Following 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 Getulio VARGAS rose to power in 1930. 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. Brazil continues to pursue industrial and agricultural growth and development of its interior. Exploiting vast natural resources and a large labor pool, it is today South America's leading economic power and a regional leader, one of the first in the area to begin an economic recovery. Highly unequal income distribution and crime remain pressing problems.

Eastern South America, bordering the Atlantic Ocean

10 00 S, 55 00 W

South America

total: 8,514,877 sq km
country comparison to the world: 5
land: 8,459,417 sq km
water: 55,460 sq km
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

total: 16,885 km
border countries: Argentina 1,261 km, Bolivia 3,423 km, Colombia 1,644 km, French Guiana 730 km, Guyana 1,606 km, Paraguay 1,365 km, Peru 2,995 km, Suriname 593 km, Uruguay 1,068 km, Venezuela 2,200 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

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Pico da Neblina 2,994 m

bauxite, gold, iron ore, manganese, nickel, phosphates, platinum, tin, rare earth elements, uranium, petroleum, hydropower, timber

arable land: 8.45%
permanent crops: 0.83%
other: 90.72% (2011)

54,000 sq km (2011)

8,233 cu km (2011)

total: 58.07 cu km/yr (28%/17%/55%)
per capita: 306 cu m/yr (2006)

recurring droughts in northeast; floods and occasional frost in south

deforestation in Amazon Basin destroys the habitat and endangers a multitude of plant and animal species indigenous to the area; there is a lucrative illegal wildlife trade; 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 Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

largest country in South America; shares common boundaries with every South American country except Chile and Ecuador

noun: Brazilian(s)
adjective: Brazilian

white 53.7%, mulatto (mixed white and black) 38.5%, black 6.2%, other (includes Japanese, Arab, Amerindian) 0.9%, unspecified 0.7% (2000 census)

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

Roman Catholic (nominal) 73.6%, Protestant 15.4%, Spiritualist 1.3%, Bantu/Voodoo 0.3%, other 1.8%, unspecified 0.2%, none 7.4% (2000 census)

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. 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, but limited social spending on children has restricted investment in education - a primary means of escaping poverty. Brazil's poverty and income inequality levels remain high despite improvements in the 2000s and continue to disproportionately affect the Northeast, North, and Center-West, women, and black, mixed race, and indigenous populations. Disparities in opportunities foster social exclusion and contribute to Brazil's high crime rate, particularly violent crime in cities and favelas.

201,009,622 (July 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6

0-14 years: 24.2% (male 24,814,906/female 23,879,697)
15-24 years: 16.7% (male 16,982,245/female 16,513,161)
25-54 years: 43.6% (male 43,396,927/female 44,170,680)
55-64 years: 8.2% (male 7,792,041/female 8,736,359)
65 years and over: 7.3% (male 6,250,580/female 8,473,026) (2013 est.)

total dependency ratio: 46.2 %
youth dependency ratio: 35.2 %
elderly dependency ratio: 11 %
potential support ratio: 9.1 (2013)

total: 30.3 years
male: 29.5 years
female: 31.1 years (2013 est.)

0.83% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133

14.97 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133

6.51 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152

-0.17 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116

urban population: 87% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization: 1.1% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Sao Paulo 19.96 million; Rio de Janeiro 11.836 million; Belo Horizonte 5.736 million; Porto Alegre 4.034 million; BRASILIA (capital) 3.813 million (2011)

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.89 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2013 est.)

56 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
country comparison to the world: 104

total: 19.83 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 93
male: 23.16 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 16.34 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)

total population: 73.02 years
country comparison to the world: 127
male: 69.48 years
female: 76.74 years (2013 est.)

