Felipe Baleia TENUTO Rossi]
Brazilian Labor Party or PTB [Kassyo Santos RAMOS]
Brazilian Renewal Labor Party or PRTB [Júlio Cezar FIDELIX da Cruz]
Brazilian Labor Party or PTB
Brazilian Social Democracy Party or PSDB [Bruno Cavalcanti de ARAÚJO]
Brazilian Socialist Party or PSB [Carlos Roberto SIQUEIRA de Barros]
Christian Democracy or DC [José Maria EYMAEL] (formerly Christian Social
Cidadania [Roberto João Pereira FREIRE] (formerly Popular Socialist Party or PPS)
Communist Party of Brazil or PCdoB [Luciana SANTOS]
Democratic Labor Party or PDT [Ciro FERREIRA Gomes]
Democratic Party or PSDC
Democrats or DEM [Jose AGRIPINO] (formerly Liberal Front Party or PFL); note - dissolved in February 2022
Green Party or PV [José Luiz PENNA]
Liberal Party or PL [Valdemar Costa Neto] (formerly Party of the Republic or PR)
National Mobilization Party or PMN [Antonio Carlos Bosco MASSAROLLO]
New Party or NOVO [Eduardo RIBEIRO]
Patriota [Ovasco RESENDE] (formerly National Ecologic Party or PEN)
Podemos [Renata ABREU] (formerly National Labor Party or PTN)
Progressive Party (Progressistas) or PP [Ciro NOGUEIRA Lima Filho]
Republican Social Order Party or PROS [Euripedes JUNIOR]
Republicans (Republicanos) [Marcos Antônio PEREIRA] (formerly Brazilian Republican Party or PRB)
Social Christian Party or PSC [Everaldo Dias PEREIRA]
Social Democratic Party or PSD [Alfredo COATIT Neto]
Social Liberal Party or PSL [Luciano Caldas BIVAR]
Socialism and Freedom Party or PSOL [Juliano MEDEIROS]
Solidarity or SD [Paulinho DA FORÇA]
Sustainability Network or REDE [Marina SILVA]
United Socialist Workers' Party or PSTU [José Maria DE ALMEIDA]
Workers' Cause Party or PCO [Rui Costa PIMENTA]
Workers' Party or PT [Gleisi Helena HOFFMANN]
AfDB (nonregional member), BIS, BRICS, CAN (associate), CD, CELAC, CPLP, FAO, FATF, G-15, G-20, G-24, G-5, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, LAIA, LAS (observer), Mercosur, MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NAM (observer), NSG, OAS, OECD (enhanced engagement), OPANAL, OPCW, Paris Club (associate), PCA, PROSUR, SICA (observer), UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNIFIL, Union Latina, UNISFA, UNITAR, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNOOSA, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Green with a large yellow diamond in the center bearing a blue celestial globe with 27 white five-pointed stars; the globe has a white equatorial band with the motto ORDEM E PROGRESSO (Order and Progress); the current flag was inspired by the banner of the former Empire of Brazil (1822-1889); on the imperial flag, the green represented the House of Braganza of Pedro I, the first Emperor of Brazil, while the yellow stood for the Habsburg Family of his wife; on the modern flag the green represents the forests of the country and the yellow rhombus its mineral wealth (the diamond shape roughly mirrors that of the country); the blue circle and stars, which replaced the coat of arms of the original flag, depict the sky over Rio de Janeiro on the morning of 15 November 1889 - the day the Republic of Brazil was declared; the number of stars has changed with the creation of new states and has risen from an original 21 to the current 27 (one for each state and the Federal District)
Note: one of several flags where a prominent component of the design reflects the shape of the country; other such flags are those of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Eritrea, and Vanuatu
Southern Cross constellation; national colors: green, yellow, blue
Name: "Hino Nacional Brasileiro" (Brazilian National Anthem)
Lyrics/music: Joaquim Osorio Duque ESTRADA/Francisco Manoel DA SILVA
Note: music adopted 1890, lyrics adopted 1922; the anthem's music, composed in 1822, was used unofficially for many years before it was adopted
Total World Heritage Sites: 23 (15 cultural, 7 natural, 1 mixed)
Selected World Heritage Site locales: Brasilia (c); Historic Salvador de Bahia (c); Historic Ouro Preto (c); Historic Olinda (c); Iguaçu National Park (n); Jesuit Missions of the Guaranis (c); Rio de Janeiro: Carioca Landscapes (c); Central Amazon Conservation Complex (n); Atlantic Forest South-East Reserves (n); Paraty and Ilha Grande – Culture and Biodiversity (m)
Industrial-led economic growth model; recovering from 2014-2016 recession when COVID-19 hit; industry limited by Amazon rainforest but increasing deforestation; new macroeconomic structural reforms; high income inequality; left UNASUR to join PROSUR
$4.016 trillion (2023 est.)
