Brazil

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total: 48.4 million (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 23 (2023 est.)

Broadcast media

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 (2022)

Internet country code

.br

Internet users

percent of population: 84% (2023 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 22.5 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 11 (2024 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 216 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 102 (2024 est.)

Agricultural products

sugarcane, soybeans, maize, milk, cassava, oranges, chicken, beef, rice, wheat (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Average household expenditures

on food: 16.2% of household expenditures (2023 est.) on alcohol and tobacco: 1.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

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

Current account balance

-$61.194 billion (2024 est.) -$27.933 billion (2023 est.) -$42.157 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Debt - external

$198.582 billion (2023 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

Economic overview

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

Exchange rates

reals (BRL) per US dollar - 5.389 (2024 est.) 4.994 (2023 est.) 5.164 (2022 est.) 5.394 (2021 est.) 5.155 (2020 est.)

Exports

$388.333 billion (2024 est.) $389.192 billion (2023 est.) $380.492 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Exports - commodities

soybeans, crude petroleum, iron ore, raw sugar, corn (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Exports - partners

China 30%, USA 10%, Argentina 5%, Netherlands 3%, Chile 2% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

GDP (official exchange rate)

$2.179 trillion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 63.8% (2024 est.) government consumption: 18.8% (2024 est.) investment in fixed capital: 17% (2024 est.) investment in inventories: -0.1% (2024 est.) exports of goods and services: 18% (2024 est.) imports of goods and services: -17.5% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 5.6% (2024 est.) industry: 21.3% (2024 est.) services: 59.3% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

51.6 (2023 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 1.3% (2023 est.) highest 10%: 40.8% (2023 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Imports

$377.05 billion (2024 est.) $340.195 billion (2023 est.) $369.861 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Imports - commodities

refined petroleum, fertilizers, crude petroleum, vehicle parts/accessories, gas turbines (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Imports - partners

China 23%, USA 16%, Germany 5%, Argentina 5%, Russia 4% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Industrial production growth rate

3.3% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

4.4% (2024 est.) 4.6% (2023 est.) 9.3% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices

Labor force

106.79 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Population below poverty line

4.2% (2016 est.) note: approximately 4% of the population are below the "extreme" poverty line

Public debt

83% of GDP (2023 est.) note: central government debt as a % of GDP

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

$4.165 trillion (2024 est.) $4.029 trillion (2023 est.) $3.902 trillion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP growth rate

3.4% (2024 est.) 3.2% (2023 est.) 3% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP per capita

$19,600 (2024 est.) $19,100 (2023 est.) $18,600 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars

Remittances

0.2% of GDP (2024 est.) 0.2% of GDP (2023 est.) 0.3% of GDP (2022 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$329.732 billion (2024 est.) $355.021 billion (2023 est.) $324.673 billion (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Taxes and other revenues

14% (of GDP) (2023 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Unemployment rate

7.7% (2024 est.) 8% (2023 est.) 9.3% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total: 18% (2024 est.) male: 15.7% (2024 est.) female: 20.9% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Coal

production: 15.556 million metric tons (2023 est.) consumption: 32.223 million metric tons (2023 est.) exports: 5,000 metric tons (2023 est.) imports: 18.257 million metric tons (2023 est.) proven reserves: 6.596 billion metric tons (2023 est.)

Electricity

installed generating capacity: 240.251 million kW (2023 est.) consumption: 608.451 billion kWh (2023 est.) exports: 7.186 billion kWh (2023 est.) imports: 22.294 billion kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 106.916 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.) electrification - urban areas: 100% electrification - rural areas: 97.3%

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels: 8.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) nuclear: 2.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 6.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) wind: 13.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 60.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) biomass and waste: 8.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

48.889 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Natural gas

production: 22.702 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) consumption: 29.065 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) exports: 101.203 million cubic meters (2023 est.) imports: 6.356 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) proven reserves: 363.985 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Nuclear energy

Number of operational nuclear reactors: 2 (2025) Number of nuclear reactors under construction: 1 (2025) Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors: 1.88GW (2025 est.) Percent of total electricity production: 2.2% (2023 est.)

