Brazil
Country Guide

Explore Brazil

Brazil with its capital Brasilia is located in South America (Eastern South America, bordering the Atlantic Ocean). It covers some 8,515,771 square kilometers (slightly smaller than the US) with 207,353,000 citizens. Portuguese, Spanish, English and French are the languages commonly used by the people in Brazil (consider regional differences). Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, French Guiana, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay and Venezuela are bordering countries.

Brazil is the largest country in South America. Famous for its football (soccer) tradition and its annual Carnaval in Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, Recife and Olinda. Owing to Brazil’s continental dimensions, varied geography, history and people, the country’s culture is rich and diverse. Music plays an important part in Brazilian identity. Styles like choro, samba and bossa nova are considered genuinely Brazilian. Brazil has many exciting cities, ranging from pretty colonial towns and coastal hideouts to hectic, lively metropolises. Brazil is a huge country with different climate zones. In the north, near the equator there is a wet and a dry season; from about Sao Paulo down to the south there is spring/summer/fall/winter. Brazil is one of a few countries that uses both 120 and 240 volts for everyday appliances. Expect the voltage to change back and forth as you travel from one place to the next -- even within the same Brazilian state, sometimes even within the same building. There is no physical difference in the electric outlets (power mains) for the two voltages.

Popular Destinations in Brazil

Administrative regions of Brazil

• Acre
• Alagoas
• Amapa
• Amazonas
• Ceara
• Espirito Santo
• Estado de Bahia
• Federal District
• Goias
• Maranhao
• Mato Grosso
• Mato Grosso do Sul
• Minas Gerais
• Para
• Paraiba
• Parana
• Pernambuco
• Piaui
• Rio Grande do Norte
• Rio Grande do Sul
• Rio de Janeiro
• Rondonia
• Roraima
• Santa Catarina
• Sao Paulo
• Sergipe
• Tocantins

About the country

The landscape is mostly flat to rolling lowlands in north and some plains, hills, mountains, and narrow coastal belt. The average density of population is about 24 per km². The climate in Brazil can be described as mostly tropical, but temperate in south. Potential threats by nature are floods and occasional frost in south recurring droughts in northeast

To reach someone Brazil dial +55 prior to a number. The local cellular networks are operated on 850 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 1900 MHz, 3G, 4G. Websites typically end with the top level domain ".br". If you want to bring electric appliances (e.g. battery chaarger), keep in min the local 127 V / 220 V - 60 Hz (plugs: C, N). The sign for the locally used currency Real is BRL.

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).

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. Having successfully weathered a period of global financial difficulty in the late 20th century, Brazil was seen as one of the world’s strongest emerging markets and a contributor to global growth. The awarding of the 2014 FIFA World Cup and 2016 Summer Olympic Games, the first ever to be held in South America, was seen as symbolic of the country’s rise. However, since about 2013, Brazil has been plagued by a shrinking economy, growing unemployment, and rising inflation. Political scandal resulted in the impeachment of President Dilma ROUSSEFF in May 2016, a conviction that was upheld by the Senate in August 2016; her vice president, Michel TEMER, will serve as president until 2018, completing her second term.

Geography

Area
Total (World Rank: 6)	8,515,770	sq km
Land (World Rank: 6)	8,358,140	sq km
Water (World Rank: 6)	157,630	sq km
Forest (World Rank: 76)	23.50	%
Comparative	slightly smaller than the US
Note	includes Arquipelago de Fernando de Noronha, Atol das Rocas, Ilha da Trindade, Ilhas Martin Vaz, and Penedos de Sao Pedro e Sao Paulo
Coastline
7491
Landborder
16145
Elevation
Highest point (World Rank: 69)	2,994	m
Agricultural land
Total (World Rank: 126)	32.90	%
Arable (World Rank: 125)	8.60	%
Permanent crops (World Rank: 133)	0.80	%
Permanent pastures (World Rank: 76)	23.50	%
Irrigated land (World Rank: 9)	54,000	sq km
Map reference
South America
Environment
Issues	- air and water pollution in Rio de Janeiro - and several other large cities - deforestation in Amazon Basin destroys the habitat and endangers a multitude of plant and animal species indigenous to the area - land degradation and water pollution caused by improper mining activities - Sao Paulo - severe oil spills - there is a lucrative illegal wildlife trade - wetland degradation
Agreement party	- Antarctic Seals - Antarctic Treaty - Antarctic-Environmental Protocol - Antarctic-Marine Living Resources - 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
Hazzards	- floods and occasional frost in south - recurring droughts in northeast
Location
Eastern South America, bordering the Atlantic Ocean
Climate
mostly tropical, but temperate in south
Terrain
mostly flat to rolling lowlands in north; some plains, hills, mountains, and narrow coastal belt