1.81 children born/woman (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153

80.3% (2006)

8.9% of GDP (2011)
country comparison to the world: 47

1.76 physicians/1,000 population (2008)

2.3 beds/1,000 population (2011)

NA

NA

NA

18.8% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 102

2.2% (2007)
country comparison to the world: 116

5.6% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 53

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 90.4%
male: 90.1%
female: 90.7% (2010 est.)

total: 14 years
male: 14 years
female: 15 years (2005)

total number: 959,942
percentage: 3 %
note: data represents children ages 5-13 (2009 est.)

total: 15.4%
country comparison to the world: 82
male: 12.2%
female: 19.8% (2011)

conventional long form: Federative Republic of Brazil
conventional short form: Brazil
local long form: Republica Federativa do Brasil
local short form: Brasil

federal republic

name: Brasilia
geographic coordinates: 15 47 S, 47 55 W
time difference: UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins third Sunday in October; ends third Sunday in February
note: Brazil is divided into three time zones, including one for the Fernando de Noronha Islands

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)

several previous; latest ratified 5 October 1988; amended many times, last in 2012 (2012)

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

voluntary between 16 to under 18 years of age and over 70; compulsory 18 to 70 years of age; note - military conscripts do not vote by law

chief of state: President Dilma ROUSSEFF (since 1 January 2011); Vice President Michel TEMER (since 1 January 2011); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Dilma ROUSSEFF (since 1 January 2011); Vice President Michel TEMER (since 1 January 2011)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president

elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for a single four-year term; election last held on 3 October 2010 with runoff on 31 October 2010 (next to be held on 5 October 2014 and, if necessary, a runoff election on 2 November 2014)
election results: Dilma ROUSSEFF (PT) elected president in a runoff election; percent of vote - Dilma ROUSSEFF 56.01%, Jose SERRA (PSDB) 43.99%

bicameral National Congress or Congresso Nacional consists of the Federal Senate or Senado Federal (81 seats; 3 members from each state and federal district elected according to the principle of majority to serve eight-year terms; one-third and two-thirds of members elected every four years, alternately) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camara dos Deputados (513 seats; members are elected by proportional representation to serve four-year terms)
elections: Federal Senate - last held on 3 October 2010 for two-thirds of the Senate (next to be held in October 2014 for one-third of the Senate); Chamber of Deputies - last held on 3 October 2010 (next to be held in October 2014)
election results: Federal Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PMDB 20, PT 13, PSDB 10, DEM (formerly PFL) 7, PTdoB 6, PP 5, PDT 4, PR 4, PSB 4, PPS 1, PRB 1, other 3; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PT 87, PMDB 80, PSDB 53, DEM (formerly PFL) 43, PP 41, PR 41, PSB 34, PDT 28, PTdoB 21, PSC 17, PCdoB 15, PV 15, PPS 12, other 26

highest court(s): Supreme Federal Court (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 70
subordinate courts: Federal Appeals Court, Superior Court of Justice, Superior Electoral Court, regional federal courts; state court system

Brazilian Communist Party or PCB [Ivan Martins PINHEIRO]

Landless Workers' Movement or MST
other: industrial federations; labor unions and federations; large farmers' associations; religious groups including evangelical Christian churches and the Catholic Church

AfDB (nonregional member), BIS, BRICS, CAN (associate), CD, CELAC, CPLP, FAO, FATF, G-15, G-20, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), 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, NAM (observer), NSG, OAS, OECD (Enhanced Engagement, OPANAL, OPCW, Paris Club (associate), PCA, SICA (observer), UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, Union Latina, UNISFA, UNITAR, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNMIT, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

chief of mission: Ambassador Mauro Luiz Iecker VIEIRA (since 11 January 2010)
chancery: 3006 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 238-2805
FAX: [1] (202) 238-2827
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Hartford (CT), Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco

chief of mission: Ambassador Liliana AYALDE (since 1 August 2013)
embassy: Avenida das Nacoes, Quadra 801, Lote 3, Distrito Federal Cep 70403-900, Brasilia
mailing address: Unit 7500, DPO, AA 34030
telephone: [55] (61) 3312-7000
FAX: [55] (61) 3225-9136
consulate(s) general: Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo
consulate(s): Recife

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 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)