Petroleum

total petroleum production: 4.221 million bbl/day (2023 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 3.163 million bbl/day (2023 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 12.715 billion barrels (2021 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

437.769 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 53.664 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 331.079 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from consumed natural gas: 53.026 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Climate

mostly tropical, but temperate in south

Environmental issues

deforestation in Amazon Basin; illegal wildlife trade; illegal poaching; air and water pollution in Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, and other large cities; land degradation and water pollution from mining; wetland degradation; oil spills

Geoparks

total global geoparks and regional networks: 6 global geoparks and regional networks: Araripe; Cacapava; Quarta Colonia; Serido; Southern Canyons Pathways; Uberaba (2024)

International environmental agreements

party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping-London Protocol

Land use

agricultural land: 28.3% (2023 est.) arable land: 6.7% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0.9% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 20.7% (2023 est.) forest: 58.9% (2023 est.) other: 12.7% (2023 est.)

Methane emissions

energy: 1,759.1 kt (2022-2024 est.) agriculture: 13,761.9 kt (2019-2021 est.) waste: 3,361.8 kt (2019-2021 est.) other: 382.6 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Particulate matter emissions

10.9 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Total renewable water resources

8.647 trillion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal

municipal: 16.397 billion cubic meters (2022) industrial: 10.2 billion cubic meters (2022) agricultural: 41.336 billion cubic meters (2022)

Urbanization

urban population: 87.8% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.87% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually: 79.07 million tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 2.8% (2022 est.)

Area

total : 8,515,770 sq km land: 8,358,140 sq km water: 157,630 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

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than the US

Climate

mostly tropical, but temperate in south

Coastline

7,491 km

Elevation

highest point: Pico da Neblina 2,994 m lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m mean elevation: 320 m

Geographic coordinates

10 00 S, 55 00 W

Geography - note

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 Igua u Falls (Iguaz Falls), the world's largest waterfalls system, with Argentina note 2: Rocas Atoll, located off the northeast coast of Brazil, is the only atoll in the South Atlantic

Irrigated land

91,833 sq km (2022)

Land boundaries

total: 16,145 km border countries (10): Argentina 1,263 km; Bolivia 3,403 km; Colombia 1,790 km; French Guiana 649 km; Guyana 1,308 km; Paraguay 1,371 km; Peru 2,659 km; Suriname 515 km; Uruguay 1,050 km; Venezuela 2,137 km

Land use

agricultural land: 28.3% (2023 est.) arable land: 6.7% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0.9% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 20.7% (2023 est.) forest: 58.9% (2023 est.) other: 12.7% (2023 est.)

Location

Eastern South America, bordering the Atlantic Ocean

Major aquifers

Amazon Basin, Guarani Aquifer System, Maranhao Basin

Major lakes (area sq km)

fresh water lake(s): Lagoa dos Patos - 10,140 sq km salt water lake(s): Lagoa Mirim (shared with Uruguay) - 2,970 sq km

Major rivers (by length in km)

Amazon river mouth (shared with Peru [s]) - 6,400 km; R o de la Plata/Paran river source (shared with Paraguay, Argentina, and Uruguay [m]) - 4,880 km; Tocantins - 3,650 km; S o Francisco - 3,180 km; Paraguay river source (shared with Argentina and Paraguay [m]) - 2,549 km; Rio Negro river mouth (shared with Colombia [s] and Venezuela) - 2,250 km; Uruguay river source (shared with Argentina and Uruguay [m]) - 1,610 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Major watersheds (area sq km)

Atlantic Ocean drainage: Amazon (6,145,186 sq km), Orinoco (953,675 sq km), Paran (2,582,704 sq km), S o Francisco (617,814 sq km), Tocantins (764,213 sq km)

Map references

South America

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to edge of the continental margin

Natural hazards

recurring droughts in northeast; floods and occasional frost in south

Natural resources

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

Population distribution

the vast majority of people live along or near the Atlantic coast in the east; the population core is in the southeast, anchored by the cities of S o Paolo, Bras lia, and Rio de Janeiro

Terrain

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

Administrative divisions

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, Rond nia, Roraima, Santa Catarina, S o Paulo, Sergipe, Tocantins