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People

Population
Total (World Rank: 5)	207,353,000
Deathrate (World Rank: 138)	0.67	%
Birthrate (World Rank: 136)	1.41	%
Growthrate (World Rank: 140)	0.73	%
Migration rate (World Rank: 70)	-0.01	%
Fertility rate (World Rank: 161)	1.75	%
Median age
Male (World Rank: 100)	31.10
Female (World Rank: 96)	32.80
Age structure
0 14 male (World Rank: 7)	23,599,900
0 14 female (World Rank: 8)	22,696,800
15 24 male (World Rank: 7)	17,212,000
15 24 female (World Rank: 7)	16,721,300
25 54 male (World Rank: 5)	45,114,100
25 54 female (World Rank: 5)	45,836,100
55 64 male (World Rank: 5)	8,931,060
55 64 female (World Rank: 6)	9,974,720
65 x male (World Rank: 7)	7,356,840
65 x female (World Rank: 8)	9,910,580
Health
Infant mortality rate (World Rank: 93)	1.75	%
Life expectancy total (World Rank: 124)	74	years
Life expectancy female (World Rank: 114)	78	years
Life expectancy male (World Rank: 133)	71	years
Physicians per 1000 (World Rank: 80)	1.85
Hospital bed per 1000 (World Rank: 93)	2.30
Sanitation access total (World Rank: 116)	82.80	%
Obesity adult (World Rank: 81)	22.10	%
Drinking water access (World Rank: 78)	98.10	%

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Energy

Electricity
Production (World Rank: 8)	559,200,000,000	kWh
Consumption (World Rank: 8)	500,600,000,000	kWh
Export (World Rank: 73)	219,000,000	kWh
Import (World Rank: 3)	34,640,000,000	kWh
Source fossil (World Rank: 189)	25.40	%
Source nuclear (World Rank: 147)	1.20	%
Source renew (World Rank: 43)	16.00	%
Crude oil
Production (World Rank: 10)	2,515,000	bbl / day
Exports (World Rank: 22)	518,800	bbl / day
Imports (World Rank: 25)	350,100	bbl / day
Proved reserves (World Rank: 15)	13,000,000,000	bbl
Refined products
Production (World Rank: 7)	2,899,000	bbl / day
Consumption (World Rank: 7)	3,102,000	bbl / day
Export (World Rank: 28)	269,400	bbl / day
Import (World Rank: 14)	559,000	bbl / day
Natural gas
Production (World Rank: 31)	20,410,000,000	m³
Consumption (World Rank: 25)	43,400,000,000	m³
Export (World Rank: 47)	100,000,000	m³
Import (World Rank: 49)	0	m³
Carbon footprint
535000000

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Nation

Budget
Education (World Rank: 35)	6	% of GDP
Military (World Rank: 88)	1	% of GDP
Health (World Rank: 51)	8	% of GDP
Surplus (World Rank: 61)	-1	% of GDP
National symbol
Southern Cross constellation
National colours
yellow
Adjective
Brazilian
Noun
Brazilian(s)
Background
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. Having successfully weathered a period of global financial difficulty in the late 20th century, Brazil was seen as one of the world’s strongest emerging markets and a contributor to global growth. The awarding of the 2014 FIFA World Cup and 2016 Summer Olympic Games, the first ever to be held in South America, was seen as symbolic of the country’s rise. However, since about 2013, Brazil has been plagued by a shrinking economy, growing unemployment, and rising inflation. Political scandal resulted in the impeachment of President Dilma ROUSSEFF in May 2016, a conviction that was upheld by the Senate in August 2016; her vice president, Michel TEMER, will serve as president until 2018, completing her second term.
Flag description
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)

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Economy

Gdp
Purchasing power parity (World Rank: 7)	3,141,000,000,000	USD
Real growth rate (World Rank: 207)	-3.60	%
Per capita purchasing power parity (World Rank: 105)	15,200	USD
Source agriculture (World Rank: 120)	5.80	%
Source industry (World Rank: 146)	20.90	%
Source service (World Rank: 52)	73.30	%
Labourforce
Total (World Rank: 5)	110,400,000
In poverty (World Rank: 166)	3.70	%
Products
Industries	- aircraft - cement - chemicals - equipment - iron ore - lumber - motor vehicles - other machinery - parts - shoes - steel - textiles - tin
Agriculture	- beef - citrus - cocoa - coffee - corn - rice - soybeans - sugarcane - wheat
Exports	- automobiles - coffee - footwear - iron ore - soybeans - transport equipment
Imports	- automotive parts - chemical products - electrical - electronics - machinery - oil - transport equipment

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Communication

Phone
Landline total (World Rank: 5)	41,846,800
Landline per 100 (World Rank: 89)	20.00
Mobile per 100 (World Rank: 81)	119.00
Assessment	0
Internet
Users (World Rank: 4)	122,841,000
Population (World Rank: 95)	59.70	%

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Transport

Air
Airports paved (World Rank: 2)	698
Airports unpaved (World Rank: 2)	3,395
Heliports (World Rank: 17)	13.00
Rail
Total length (World Rank: 9)	29,850
Road
Total length (World Rank: 4)	1,580,960
Paved length (World Rank: 15)	212,798
Unpaved length (World Rank: 2)	1,368,170
Water
Total length (World Rank: 3)	50,000

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