$3.902 trillion (2022 est.)
$3.788 trillion (2021 est.)
Note: data in 2021 dollars
2.91% (2023 est.)
3.02% (2022 est.)
4.76% (2021 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
$18,600 (2023 est.)
$18,100 (2022 est.)
$17,700 (2021 est.)
Note: data in 2021 dollars
$2.174 trillion (2023 est.)
Note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
4.59% (2023 est.)
9.28% (2022 est.)
8.3% (2021 est.)
Note: annual % change based on consumer prices
Fitch rating: BB (2023)
Moody's rating: Ba2 (2016)
Standard & Poors rating: BB- (2018)
Note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.
Agriculture: 6.6% (2017 est.)
Industry: 20.7% (2017 est.)
Services: 72.7% (2017 est.)
Comparison rankings: services 60; industry 142; agriculture 116
Household consumption: 63.4% (2017 est.)
Government consumption: 20% (2017 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 15.6% (2017 est.)
Investment in inventories: -0.1% (2017 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 12.6% (2017 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -11.6% (2017 est.)
Sugarcane, soybeans, maize, milk, cassava, oranges, chicken, rice, beef, wheat (2022)
Note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
Textiles, shoes, chemicals, cement, lumber, iron ore, tin, steel, aircraft, motor vehicles and parts, other machinery and equipment
1.59% (2023 est.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
108.695 million (2023 est.)
Note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
7.95% (2023 est.)
9.23% (2022 est.)
13.16% (2021 est.)
Note: % of labor force seeking employment
Total: 31.9% (2021 est.)
Male: 27%
Female: 38.2%
4.2% (2016 est.)
Note: approximately 4% of the population are below the "extreme" poverty line
52 (2022 est.)
Note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality
On food: 16.3% of household expenditures (2021 est.)
On alcohol and tobacco: 1.7% of household expenditures (2021 est.)
Lowest 10%: 1.2% (2022 est.)
Highest 10%: 41% (2022 est.)
Note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population
0.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
0.25% of GDP (2022 est.)
0.25% of GDP (2021 est.)
Note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Revenues: $424.196 billion (2020 est.)
Expenditures: $617.332 billion (2020 est.)
-1.1% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
79.1% of GDP (2022 est.)
85.01% of GDP (2021 est.)
98.71% of GDP (2020 est.)
Note: central government debt as a % of GDP
14.73% (of GDP) (2022 est.)
Note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP
-$30.828 billion (2023 est.)
-$48.253 billion (2022 est.)
-$46.358 billion (2021 est.)
Note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
$389.626 billion (2023 est.)
$380.619 billion (2022 est.)
$315.494 billion (2021 est.)
Note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
China 26%, US 11%, Argentina 5%, Netherlands 3%, Spain 3% (2022)
Note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Soybeans, crude petroleum, iron ore, refined petroleum, corn (2022)
Note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
$346.639 billion (2023 est.)
$376.084 billion (2022 est.)
$306.087 billion (2021 est.)
Note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
China 24%, US 18%, Germany 5%, Argentina 5%, India 4% (2022)
Note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Refined petroleum, fertilizers, vehicle parts/accessories, crude petroleum, pesticides (2022)
Note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
$355.021 billion (2023 est.)
$324.673 billion (2022 est.)
$362.21 billion (2021 est.)
Note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
$681.336 billion (2019 est.)
$660.693 billion (2018 est.)
Reals (BRL) per US dollar -
Exchange rates:
4.994 (2023 est.)
5.164 (2022 est.)
5.394 (2021 est.)
5.155 (2020 est.)
3.944 (2019 est.)
Electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electrification - urban areas: 100%
Electrification - rural areas: 97.3%
Installed generating capacity: 220.319 million kW (2022 est.)
Consumption: 583.184 billion kWh (2022 est.)
Exports: 4.979 billion kWh (2022 est.)
Imports: 17.887 billion kWh (2022 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 103.995 billion kWh (2022 est.)
Comparison rankings: transmission/distribution losses 208; imports 12; exports 38; consumption 7; installed generating capacity 7
Fossil fuels: 9.9% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Nuclear: 2.2% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Solar: 4% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Wind: 12.1% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Hydroelectricity: 63.3% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Biomass and waste: 8.4% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Number of operational nuclear reactors: 2 (2023)
Number of nuclear reactors under construction: 1 (2023)
Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors: 1.88GW (2023 est.)