Capital

name: Bras lia geographic coordinates: 15 47 S, 47 55 W time difference: UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) time zone note: Brazil has four time zones, including one for the Fernando de Noronha Islands etymology: the name is the Latinized form of the country name, bestowed on the new capital of Brazil in 1960; previous Brazilian capitals were Salvador (1549-1763) and Rio de Janeiro (1763 to 1960)

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: yes citizenship by descent only: yes dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 4 years

Constitution

history: several previous; latest ratified 5 October 1988 amendment 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

Country name

conventional long form: Federative Republic of Brazil conventional short form: Brazil local long form: Rep blica Federativa do Brasil local short form: Brasil etymology: the country name derives from the brazil tree that used to grow plentifully along the coast of Brazil and that was used to produce a deep red dye

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charg d'Affaires Gabriel ESCOBAR (since 21 January 2025) embassy: SES - Avenida das Na es, Quadra 801, Lote 03, 70403-900 - Bras lia, DF mailing address: 7500 Brasilia Place, Washington DC 20521-7500 telephone: [55] (61) 3312-7000 FAX: [55] (61) 3225-9136 email address and website: BrasilliaACS@state.gov https://br.usembassy.gov/ consulate(s) general: Recife, Porto Alegre, Rio de Janeiro, S o Paulo branch office(s): Belo Horizonte

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Maria Luiza Ribeiro VIOTTI (since 30 June 2023) chancery: 3006 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 238-2700 FAX: [1] (202) 238-2827 email address and website: contact.washington@itamaraty.gov.br https://www.gov.br/mre/pt-br/embaixada-washington consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Hartford (CT), Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Orlando, San Francisco

Executive branch

chief of state: President Luiz In cio LULA da Silva (since 1 January 2023) head of government: President Luiz In cio LULA da Silva (since 1 January 2023) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president election/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 2022 election results: 2022: Luiz In cio LULA da Silva elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Luiz In cio 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 In cio 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 2026 note: the president is both chief of state and head of government

Flag

description: green with a large yellow diamond in the center, showing a blue celestial globe with 27 five-pointed white stars; the globe has a white equatorial band with the motto ORDEM E PROGRESSO (Order and Progress) meaning: green stands for the country's forests, and yellow for its mineral wealth, with the diamond representing the country's shape; the blue globe and stars 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 risen with the creation of new states, from 21 to 27 (one for each state and the Federal District) history: the flag was inspired by the former Empire of Brazil's flag (1822-1889) note: one of four national flags that reflect the shape of the country in the flag design; the others are Bosnia and Herzegovina, Eritrea, and Vanuatu

Government type

federal presidential republic

Independence

7 September 1822 (from Portugal)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

AfDB (nonregional member), BIS, BRICS, CAN (associate), CD, CELAC, CPLP, FAO, FATF, G-15, G-20, G-24, G-5, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, 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, MONUSCO, NAM (observer), NSG, OAS, OECD (enhanced engagement), OPANAL, OPCW, Paris Club (associate), PCA, PROSUR, SICA (observer), UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNIFIL, Union Latina, UNISFA, UNITAR, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNOOSA, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

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 75 subordinate courts: Tribunal of the Union, Federal Appeals Court, Superior Court of Justice, Superior Electoral Court, regional federal courts; state court system

Legal system

civil law note: a new civil-law code in 2002 replaced the 1916 code

Legislative branch

legislature name: National Congress (Congresso nacional) legislative structure: bicameral

Legislative branch - lower chamber

chamber name: Chamber of Deputies (Cámara dos Deputados) number of seats: 513 (all directly elected) electoral system: proportional representation scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 4 years most recent election date: 10/2/2022 parties elected and seats per party: Liberal Party (PL) (99); Workers' Party (PT) (69); Brazil Union (União) (59); Progressive Party (PP) (47); Brazilian Democratic Movement (MDB) (42); Social Democratic Party (PSD) (42); Republicans (Republicanos) (40); Other (106) percentage of women in chamber: 18.1% expected date of next election: October 2026

