With an area of approximately 8.5 million square kilometers, Brazil is the fifth largest country in the world by area, and with more than 200 million inhabitants it is the seventh most populous nation. Brazil’s largest cities are São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and the capital Brasília, although much of Brazil's international reputation is attached to its nature, particularly the Amazon rainforest. With its growing economy, membership of the BRICS bloc, and prominent role in the fight against climate change, recent decades have seen Brazil gradually transition from a regional to a global power.
Demographics
Brazil is highly urbanized despite its large size and it has the second highest urbanization rate of any country with over 100 million inhabitants (after Japan). The majority of the population live along coastal regions, especially to the east and south. Brazil's fertility rate has been below replacement level since the early 2000s, however its birth rate is still well above its death rate, suggesting continued population growth in the coming years. Historically, Brazil's net migration rate was negative, meaning the number of emigrants leaving was higher than the number of immigrants arriving. However, the 2010s marked a decade of consistently positive net migration, a large part of which was due to the influx of Venezuelan refugees who now make up the largest migrant group.
Economy
Brazil is also among the leading emerging countries, the so-called BRICS states (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa). Its gross domestic product (GDP) amounted to over 2.1 trillion U.S. dollars in 2023, making it one of the largest economies in the world. After several years of high growth rates, economic growth in Brazil stagnated in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but recovered with five percent growth in 2021. Brazil's exports (primarily commodities such as iron ore, petroleum, and agricultural goods) are worth over 330 billion U.S. dollars in 2022, and imported goods are valued at over 290 billion U.S. dollars, making it a net exporter of goods.
Brazil's GDP per capita peaked in 2011, before falling significantly during the economic difficulties that followed the 2014 economic crisis, as well as during the pandemic - while the figure is expected to grow throughout the remainder of the 2020s, projections until 2028 still do not exceed 2011 levels. Brazil’s unemployment rate has also spiked throughout this period, although post-pandemic projections do show a decline. Similar trends in Brazil's inflation rate can also be observed over the past decade, with annual increases as high as nine percent in 2015 and 2022, although these are projected to fall to around three percent over the coming years.
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FAQs
Brazil is the largest country in South America and the fifth largest nation in the world. It forms an enormous triangle on the eastern side of the continent with a 4,500-mile (7,400-kilometer) coastline along the Atlantic Ocean. It has borders with every South American country except Chile and Ecuador.
What are 5 facts about Brazil? ›
We have put together our top 27 facts about captivating Brazil.
- Around 60% of the Amazon rainforest is in Brazil.
- There more than 400 airports in Brazil.
- The Brazilian football team have won the world cup a record 5 times.
- Brazil has one of the largest economies in the world.
Brazil contains most of the Amazon River basin, which has the world's largest river system and the world's most-extensive virgin rainforest. The country contains no desert, high-mountain, or arctic environments. Brazil is the fifth most-populous country on Earth and accounts for one-third of Latin America's population.
What is the biggest issues in Brazil? ›
- Poverty and income concentration.
- Crime in Brazil.
- Education.
- Infant mortality.
- Housing.
- Sanitation.
- Health.
- Environmental problems.
Brazil's primary export products to the United States are crude oil, aircraft, iron and steel, coffee, and wood pulp. U.S. exports to Brazil support nearly 130,000 U.S. jobs and U.S. private sector data shows that Brazilian exports to the U.S. support more than 500,000 jobs in Brazil.
What is Brazil special for? ›
Famous for its rainforests, beaches, and lively city life in Rio De Janeiro and Brasilia, Brazilian society includes people of indigenous, Portuguese, European, and African ancestries.
What is Brazil's main culture? ›
Cultural life. The cultures of the indigenous Indians, Africans, and Portuguese have together formed the modern Brazilian way of life. The Portuguese culture is by far the dominant of these influences; from it Brazilians acquired their language, their main religion, and most of their customs.
Why is Brazil so big? ›
Brazil's territorial dimension as a nation was achieved before the independence by the Portuguese-Brazilian monarchy (House of Bragança) in 1822, with later some territorial expansion and disputes with neighboring Spanish ex-colonies, making Brazil the largest contiguous territory in the Americas today.
Why is it called Brazil? ›
In 1627, Friar Vicente de Salvador, who was one of the first to reflect upon the subject, regretted that the land, which had originally been named after the "divine wood of the cross", "Santa Cruz", had its name later replaced by "Brasil, just because of a wood thus called, a wood of a brazen red hue used to dye fabric ...
What's special in Brazil? ›
These include spectacular architecture, rich culture, and historical artefacts. In addition, the country has plenty of beautiful sea beaches, diverse landscapes, football, and many natural and man-made landmarks. If you desire to visit this wonderful country, take a look at some of its famous attractions.
Brazil is the most successful country in volleyball. The Brazil men's national volleyball team is currently the champion in 3 competitions, the Volleyball World Cup, the Volleyball World Championship and the Olympic Volleyball Tournament, and is ranked number 1 in the FIVB World Rankings.
What is Brazil's religion? ›
Catholicism. Brazil has the largest number of Catholics in the world. Catholicism has been Brazil's main religion since the beginning of the 16th century. It was introduced among the Native Brazilians by Jesuits missionaries and also observed by all the Portuguese first settlers.
Is Brazil rich or poor? ›
The Brazilian economy is the second largest in the Americas. It is an upper-middle income developing mixed economy. In 2024, according to International Monetary Fund (IMF), Brazil has the 8th largest gross domestic product (GDP) in the world and has the 8th largest purchasing power parity in the world.
How is crime in Brazil? ›
RIO DE JANEIRO — There is a paradoxical reality in Brazil today: While murders have fallen to record lows, Brazilians are deeply concerned about criminal violence. There were 39,500 intentional homicides reported in 2023, a 4% drop from 2022, when there were 41,100.
What are fun facts about Brazil? ›
Brazil has won the FIFA World Cup finals five times, more than any other nation. Brazil is also home to the world's largest carnival – Rio Carnival! Each year, in the days leading up to Lent, around 2 million people take to the streets of Rio de Janeiro to enjoy music, dancing, elaborate costumes and parades.
What words describe Brazil? ›
White sandy beaches, tanned skin, vibrant music and joyful people. If asked to describe Brazil in a few words, most people would most likely mention those four things, but there is much more when it comes to this diverse and amazing country.
What is written on Brazil? ›
The words on the Brazilian flag are "Ordem e Progresso", meaning "Order and Progress" in Portuguese.
