Communications
Broadband - fixed subscriptions [time series]
total: 36,344,670 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 17 (2020 est.)
Broadcast media [time series]
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 [time series]
.br
Internet users [time series]
total: 170.1 million (2021 est.) percent of population: 81% (2021 est.)
Telecommunication systems [time series]
general assessment: Brazil is one of the largest mobile and broadband markets in Latin America with healthy competition and pricing; 5G services was provided to all capital cities in July 2022, as well as about 35,500km of the national highway network; the country also has one of the largest fixed line broadband markets in Latin America, though broadband subscriptions is only slightly above the regional average, trailing behind Chile, Argentina, and Uruguay; amendments to the licensing regime adopted in October 2019 also require that ISPs which have switched to authorizations invest money saved from lighter regulations in the expansion of broadband services; the fixed line broadband market has seen rapid growth for a number of years, with a growing focus on fiber broadband; in 2019 the number of fiber accesses overtook DSL connections; the country is a key landing point for a number of important submarine cables connecting to the US, Central and South America, the Caribbean, Europe, and Africa; several new cable systems are due to come into service through to 2022, which will increase bandwidth and push down broadband prices for end-users; investments have also been made into terrestrial fiber cables between Brazil, Argentina, and Chile (2022) domestic: fixed-line connections stand at roughly 13 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity roughly 102 per 100 persons (2021) international: country code - 55; landing points for a number of submarine cables, including Malbec, ARBR, Tamnat, SAC, SAm-1, Atlantis -2, Seabras-1, Monet, EllaLink, BRUSA, GlobeNet, AMX-1, Brazilian Festoon, Bicentenario, Unisur, Junior, Americas -II, SAE x1, SAIL, SACS and SABR 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; satellites is a major communication platform, as it is almost impossible to lay fiber optic cable in the thick vegetation (2019)
Telephones - fixed lines [time series]
total subscriptions: 28,883,475 (2021 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 13 (2021 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]
total subscriptions: 219,660,524 (2021 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 102 (2021 est.)
Economy
Agricultural products [time series]
sugar cane, soybeans, maize, milk, cassava, oranges, poultry, rice, beef, cotton
Average household expenditures [time series]
on food: 15.7% of household expenditures (2018 est.) on alcohol and tobacco: 1.5% of household expenditures (2018 est.)
Budget [time series]
revenues: $424.196 billion (2020 est.) expenditures: $617.332 billion (2020 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) [time series]
-1.1% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Credit ratings [time series]
Fitch rating: BB (2023) Moody's rating: Ba2 (2016) Standard & Poors rating: BB- (2018) note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.
Current account balance [time series]
-$27.925 billion (2021 est.) -$24.492 billion (2020 est.) -$65.03 billion (2019 est.)
Debt - external [time series]
$681.336 billion (2019 est.) $660.693 billion (2018 est.)
Economic overview [time series]
industrial-led economic growth model; recovering from 2014-2016 recession when COVID-19 hit; industry limited by Amazon rainforest but increasing deforestation; new macroeconomic structural reforms; high income inequality; left UNASUR to join PROSUR
Exchange rates [time series]
reals (BRL) per US dollar - 5.394 (2021 est.) 5.155 (2020 est.) 3.944 (2019 est.) 3.654 (2018 est.) 3.191 (2017 est.)
Exports [time series]
$317.175 billion (2021 est.) $239.283 billion (2020 est.) $260.075 billion (2019 est.) note: Data are in current year dollars and do not include illicit exports or re-exports.
Exports - commodities [time series]
iron, soybeans, crude petroleum, sugar, poultry meats (2021)
Exports - partners [time series]
China 28%, United States 13% (2019)
Fiscal year [time series]
calendar year
GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]
$1,877,942,000,000 (2019 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use [time series]
household consumption: 63.4% (2017 est.) government consumption: 20% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 15.6% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: -0.1% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 12.6% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -11.6% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin [time series]
agriculture: 6.6% (2017 est.) industry: 20.7% (2017 est.) services: 72.7% (2017 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income [time series]
48.9 (2020 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]
lowest 10%: 0.8% highest 10%: 43.4% (2016 est.)
Imports [time series]
$297.924 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $227.854 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $269.017 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
Imports - commodities [time series]
refined petroleum, vehicle parts, crude petroleum, integrated circuits, pesticides (2019)
Imports - partners [time series]
China 21%, United States 18%, Germany 6%, Argentina 6% (2019)
Industrial production growth rate [time series]
4.48% (2021 est.)