Legislative branch - upper chamber

chamber name: Federal Senate (Senado Federal) number of seats: 81 (all directly elected) electoral system: plurality/majority scope of elections: partial renewal term in office: 8 years most recent election date: 10/2/2022 parties elected and seats per party: Liberal Party (PL) (8); Brazil Union (União) (5); Workers' Party (PT) (4); Progressive Party (PP) (3); Social Democratic Party (PSD) (2); Republicans (Republicanos) (2); Other (3) percentage of women in chamber: 19.8% expected date of next election: October 2026

National anthem(s)

title: "Hino Nacional Brasileiro" (Brazilian National Anthem) lyrics/music: Joaquim Osorio Duque ESTRADA/Francisco Manoel DA SILVA history: music adopted 1890, lyrics adopted 1922; the anthem's music, composed in 1822, was used unofficially for many years

National color(s)

green, yellow, blue

National heritage

total World Heritage Sites: 24 (15 cultural, 9 natural, 1 mixed) selected World Heritage Site locales: Brasilia (c); Historic Salvador de Bahia (c); Historic Ouro Preto (c); Historic Center of the Town of Olinda (c); Igua u National Park (n); Jesuit Missions of the Guaranis (c); Rio de Janeiro: Carioca Landscapes (c); Central Amazon Conservation Complex (n); Atlantic Forest South-East Reserves (n); Historic Center of Salvador de Bahia (c); Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Congonhas (c ); Brasilia (c ); Serra da Capivara National Park (c ); Historic Center of Sao Luis( c); Discovery Coast Atlantic Forest Reserves (n); Historic Center of the Town of Diamantina (c ); Pantanal Conservation Area (n); Brazilian Atlantic Islands: Fernando de Noronha and Atol das Rocas Reserves (n); Cerrado Protected Areas: Chapada dos Veadeiros and Emas National Parks (n); Historic Centre of the Town of Goi s (c); S o Francisco Square in the Town of S o Crist v o (c ); Rio de Janeiro: Carioca Landscapes between the Mountain and the Sea (c ); Pampulha Modern Ensemble (c ); Valongo Wharf Archaeological Site (c ); Paraty and Ilha Grande Culture and Biodiversity (m); S tio Roberto Burle Marx (c ); Len is Maranhenses National Park (n);Perua u River Canyon (n)

National holiday

Independence Day, 7 September (1822)

National symbol(s)

Southern Cross constellation

Political parties

Act (Agir) (formerly Christian Labor Party or PTC) Avante (formerly Labor Party of Brazil or PTdoB) Brazil Union (Uni o Brasil); note - founded from a merger between the Democrats (DEM) and the Social Liberal Party (PSL) Brazilian Communist Party or PCB Brazilian Democratic Movement or MDB Brazilian Labor Party or PTB Brazilian Renewal Labor Party or PRTB Brazilian Labor Party or PTB Brazilian Social Democracy Party or PSDB Brazilian Socialist Party or PSB Christian Democracy or DC (formerly Christian Social Democratic Party) Cidadania (formerly Popular Socialist Party or PPS) Communist Party of Brazil or PCdoB Democratic Labor Party or PDT Democratic Party or PSDC Democrats or DEM (formerly Liberal Front Party or PFL); note - dissolved in February 2022 Green Party or PV Liberal Party or PL [Valdemar Costa Neto] (formerly Party of the Republic or PR) National Mobilization Party or PMN New Party or NOVO Patriota (formerly National Ecologic Party or PEN) Podemos (formerly National Labor Party or PTN) Progressive Party (Progressistas) or PP Republican Social Order Party or PROS Republicans (Republicanos) (formerly Brazilian Republican Party or PRB) Social Christian Party or PSC Social Democratic Party or PSD Social Liberal Party or PSL Socialism and Freedom Party or PSOL Solidarity or SD Sustainability Network or REDE United Socialist Workers' Party or PSTU Workers' Cause Party or PCO Workers' Party or PT

Suffrage

voluntary between 16 to 18 years of age, over 70, and if illiterate; compulsory between 18 to 70 years of age note: military conscripts by law cannot vote

Background

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 Get lio 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 Jo o 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 In cio 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.

