Brazil Facts

by countryaah · Published June 3, 2019 · Updated April 25, 2020

Brazil, State of South America; 8.6 million km², 209.5 million residents (2019).Brazil covers almost half of South America’s surface. The capital is Brazil (3 million residents, 2016).

Country facts

Republic of Brazil / Federal Republic of Brazil
Country abbreviation: BR
Area: 8.6 million km²
Population (2019): 209.5 million residents
Capital: Brazil
Main languages: Portuguese
State: Republic
Head of State and Head of Government: Jair Bolsonaro
Per capita GDP (2018): US $ 8,921
GNI per capita (2018): US $ 9,140
Currency unit: 1 real = 100 centavos
Currency code: BRL
Country number (telephony): 55
Internet domain name: br
Time difference compared to Sweden: −4 to −6
National Day: September 7 (Independence Day, 1822)

Nature

Land use: forest (58%), agricultural land (6%), other (36%)
Highest mountain: Neblina (3,001 m above sea level)
Longest river: Amazon River (7,025 km)

Population

Population density (2019): 24 residents per km²
Natural population growth (2019): 0.8%; birthrate 14 ‰, deathrate 6 ‰
Age structure (2019): 0-14 years (22%), 15-64 (68%), 65- (10%)
Life expectancy (2019): men 72 years, women 79 years
Infant mortality (2019): 10 per 1,000 live births
Population forecast 2050: 233 million residents
HDI (2017): 0.759 (place 79 of 189)
Urbanization rate (2019): 86%
Most populous cities (2016): São Paulo (12 million residents), Rio de Janeiro (6.5 million), Salvador (2.9 million)

Business

Industry’s contribution to GDP (2017): agriculture (7%), industry (21%), service (72%)
Exports (2017): US $ 217,200 million
Main export products: vehicles, iron ore, soybeans
Main exporting countries: China, USA, Argentina
Imports (2017): US $ 153,200 million
Main import products: machinery, vehicles, chemicals
Main trading partners: China, USA, Argentina
Railway network (2014): 29,850 km

The main parts of Brazil are the Amazon basin and the Brazilian highlands. The Amazon region is the country’s largest contiguous lowland and is covered by a tropical rainforest. The Brazilian highlands are a high plateau sloping to the west, covered by savannas and steppes. The country has no major lakes, but in addition to the Amazon River and the Paraguay and Paraná rivers, the coastal mountains to the Atlantic are flooded by several rivers.

The executive power is represented by the president, who is both head of state and government. He is elected for a four-year term in general elections and can, according to a constitutional amendment in 1997, be re-elected once. The country became independent in 1822.

Brazil has the largest economy in South America and is its most important industrial nation. Industrial products include machines, vehicles, refined wood products and chemicals, but also advanced industrial production with cutting-edge technology in certain areas. The economy has previously been unstable, but in the 1990s financial and monetary stability was achieved, which has since been maintained. Brazil is also one of the world’s largest agricultural nations, and the country grows and exports more coffee and sugar than any other country. The country has also developed strongly in the tourism industry.