Percent of total electricity production: 2.2% (2023 est.)
Production: 15.644 million metric tons (2022 est.)
Consumption: 32.787 million metric tons (2022 est.)
Exports: 7,000 metric tons (2022 est.)
Imports: 20.389 million metric tons (2022 est.)
Proven reserves: 6.596 billion metric tons (2022 est.)
Total petroleum production: 4.221 million bbl/day (2023 est.)
Refined petroleum consumption: 3.027 million bbl/day (2022 est.)
Crude oil estimated reserves: 12.715 billion barrels (2021 est.)
Production: 22.67 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Consumption: 31.654 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Exports: 75.122 million cubic meters (2021 est.)
Imports: 8.812 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Proven reserves: 363.985 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
516.752 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 54.455 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 404.548 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 57.749 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
50.037 million Btu/person (2022 est.)
Total subscriptions: 27.258 million (2022 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 13 (2022 est.)
Total subscriptions: 212.926 million (2022 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 99 (2022 est.)
General assessment: Brazil is one of the largest mobile and broadband markets in Latin America with healthy competition and pricing; 5G services was provided to all capital cities in July 2022, as well as about 35,500km of the national highway network; the country also has one of the largest fixed line broadband markets in Latin America, though broadband subscriptions is only slightly above the regional average, trailing behind Chile, Argentina, and Uruguay; amendments to the licensing regime adopted in October 2019 also require that ISPs which have switched to authorizations invest money saved from lighter regulations in the expansion of broadband services; the fixed line broadband market has seen rapid growth for a number of years, with a growing focus on fiber broadband; in 2019 the number of fiber accesses overtook DSL connections; the country is a key landing point for a number of important submarine cables connecting to the US, Central and South America, the Caribbean, Europe, and Africa; several new cable systems are due to come into service through to 2022, which will increase bandwidth and push down broadband prices for end-users; investments have also been made into terrestrial fiber cables between Brazil, Argentina, and Chile (2022)
Domestic: fixed-line connections stand at roughly 13 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity roughly 102 per 100 persons (2021)
International: country code - 55; landing points for a number of submarine cables, including Malbec, ARBR, Tamnat, SAC, SAm-1, Atlantis -2, Seabras-1, Monet, EllaLink, BRUSA, GlobeNet, AMX-1, Brazilian Festoon, Bicentenario, Unisur, Junior, Americas -II, SAE x1, SAIL, SACS and SABR that provide direct connectivity to South and Central America, the Caribbean, the US, Africa, and Europe; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean region east), connected by microwave relay system to Mercosur Brazilsat B3 satellite earth station; satellites is a major communication platform, as it is almost impossible to lay fiber optic cable in the thick vegetation (2019)
State-run Radiobras operates a radio and a TV network; more than 1,000 radio stations and more than 100 TV channels operating - mostly privately owned; private media ownership highly concentrated (2022)
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Total: 170.1 million (2021 est.)
Percent of population: 81% (2021 est.)
Total: 36,344,670 (2020 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 17 (2020 est.)
Number of registered air carriers: 9 (2020)
Inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 443
Annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 102,109,977 (2018)
Annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 1,845,650,000 (2018) mt-km
PP
4,919 (2024)
1,768 (2024)
5,959 km refined petroleum product (1,165 km distribution, 4,794 km transport), 11,696 km natural gas (2,274 km distribution, 9,422 km transport), 1,985 km crude oil (distribution), 77 km ethanol/petrochemical (37 km distribution, 40 km transport) (2016)
Total: 29,849.9 km (2014)
Standard gauge: 194 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge
Narrow gauge: 23,341.6 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge (24 km electrified)
Broad gauge: 5,822.3 km (2014) 1.600-m gauge (498.3 km electrified)
Dual gauge: 492 km (2014) 1.600-1.000-m gauge
Total: 2 million km
Paved: 246,000 km
Unpaved: 1.754 million km (2018)
50,000 km (2012) (most in areas remote from industry and population)
Total: 888 (2023)
By type: bulk carrier 13, container ship 20, general cargo 38, oil tanker 27, other 790
Total ports: 45 (2024)
Large: 4
Medium: 7
Small: 19
Very small: 15
Ports with oil terminals: 31
Key ports: Belem, DTSE/Gegua Oil Terminal, Itajai, Port de Salvador, Porto Alegre, Recife, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande, Santos, Tubarao, Vitoria
Brazilian Armed Forces (Forças Armadas Brasileiras): Brazilian Army (Exercito Brasileiro, EB), Brazilian Navy (Marinha do Brasil, MB, includes Naval Aviation (Aviacao Naval Brasileira) and Marine Corps (Corpo de Fuzileiros Navais)), Brazilian Air Force (Forca Aerea Brasileira, FAB) (2024)
Note: the three national police forces – the Federal Police, Federal Highway Police, and Federal Railway Police – have domestic security responsibilities and report to the Ministry of Justice and Public Security (Ministry of Justice); there are two distinct units within the state police forces: the civil police, which performs an investigative role, and the military police, charged with maintaining law and order in the states and the Federal District; despite the name, military police forces report to the Ministry of Justice, not the Ministry of Defense; the National Public Security Force (Forca Nacional de Seguranca Publica or SENASP) is a national police force made up of Military Police from various states
1.1% of GDP (2023 est.)