Military - note

the Brazilian Armed Forces (BAF) are the second largest military in the Western Hemisphere behind the US; they are responsible for external security and protecting the country's sovereignty but also have an internal security role; the BAF s missions include patrolling and protecting the country s long borders and coastline and extensive territorial waters and river network, assisting with internal security, providing domestic disaster response and humanitarian assistance, and participating in multinational peacekeeping missions; it also cooperates with neighboring countries such as Argentina and Paraguay to combat cross-border smuggling and trafficking Brazil has Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status with the US, a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation the origins of Brazil's military stretch back to the 1640s; Brazil provided a 25,000-man expeditionary force with air and ground units to fight with the Allies in the Mediterranean Theater during World War II; the Navy participated in the Battle of the Atlantic (2025)

Military and security forces

Brazilian Armed Forces (For as Armadas Brasileiras): Brazilian Army (Exercito Brasileiro, EB), Brazilian Navy (Marinha do Brasil; includes Naval Aviation (Aviacao Naval Brasileira) and Marine Corps (Corpo de Fuzileiros Navais)), Brazilian Air Force (Forca Aerea Brasileira) (2025) note: the three national police forces the Federal Police, Federal Highway Police, and Federal Railway Police have domestic security responsibilities and report to the Ministry of Justice and Public Security (Ministry of Justice)

Military and security service personnel strengths

approximately 360,000 active Armed Forces (220,000 Army; 70,000 Navy; 70,000 Air Force) (2025)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the Brazilian military's inventory consists of a mix of domestically produced and imported weapons, largely from Europe and the US; Brazil's defense industry designs and manufactures equipment for all three military services and for export; it also jointly produces equipment with other countries (2025)

Military expenditures

1.1% of GDP (2024 est.) 1.1% of GDP (2023 est.) 1.2% of GDP (2022 est.) 1.3% of GDP (2021 est.) 1.4% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military service age and obligation

18-45 years of age for compulsory military service for men (only 5-10% of those inducted are required to serve); compulsory service obligation is generally 12 months; 17-45 (18 for women) years of age for voluntary service (2025) note: in 2024, women were reported to comprise approximately 10% of the Brazilian military

Age structure

0-14 years: 19.6% (male 22,025,593/female 21,088,398) 15-64 years: 69.5% (male 75,889,089/female 77,118,722) 65 years and over: 10.9% (2024 est.) (male 10,251,809/female 13,677,901)

Alcohol consumption per capita

total: 6.12 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 3.84 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 0.24 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 2 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0.04 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Birth rate

13.04 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

3.5% (2019 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

56.9% (2019 est.)

Death rate

7.07 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 44.3 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 28.1 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 16.2 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 6.2 (2025 est.)

Drinking water source

urban: 99.8% of population (2022 est.) rural: 98% of population (2022 est.) total: 99.6% of population (2022 est.) urban: 0.2% of population (2022 est.) rural: 2% of population (2022 est.) total: 0.4% of population (2022 est.)

Education expenditure

5.6% of GDP (2022 est.) 12.9% national budget (2022 est.)

Ethnic groups

mixed 45.3%, White 43.5%, Black 10.2%, Indigenous 0.6%, Asian 0.4% (2022 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

0.84 (2025 est.)

Health expenditure

9.9% of GDP (2021) 9% of national budget (2022 est.)

Hospital bed density

2.5 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 12.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 14.6 deaths/1,000 live births female: 11.1 deaths/1,000 live births

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 major-language sample(s): O Livro de Fatos Mundiais, a fonte indispens vel para informa o b sica. (Brazilian Portuguese) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 76.3 years (2024 est.) male: 72.6 years female: 80.1 years

Literacy

total population: 94.8% (2024 est.) male: 94.5% (2024 est.) female: 95.1% (2024 est.)

Major urban areas - population

22.620 million S o Paulo, 13.728 million Rio de Janeiro, 6.248 million Belo Horizonte, 4.873 million BRAS LIA (capital), 4.264 million Recife, 4.212 million Porto Alegre (2023)

Maternal mortality ratio

67 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Median age

total: 35.4 years (2025 est.) male: 34 years female: 36.1 years

Nationality

noun: Brazilian(s) adjective: Brazilian

Net migration rate

-0.19 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

22.1% (2016)

Physician density

2.36 physicians/1,000 population (2023)

Population

total: 221,359,387 (2025 est.) male: 108,753,532 female: 112,605,855

Population distribution

the vast majority of people live along or near the Atlantic coast in the east; the population core is in the southeast, anchored by the cities of S o Paolo, Bras lia, and Rio de Janeiro

Population growth rate

0.58% (2025 est.)

