Introduction
Background
After 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
total: 220,051,512
Ethnic groups
mixed 45.3%, White 43.5%, Black 10.2%, Indigenous 0.6%, Asian 0.4% (2022 est.)
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 languages
Religions
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.)
Population growth rate
0.61% (2024 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)
head of government: President Luiz Inácio LULA da Silva (since 1 January 2023)
Legislative branch
summary: bicameral National Congress consists of the Federal Senate (81 seats) and the Chamber of Deputies (513 seats)
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Maria Luiza Ribeiro VIOTTI (since 30 June 2023)
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Elizabeth Frawley BAGLEY (since 3 February 2023)
Economy
Economic overview
upper-middle income, largest Latin American economy; Mercosur, BRICS, G20 member and OECD accession candidate; growth driven by strong domestic consumption; tax simplification reforms aimed at addressing business conditions and lagging productivity; high inequality in income and access to health and education
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$4.016 trillion (2023 est.)
$3.902 trillion (2022 est.)
$3.788 trillion (2021 est.)
Real GDP per capita
$18,600 (2023 est.)
$18,100 (2022 est.)
$17,700 (2021 est.)
Exports
$389.626 billion (2023 est.)
$380.619 billion (2022 est.)
$315.494 billion (2021 est.)
Exports - partners
China 26%, US 11%, Argentina 5%, Netherlands 3%, Spain 3% (2022)
Exports - commodities
soybeans, crude petroleum, iron ore, refined petroleum, corn (2022)
Imports
$346.639 billion (2023 est.)
$376.084 billion (2022 est.)
$306.087 billion (2021 est.)
Imports - partners
China 24%, US 18%, Germany 5%, Argentina 5%, India 4% (2022)
Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, fertilizers, vehicle parts/accessories, crude petroleum, pesticides (2022)
Page last updated: Tuesday, October 15, 2024