Industries [time series]
textiles, shoes, chemicals, cement, lumber, iron ore, tin, steel, aircraft, motor vehicles and parts, other machinery and equipment
Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]
8.3% (2021 est.) 3.21% (2020 est.) 3.73% (2019 est.)
Labor force [time series]
99.47 million (2021 est.)
Population below poverty line [time series]
4.2% (2016 est.) note: approximately 4% of the population are below the "extreme" poverty line
Public debt [time series]
100.59% of GDP (2020 est.) 92.57% of GDP (2019 est.) 86.61% of GDP (2018 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) [time series]
$3.128 trillion (2021 est.) $2.989 trillion (2020 est.) $3.11 trillion (2019 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars
Real GDP growth rate [time series]
4.62% (2021 est.) -3.88% (2020 est.) 1.22% (2019 est.)
Real GDP per capita [time series]
$14,600 (2021 est.) $14,000 (2020 est.) $14,700 (2019 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]
$362.21 billion (31 December 2021 est.) $355.614 billion (31 December 2020 est.) $356.886 billion (31 December 2019 est.)
Taxes and other revenues [time series]
12.96% (of GDP) (2020 est.)
Unemployment rate [time series]
14.4% (2021 est.) 13.69% (2020 est.) 11.93% (2019 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) [time series]
total: 31.9% (2021 est.) male: 27% female: 38.2%
Energy
Carbon dioxide emissions [time series]
456.67 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 63.53 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 328.824 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from consumed natural gas: 64.316 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
production: 13.993 million metric tons (2020 est.) consumption: 31.841 million metric tons (2020 est.) exports: 16,000 metric tons (2020 est.) imports: 19.217 million metric tons (2020 est.) proven reserves: 6.596 billion metric tons (2019 est.)
Electricity [time series]
installed generating capacity: 195.037 million kW (2020 est.) consumption: 540,997,340,000 kWh (2020 est.) exports: 395 million kWh (2020 est.) imports: 25.113 billion kWh (2020 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 105.727 billion kWh (2020 est.)
Electricity access [time series]
electrification - total population: 99.4% (2021) electrification - urban areas: 99.7% (2021) electrification - rural areas: 97.3% (2021)
Electricity generation sources [time series]
fossil fuels: 11.8% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) nuclear: 2.3% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) solar: 1.7% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) wind: 9.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) hydroelectricity: 65.8% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) biomass and waste: 9.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Energy consumption per capita [time series]
59.444 million Btu/person (2019 est.)
Natural gas [time series]
production: 25,395,979,000 cubic meters (2019 est.) consumption: 35,253,198,000 cubic meters (2019 est.) exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) imports: 9,724,017,000 cubic meters (2019 est.) proven reserves: 363.984 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Nuclear energy [time series]
Number of operational nuclear reactors: 2 (2023) Number of nuclear reactors under construction: 1 Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors: 1.88GW (2023) Percent of total electricity production: 2.5% (2021) Percent of total energy produced: 1% (2021) Number of nuclear reactors permanently shut down: 0
Petroleum [time series]
total petroleum production: 3,629,100 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 3,142,300 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 1,123,300 bbl/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 186,200 bbl/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 12,714,600,000 barrels (2021 est.)
Refined petroleum products - exports [time series]
279,000 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - imports [time series]
490,400 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - production [time series]
2.811 million bbl/day (2015 est.)
Environment
Air pollutants [time series]
particulate matter emissions: 10.94 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 462.3 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 401.83 megatons (2020 est.)
Climate [time series]
mostly tropical, but temperate in south
Environment - current issues [time series]
deforestation in Amazon Basin destroys the habitat and endangers a multitude of plant and animal species indigenous to the area; illegal wildlife trade; illegal poaching; 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
International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]
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 [time series]
agricultural land: 32.9% (2018 est.) arable land: 8.6% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.8% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 23.5% (2018 est.) forest: 61.9% (2018 est.) other: 5.2% (2018 est.)
Major aquifers [time series]
Amazon Basin, Guarani Aquifer System, Maranhao Basin
Major lakes (area sq km) [time series]
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) [time series]
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) [time series]
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)
Revenue from coal [time series]
0.01% of GDP (2018 est.)
Revenue from forest resources [time series]
0.62% of GDP (2018 est.)