1.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
1.3% of GDP (2021 est.)
1.4% of GDP (2020 est.)
1.4% of GDP (2019 est.)
Approximately 360,000 active military personnel (220,000 Army; 70,000 Navy; 70,000 Air Force); approximately 400,000 paramilitary security forces (2023)
The Brazilian military's inventory consists of a mix of domestically produced and imported weapons, largely from Europe and the US; in recent years, the US and several European countries have been the leading suppliers of military equipment to Brazil; Brazil's defense industry designs and manufactures equipment for all three military services and for export; it also jointly produces equipment with other countries (2023)
18-45 years of age for compulsory military service for men (women exempted); only 5-10% of those inducted are required to serve; conscript service obligation is 10-12 months; 17-45 years of age for voluntary service (2024)
Note: in 2022, women comprised approximately 9% of the Brazilian military
The Brazilian Armed Forces (BAF) are the second largest military in the Western Hemisphere behind the US; they are responsible for external security and protecting the country's sovereignty but also have a considerable internal security role; the BAF’s missions include patrolling and protecting the country’s long borders and coastline and extensive territorial waters and river network, assisting with internal security, providing domestic disaster response and humanitarian assistance, and participating in multinational peacekeeping missions
In the past decade, the BAF has mobilized thousands of troops to conduct counternarcotics operations, support the police in combating crime, assist with disease outbreaks and humanitarian missions, and provide security for major events such as the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympics; it has also cooperated regularly with neighboring countries such as Argentina and Paraguay on border security to combat smuggling and trafficking
Brazil has Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status with the US, a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation
The origins of Brazil's military stretch back to the 1640s; Brazil provided a 25,000-man expeditionary force with air and ground units to fight with the Allies in the Mediterranean Theater during World War II; the Navy participated in the Battle of the Atlantic (2023)
Brazilian Space Agency (Agência Espacial Brasileira, AEB; established in 1994 when Brazil’s space program was transferred from the military to civilian control); National Institute for Space Research (established, 1971; part of the Brazilian Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovations); Space Operations Command (Armed Forces); Department of Aerospace Science and Technology (DCTA; established in 1953 as a military space research program under the Brazilian Air Force) (2024)
Alcantara Launch Site (Maranhão state); Barreira do Inferno Launch Center (Rio Grande do Norte state) (2024)
Has an active program with a long history; develops, builds, operates, and tracks satellites, including communications, remote sensing (RS), multi-mission, navigational, and scientific/testing/research; satellites are launched by foreign partners, but Brazil has a long-standing sounding (research) rocket and space launch vehicle (SLV) program and rocket launch facilities; cooperates with a variety of foreign space agencies and commercial entities, including those of Argentina, Canada, the European Space Agency and individual member states (particularly France and Germany), India, Japan, Russia, South Africa, South Korea, Ukraine, and the US; has a state-controlled communications company that operates Brazil’s communications satellites and a growing commercial space sector with expertise in satellite technology (2024)
Note: further details about the key activities, programs, and milestones of the country’s space program, as well as government spending estimates on the space sector, appear in the Space Programs reference guide
Terrorist group(s): Hizballah (2022)
Note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide
Refugees (country of origin): 510,499 (Venezuela) (economic and political crisis; includes Venezuelans who have claimed asylum, are recognized as refugees, or received alternative legal stay) (2023)
IDPs: 5,600 (2022)
Stateless persons: 12 (2022)
A significant drug transit and destination country for cocaine bound for Europe and other destinations including the United States; domestic drug use and addiction is a significant problem and it is second only to the United States in cocaine consumption; a major source of precursor or essential chemicals used in the production of illicit narcotics