Southern Cross constellation

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

Characterized by large and well-developed agricultural, mining, manufacturing, and service sectors, Brazil's economy outweighs that of all other South American countries, and Brazil is expanding its presence in world markets. Since 2003, Brazil has steadily improved its macroeconomic stability, building up foreign reserves, and reducing its debt profile by shifting its debt burden toward real denominated and domestically held instruments. In 2008, Brazil became a net external creditor and two ratings agencies awarded investment grade status to its debt. After strong growth in 2007 and 2008, the onset of the global financial crisis hit Brazil in 2008. Brazil experienced two quarters of recession, as global demand for Brazil's commodity-based exports dwindled and external credit dried up. However, Brazil was one of the first emerging markets to begin a recovery. In 2010, consumer and investor confidence revived and GDP growth reached 7.5%, the highest growth rate in the past 25 years. Rising inflation led the authorities to take measures to cool the economy; these actions and the deteriorating international economic situation slowed growth to 2.7% in 2011, and 1.3% in 2012. Unemployment is at historic lows and Brazil's traditionally high level of income inequality has declined for each of the last 14 years. Brazil's historically high interest rates have made it an attractive destination for foreign investors. Large capital inflows over the past several years have contributed to the appreciation of the currency, hurting the competitiveness of Brazilian manufacturing and leading the government to intervene in foreign exchange markets and raise taxes on some foreign capital inflows. President Dilma ROUSSEFF has retained the previous administration's commitment to inflation targeting by the central bank, a floating exchange rate, and fiscal restraint. In an effort to boost growth, in 2012 the administration implemented a somewhat more expansionary monetary policy that has failed to stimulate much growth.

$2.33 trillion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8
note: data are in 2012 US dollars

$2.223 trillion (2012 est.)

0.9% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 163

$11,700 (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
note: data are in 2012 US dollars

15.2% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102

household consumption: 62.3%
government consumption: 21.5%
investment in fixed capital: 18.1%
investment in inventories: -0.5%
exports of goods and services: 12.6%
imports of goods and services: -14%

agriculture: 5.2%
industry: 26.3%
services: 68.5%

coffee, soybeans, wheat, rice, corn, sugarcane, cocoa, citrus; beef

textiles, shoes, chemicals, cement, lumber, iron ore, tin, steel, aircraft, motor vehicles and parts, other machinery and equipment

-0.8% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142

105.7 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6

agriculture: 15.7%
industry: 13.3%
services: 71%

5.5% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52

21.4%
note: official Brazilian data show 4.2% of the population being below the "extreme" poverty line in 2011 (2009 est.)

lowest 10%: 0.8%
highest 10%: 42.9% (2009 est.)

51.9 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 17

revenues: $875.5 billion
expenditures: $822.1 billion (2012 est.)

39.4% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50

2.4% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19

58.8% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48

calendar year

5.4% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152

7.25% (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22

36.64% (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2

$159.1 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24

$1.878 trillion (30 November 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10

$2.381 trillion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11

$1.229 trillion (31 December 2011)
country comparison to the world: 10

$-54.23 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187

$242.6 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24

transport equipment, iron ore, soybeans, footwear, coffee, autos

China 17%, US 11.1%, Argentina 7.4%, Netherlands 6.2% (2012)

$223.2 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23

machinery, electrical and transport equipment, chemical products, oil, automotive parts, electronics

China 15.3%, US 14.6%, Argentina 7.4%, Germany 6.4%, South Korea 4.1% (2012)