Total renewable water resources [time series]
8.65 trillion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Total water withdrawal [time series]
municipal: 16.13 billion cubic meters (2020 est.) industrial: 9.51 billion cubic meters (2020 est.) agricultural: 41.42 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Urbanization [time series]
urban population: 87.8% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.87% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Waste and recycling [time series]
municipal solid waste generated annually: 79,889,010 tons (2015 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 1,118,446 tons (2014 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 1.4% (2014 est.)
Geography
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 [time series]
slightly smaller than the US
Climate [time series]
mostly tropical, but temperate in south
Coastline [time series]
7,491 km
Elevation [time series]
highest point: Pico da Neblina 2,994 m lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m mean elevation: 320 m
Geographic coordinates [time series]
10 00 S, 55 00 W
Geography - note [time series]
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: cassava (manioc) the sixth most important food crop in the world - after maize, rice, wheat, potatoes, and soybeans - seems to have originated in the west-central part of Brazil; pineapples are probably indigenous to the southern Brazil-Paraguay region note 3: Rocas Atoll, located off the northeast coast of Brazil, is the only atoll in the South Atlantic
Irrigated land [time series]
69,029 sq km (2017)
Land boundaries [time series]
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 [time series]
agricultural land: 32.9% (2018 est.) arable land: 8.6% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.8% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 23.5% (2018 est.) forest: 61.9% (2018 est.) other: 5.2% (2018 est.)
Location [time series]
Eastern South America, bordering the Atlantic Ocean
Major aquifers [time series]
Amazon Basin, Guarani Aquifer System, Maranhao Basin
Major lakes (area sq km) [time series]
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) [time series]
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) [time series]
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 [time series]
South America
Maritime claims [time series]
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 [time series]
recurring droughts in northeast; floods and occasional frost in south
Natural resources [time series]
alumina, bauxite, beryllium, gold, iron ore, manganese, nickel, niobium, phosphates, platinum, tantalum, tin, rare earth elements, uranium, petroleum, hydropower, timber
Population distribution [time series]
the vast majority of people live along, or relatively 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 [time series]
mostly flat to rolling lowlands in north; some plains, hills, mountains, and narrow coastal belt
Government
Administrative divisions [time series]
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
Capital [time series]
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: name bestowed on the new capital of Brazil upon its inauguration in 1960; previous Brazilian capitals had been Salvador from 1549 to 1763 and Rio de Janeiro from 1763 to 1960
Citizenship [time series]
citizenship by birth: yes citizenship by descent only: yes dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 4 years
Constitution [time series]
history: several previous; latest ratified 5 October 1988 amendments: 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; amended many times, last in 2022
Country name [time series]
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 brazilwood 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 [time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador Elizabeth Frawley BAGLEY (since 5 February 2023) embassy: SES - Avenida das Na es, Quadra 801, Lote 3, 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 [time series]
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: ambassador.dc@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, San Francisco, Washington, DC
Executive branch [time series]
chief of state: President Luiz In cio LULA da Silva (since 1 January 2023); Vice President Geraldo Jos Rodrigues ALCKMIN Filho (since 1 January 2023); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Luiz In cio LULA da Silva (since 1 January 2023); Vice President Geraldo Jos Rodrigues ALCKMIN Filho (since 1 January 2023) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president elections/appointments: 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); election last held on 2 October 2022 with runoff on 30 October 2022 (next to be held on 4 October 2026) 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%
Flag (Flag description) [time series]
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) note: one of several flags where a prominent component of the design reflects the shape of the country; other such flags are those of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Eritrea, and Vanuatu
Government type [time series]
federal presidential republic
Independence [time series]
7 September 1822 (from Portugal)
International law organization participation [time series]
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