Religions

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

Sanitation facility access

urban: 94.7% of population (2022 est.) rural: 65% of population (2022 est.) total: 91% of population (2022 est.) urban: 5.3% of population (2022 est.) rural: 35% of population (2022 est.) total: 9% of population (2022 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 16 years (2022 est.) male: 15 years (2022 est.) female: 17 years (2022 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Tobacco use

total: 11.2% (2025 est.) male: 14.4% (2025 est.) female: 8.3% (2025 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.73 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Urbanization

urban population: 87.8% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.87% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Key space-program milestones

1960s - established a national space program under the Air Force 1984 - began satellite launch vehicle (SLV) program (Ve culo Lan ador de Sat lites or VLS-1) 1985 - first communications satellite jointly produced with Canada and launched on European SLV 1993 - first domestically built experimental communications satellite (Sat lite de Coleta de Dados, SCD-1) launched by US 2004 - launched a sounding rocket into sub-orbital space, but the subsequent catastrophic failure of a VLS-1 during a test launch led to scaling back the program 2006 - first Brazilian astronaut to the International Space Station on a Russian rocket 2008 - began work on a 3-stage microsatellite launch vehicle (Ve culo Lan ador de Microssat lite or VLM-1) in partnership with Germany 2021 - first independently produced remote sensing (RS) satellite (Amazonia-1) launched by India; signed US-led Artemis Accords on space exploration cooperation and signed cooperation agreements with the space agencies of China, India, Russia, and South Africa for the joint development of an RS satellite constellation 2022 - successfully launched suborbital rocket more than 225 km (140 miles) in height

Space agency/agencies

Brazilian Space Agency (Ag ncia Espacial Brasileira, AEB; established in 1994 when Brazil s space program was transferred from the military to civilian control); National Institute for Space Research (INPE, under the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovations); Department of Aerospace Science and Technology (DCTA, under the Aeronautics Command (COMAER) of the Ministry of Defense) (2025)

Space launch site(s)

Alcantara Launch Center (Maranh o state); Barreira do Inferno Launch Center (Rio Grande do Norte state) (2025)

Space program overview

develops, builds, operates, and tracks satellites, including communications, remote sensing (RS), multi-mission, navigational, and scientific/testing/research; satellites are launched by foreign partners, but Brazil has a long-standing sounding (research) rocket and satellite launch vehicle (SLV) program and rocket launch facilities; cooperates with a variety of foreign space agencies and commercial entities, including those of Argentina, Canada, the ESA, individual ESA member states (particularly France and Germany), India, Japan, Russia, South Africa, South Korea, Ukraine, and the US; has a state-controlled communications company that operates Brazil s communications satellites and a growing commercial space sector (2025)

Terrorist group(s)

Hizballah; Tren de Aragua (TdA) note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide

Illicit drugs

USG identification: major precursor-chemical producer (2025)

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees: 331,097 (2024 est.) IDPs: 19,043 (2024 est.) stateless persons: 27 (2024 est.)

Trafficking in persons

tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List Brazil did not demonstrate overall increasing efforts to eliminate trafficking compared with the previous reporting period and was downgraded to Tier 2 Watch List; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/brazil/

Airports

5,297 (2025)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

PP

Heliports

1,871 (2025)

Merchant marine

total: 888 (2023) by type: bulk carrier 13, container ship 20, general cargo 38, oil tanker 27, other 790

Ports

total ports: 45 (2024) large: 4 medium: 7 small: 19 very small: 15 ports with oil terminals: 31 key ports: Belem, DTSE/Gegua Oil Terminal, Itajai, Port de Salvador, Porto Alegre, Recife, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande, Santos, Tubarao, Vitoria

Railways

total: 29,849.9 km (2014) standard gauge: 194 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge narrow gauge: 23,341.6 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge (24 km electrified) broad gauge: 5,822.3 km (2014) 1.600-m gauge (498.3 km electrified) dual gauge: 492 km (2014) 1.600-1.000-m gauge