$373.1 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8

$438.9 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26

$604.5 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14

$177.1 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25

reals (BRL) per US dollar -

530.7 billion kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9

455.8 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10

2.544 billion kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37

38.43 billion kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4

113.7 million kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11

19.6% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 192

1.8% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29

71% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21

7.7% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29

2.652 million bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11

619,100 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21

343,600 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24

13.15 billion bbl (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 15

2.108 million bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9

2.594 million bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8

158,400 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36

457,400 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14

17.03 billion cu m (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35

25.2 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31

400 million cu m (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47

13.3 billion cu m (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26

395.5 billion cu m (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 34

475.4 million Mt (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13

44.3 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 5

248.324 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 6

general assessment: good working system including an extensive microwave radio relay system and a domestic satellite system with 64 earth stations
domestic: fixed-line connections have remained relatively stable in recent years and stand at about 20 per 100 persons; less expensive mobile-cellular technology has been a major driver in expanding telephone service to the lower-income segments of the population with mobile-cellular teledensity roughly 120 per 100 persons
international: country code - 55; landing point for a number of submarine cables, including Americas-1, Americas-2, Atlantis-2, GlobeNet, South America-1, South American Crossing/Latin American Nautilus, and UNISUR 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 (2011)

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 (2007)

.br

26.577 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 3

75.982 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 4

4,093 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 2

total: 698
over 3,047 m: 7
2,438 to 3,047 m: 27
1,524 to 2,437 m: 179
914 to 1,523 m: 436
under 914 m: 49 (2013)

total: 3,395
1,524 to 2,437 m: 92
914 to 1,523 m: 1,619
under 914 m:

13 (2013)

condensate/gas 251 km; gas 17,312 km; liquid petroleum gas 352 km; oil 4,831 km; refined products 4,722 km (2013)

total: 28,538 km
country comparison to the world: 10
broad gauge: 5,627 km 1.600-m gauge (467 km electrified)
standard gauge: 194 km 1.440-m gauge
narrow gauge: 22,717 km 1.000-m gauge (2008)

total: 1,580,964 km
country comparison to the world: 4
paved: 212,798 km
unpaved: 1,368,166 km
note: does not include urban roads (2010)

50,000 km (most in areas remote from industry and population) (2012)
country comparison to the world: 3

total: 109
country comparison to the world: 48
by type: bulk carrier 18, cargo 16, chemical tanker 7, container 13, liquefied gas 11, petroleum tanker 39, roll on/roll off 5
foreign-owned: 27 (Chile 1, Denmark 3, Germany 6, Greece 1, Norway 3, Spain 12, Turkey 1)
registered in other countries: 36 (Argentina 1, Bahamas 1, Ghana 1, Liberia 20, Marshall Islands 1, Panama 3, Singapore 9) (2010)

major seaport(s): Belem, Paranagua, Rio Grande, Rio de Janeiro, Santos, Sao Sebastiao, Tubarao
river port(s): Manaus (Amazon)
dry bulk cargo port(s): Sepetiba ore terminal
container ports (TEUs): Santos (2,985,922), Itajai (983,985)(2011)
oil/gas terminal(s): DTSE/Gegua oil terminal, Ilha Grande (Gebig), Guaiba Island terminal, Guamare oil terminal

Brazilian Army (Exercito Brasileiro, EB), Brazilian Navy (Marinha do Brasil (MB), includes Naval Air and Marine Corps (Corpo de Fuzileiros Navais)), Brazilian Air Force (Forca Aerea Brasileira, FAB) (2011)

18-45 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation is 9-12 months; 17-45 years of age for voluntary service; an increasing percentage of the ranks are "long-service" volunteer professionals; women were allowed to serve in the armed forces beginning in early 1980s when the Brazilian Army became the first army in South America to accept women into career ranks; women serve in Navy and Air Force only in Women's Reserve Corps (2012)

males age 16-49: 53,350,703
females age 16-49: 53,433,918 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49: 38,993,989
females age 16-49: 44,841,661 (2010 est.)

male: 1,733,168
female: 1,672,477 (2010 est.)

1.47% of GDP (2012)
country comparison to the world: 191

uncontested boundary dispute between Brazil and Uruguay over Braziliera/Brasiliera Island in the Quarai/Cuareim River leaves the tripoint with Argentina in question; smuggling of firearms and narcotics continues to be an issue along the Uruguay-Brazil border; Colombian-organized illegal narcotics and paramilitary activities penetrate Brazil's border region with Venezuela