International organization participation [time series]
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 [time series]
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 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 [time series]
civil law; note - a new civil law code was enacted in 2002 replacing the 1916 code
Legislative branch [time series]
description: bicameral National Congress or Congresso Nacional consists of: Federal Senate or Senado Federal (81 seats; 3 members each from 26 states and 3 from the federal district directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 8-year terms, with one-third and two-thirds of the membership elected alternately every 4 years) Chamber of Deputies or Camara dos Deputados (513 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by open party-list proportional representation vote to serve 4-year terms) elections: Federal Senate - last held on 2 October 2022 for one-third of the Senate (next to be held on 4 October 2026 for two-thirds of the seats) Chamber of Deputies - last held on 2 October 2022 (next to be held on 4 October 2026) election results: Federal Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PL 13, Brazil Union 12, MBD 10, PSD 10, PT 9, Progressistas 7, Podemos 6, PSDB 4, Republicans 3, PDT 2, Cidadania 1, PSB 1, PSC 1, PROS 1, REDE 1; composition - men 66, women 15, percent of women 18.5% Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PL 99, PT 67, Brazil Union 59, PP 47, MDB 42, PSD 42, Republicans 41, PDT 17, PSB 14, PSDB 13, Podemos 12, PSOL 12, Avante 7, PCdoB 6, PSC 6, PV 6, Cidadania 5, Patriota 4, PROS 4, SD 4, NOVO 3, REDE 2, PTB 1; composition - men 423, women 90, percent of women 17.5%; note - total National Congress percent of women 17.7%
National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]
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
National heritage [time series]
total World Heritage Sites: 23 (15 cultural, 7 natural, 1 mixed) selected World Heritage Site locales: Brasilia (c); Historic Salvador de Bahia (c); Historic Ouro Preto (c); Historic 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); Paraty and Ilha Grande Culture and Biodiversity (m)
National holiday [time series]
Independence Day, 7 September (1822)
National symbol(s) [time series]
Southern Cross constellation; national colors: green, yellow, blue
Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]
Act (Agir) [Daniel TOURINHO] (formerly Christian Labor Party or PTC) Avante [Luis Henrique de Oliveira RESENDE] (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 [Astrogildo PEREIRA] Brazilian Democratic Movement or MDB [Luiz Felipe Baleia TENUTO Rossi] Brazilian Labor Party or PTB [Kassyo Santos RAMOS] Brazilian Renewal Labor Party or PRTB [J lio Cezar FIDELIX da Cruz] Brazilian Labor Party or PTB Brazilian Social Democracy Party or PSDB [Bruno Cavalcanti de ARA JO] Brazilian Socialist Party or PSB [Carlos Roberto SIQUEIRA de Barros] Christian Democracy or DC [Jos Maria EYMAEL] (formerly Christian Social Cidadania [Roberto Jo o Pereira FREIRE] (formerly Popular Socialist Party or PPS) Communist Party of Brazil or PCdoB [Luciana SANTOS] Democratic Labor Party or PDT [Ciro FERREIRA Gomes] Democratic Party or PSDC Democrats or DEM [Jose AGRIPINO] (formerly Liberal Front Party or PFL); note - dissolved in February 2022 Green Party or PV [Jos Luiz PENNA] Liberal Party or PL [Valdemar Costa Neto] (formerly Party of the Republic or PR) National Mobilization Party or PMN [Antonio Carlos Bosco MASSAROLLO] New Party or NOVO [Eduardo RIBEIRO] Patriota [Ovasco RESENDE] (formerly National Ecologic Party or PEN) Podemos [Renata ABREU] (formerly National Labor Party or PTN) Progressive Party (Progressistas) or PP [Ciro NOGUEIRA Lima Filho] Republican Social Order Party or PROS [Euripedes JUNIOR] Republicans (Republicanos) [Marcos Ant nio PEREIRA] (formerly Brazilian Republican Party or PRB) Social Christian Party or PSC [Everaldo Dias PEREIRA] Social Democratic Party or PSD [Alfredo COATIT Neto] Social Liberal Party or PSL [Luciano Caldas BIVAR] Socialism and Freedom Party or PSOL [Juliano MEDEIROS] Solidarity or SD [Paulinho DA FOR A] Sustainability Network or REDE [Marina SILVA] United Socialist Workers' Party or PSTU [Jos Maria DE ALMEIDA] Workers' Cause Party or PCO [Rui Costa PIMENTA] Workers' Party or PT [Gleisi Helena HOFFMANN]
Suffrage [time series]
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
Introduction
Background [time series]
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 Get lio VARGAS rose to power in 1930. VARGAS governed over various versions of democratic and authoritarian regimes from 1930 to 1945. Democratic rule returned (including a democratically elected VARGAS administration from 1951 to 1955) 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 1989. 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, under President Luiz In cio LULA da Silva (2003-2010) 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 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. Former President Dilma ROUSSEFF (2011-2016) was removed from office in 2016 by Congress 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 early 2021. LULA's revival became complete in October 2022 when he narrowly defeated incumbent Jair BOLSONARO (2019-2022) in the presidential election.
