Brazil

Location

• Eastern South America, bordering the Atlantic Ocean
• 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 Argentinanote 2: Rocas Atoll, located off the northeast coast of Brazil, is the only atoll in the South Atlantic

Population

Notable Population Centers

City	Population	Note
São Paulo	12,400,232
Rio de Janeiro	6,747,815
Belo Horizonte	2,721,564
Salvador	2,711,840
Fortaleza	2,400,000
Manaus	2,219,580
Brasília	2,207,718	Capital
Curitiba	1,948,626
Recife	1,653,461
Goiânia	1,536,097

Size

• 3,286,470 square miles
• 8,511,965 square kilometers
• slightly smaller than the US

History

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.

Climate

mostly tropical, but temperate in south

Terrain

mostly flat to rolling lowlands in north; some plains, hills, mountains, and narrow coastal belt

Languages

Portuguese (official and most widely spoken language); less common languages include Spanish (border areas and schools), German, Italian, Japanese, English, and many minor Amerindian languagesmajor-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.

Religions

Roman Catholic 56.8%, Evangelical 26.9%, none 9.3%, other 4%, Spirtism (Espírita) 1.8%, unspecified 1.4%, Umbanda and Candomblé 1.1%, Indigenous religions .06%, undeclared 0.2% (2022)

Government

federal presidential republic

• Constitution: history: several previous; latest ratified 5 October 1988amendment process: 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
• Political Parties and Leaders: n/a
• Suffrage: voluntary between 16 to 18 years of age, over 70, and if illiterate; compulsory between 18 to 70 years of agenote: military conscripts by law cannot vote
• Legal System: civil lawnote: a new civil-law code in 2002 replaced the 1916 code
• Executive Branch: 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 presidentelection/appointment process: 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)most recent election date: 2 October 2022, with runoff on 30 October 2022election 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%expected date of next election: 4 October 2026note: the president is both chief of state and head of government
• Judicial Branch: 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 absolute majority by the Federal Senate; justices appointed to serve until mandatory retirement at age 75subordinate courts: Tribunal of the Union, Federal Appeals Court, Superior Court of Justice, Superior Electoral Court, regional federal courts; state court system
• Legislative Branch: legislature name: National Congress (Congresso nacional)legislative structure: bicameral

Demographic Profile

n/a

Economy

• upper-middle-income, largest Latin American economy; Mercosur, BRICS, G20 member and OECD accession candidate; growth driven by strong domestic consumption; monetary tightening helping curb inflation rate; high inequality in income and access to health and education
• Budget: revenues: $556.303 billion (2023 est.)expenditures: $706.816 billion (2023 est.)note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
• Credit Rating: n/a
• Natural Resources: alumina, bauxite, beryllium, gold, iron ore, manganese, nickel, niobium, phosphates, platinum, tantalum, tin, rare earth elements, uranium, petroleum, hydropower, timber
• Industries: textiles, shoes, chemicals, cement, lumber, iron ore, tin, steel, aircraft, motor vehicles and parts, other machinery and equipment
• Agricultural Products: sugarcane, soybeans, maize, milk, cassava, oranges, chicken, beef, rice, wheat (2023)note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
• Land Use: agricultural land: 26.7% (2022 est.)arable land: 6.7% (2022 est.)permanent crops: 0.9% (2022 est.)permanent pasture: 19.1% (2022 est.)forest: 59.1% (2022 est.)other: 14.2% (2022 est.)
• Labor Force by Occupation: n/a
• Imports
• Imported Commodities: refined petroleum, fertilizers, crude petroleum, vehicle parts/accessories, gas turbines (2023)note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
• Import Partners: China 23%, USA 16%, Germany 5%, Argentina 5%, Russia 4% (2023)note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
• Exports
• Exported Commodities: soybeans, crude petroleum, iron ore, raw sugar, corn (2023)note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
• Export Partners: China 30%, USA 10%, Argentina 5%, Netherlands 3%, Chile 2% (2023)note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports