Introduction
Background
Following more than three centuries under Portuguese rule, Brazil gained its independence in 1822. By far the largest and most populous country in South America, Brazil underwent more than a half century of populist and military government until 1985, when the military regime peacefully ceded power to civilian rulers.
Geography
Area
total: 8,515,770 sq km
land: 8,358,140 sq km
water: 157,630 sq km
Climate
mostly tropical, but temperate in south
Natural resources
alumina, bauxite, beryllium, gold, iron ore, manganese, nickel, niobium, phosphates, platinum, tantalum, tin, rare earth elements, uranium, petroleum, hydropower, timber
People and Society
Population
218,689,757 (2023 est.)
Ethnic groups
White 47.7%, mixed 43.1%, Black 7.6%, Asian 1.1%, Indigenous 0.4% (2010 est.)
Languages
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
Religions
Roman Catholic 50%, Evangelical 31%, Spiritist 3%, Umbanda, Candomble, or other Afro-Brazilian religions 2%, Jewish 0.3%, atheist 1%, other 2%, none 10% (2020 est.)
Population growth rate
0.64% (2023 est.)
Government
Government type
federal presidential republic
Capital
name: Brasília
Executive branch
chief of state: President Luiz Inácio LULA da Silva (since 1 January 2023); Vice President Geraldo José Rodrigues ALCKMIN Filho (since 1 January 2023); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Luiz Inácio LULA da Silva (since 1 January 2023); Vice President Geraldo José Rodrigues ALCKMIN Filho (since 1 January 2023)
Legislative branch
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)
Economy
Economic overview
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
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$3.128 trillion (2021 est.)
$2.989 trillion (2020 est.)
$3.11 trillion (2019 est.)
Real GDP per capita
$14,600 (2021 est.)
$14,000 (2020 est.)
$14,700 (2019 est.)
Agricultural products
sugar cane, soybeans, maize, milk, cassava, oranges, poultry, rice, beef, cotton
Industries
textiles, shoes, chemicals, cement, lumber, iron ore, tin, steel, aircraft, motor vehicles and parts, other machinery and equipment
Remittances
0.25% of GDP (2021 est.)
0.25% of GDP (2020 est.)
0.17% of GDP (2019 est.)
Exports
$317.175 billion (2021 est.)
$239.283 billion (2020 est.)
$260.075 billion (2019 est.)
Exports - partners
China 28%, United States 13% (2019)
Exports - commodities
iron, soybeans, crude petroleum, sugar, poultry meats (2021)
Imports
$297.924 billion (2021 est.)
$227.854 billion (2020 est.)
$269.017 billion (2019 est.)
Imports - partners
China 21%, United States 18%, Germany 6%, Argentina 6% (2019)
Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, vehicle parts, crude petroleum, integrated circuits, pesticides (2019)
Exchange rates
reals (BRL) per US dollar -
Exchange rates:
5.394 (2021 est.)
5.155 (2020 est.)
3.944 (2019 est.)
3.654 (2018 est.)
3.191 (2017 est.)
Page last updated: Thursday, December 14, 2023