Military and Security
Military - note [time series]
the Brazilian Armed Forces (BAF) are the second largest military in the Western Hemisphere behind the US; while they are responsible for external security and protecting the country s sovereignty, Brazil does not have any territorial disputes with its neighbors or regional rivalries; 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 the Army has a considerable internal security role; in the past decade, it has mobilized thousands of troops to conduct counternarcotics operations, support the police in combating crime, assist with disease outbreaks and humanitarian missions, and provide security for major events such as the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympics; it has also cooperated with neighboring countries such as Argentina and Paraguay on border security to combat smuggling and trafficking; the Army is organized into regional commands, military regions, and geographically based divisions covering the entirety of the country; it has approximately 30 combat brigades which include light, mechanized, or motorized infantry, light armored/cavalry, special operations, artillery, and helicopter forces; many of the light infantry brigades are specialized for air mobile, airborne, jungle, mountain, or urban warfare operations; the Army has established a battalion-sized (1,000 troops) expeditionary force for foreign international missions that it plans to increase to a 3,000-strong brigade by 2030 the Navy conducts coastal, regional, and riverine operations and has a wide variety of missions ranging from sea patrolling and power projection to countering piracy, illegal fishing, narcotics trafficking, and organized crime; it is organized into 9 districts covering the entirety of the country; the Navy s principal warships include approximately 14 frigates, corvettes, and offshore patrol ships, 7 attack submarines, and a multi-purpose helicopter landing platform (LPH) amphibious assault ship that serves as the fleet s flagship; it also has a considerable coastal and riverine patrol vessel fleet, an aviation wing with about 50 combat aircraft and helicopters, and a marine amphibious force the Air Force has over 100 fighter and ground attack aircraft, as well as dozens of support aircraft and helicopters for missions such as patrolling, reconnaissance, transport, logistics, special missions, and training 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); there are two distinct units within the state police forces: the civil police, which performs an investigative role, and the military police, charged with maintaining law and order in the states and the Federal District; despite the name, military police forces report to the Ministry of Justice, not the Ministry of Defense; the National Public Security Force (Forca Nacional de Seguranca Publica or SENASP) is a national police force made up of Military Police from various states; the armed forces also have some domestic security responsibilities and report to the Ministry of Defense 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 (2023)
Military and security forces [time series]
Brazilian Armed Forces (For as Armadas Brasileiras): Brazilian Army (Exercito Brasileiro, EB), Brazilian Navy (Marinha do Brasil, MB, includes Naval Aviation (Aviacao Naval Brasileira) and Marine Corps (Corpo de Fuzileiros Navais)), Brazilian Air Force (Forca Aerea Brasileira, FAB) (2023) note: Brazil's Federal Police are under the Minister of Justice and Public Security
Military and security service personnel strengths [time series]
approximately 360,000 active military personnel (220,000 Army; 70,000 Navy; 70,000 Air Force); approximately 400,000 paramilitary security forces (2023)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions [time series]
the Brazilian military's inventory consists of a mix of domestically produced and imported weapons, largely from Europe and the US; in recent years, the US and several European countries have been the leading suppliers of military equipment to Brazil; Brazil's defense industry designs and manufactures equipment for all three military services and for export; it also jointly produces equipment with other countries (2023)
Military expenditures [time series]
1.2% of GDP (2022 est.) 1.3% of GDP (2021 est.) 1.4% of GDP (2020 est.) 1.4% of GDP (2019 est.) 1.5% of GDP (2018 est.)
Military service age and obligation [time series]
18-45 years of age for compulsory military service for men (women exempted); only 5-10% of those inducted are required to serve; conscript service obligation is 10-12 months; 17-45 years of age for voluntary service (2023) note: in 2022, women comprised approximately 9% of the Brazilian military
People and Society
Age structure [time series]
0-14 years: 19.77% (male 22,084,172/female 21,148,290) 15-64 years: 69.72% (male 75,612,047/female 76,853,504) 65 years and over: 10.51% (2023 est.) (male 9,848,975/female 13,142,769)
Alcohol consumption per capita [time series]
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 [time series]
13.4 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight [time series]
NA
Contraceptive prevalence rate [time series]
80.5% (2019)
Current health expenditure [time series]
10.3% of GDP (2020)
Currently married women (ages 15-49) [time series]
55.9% (2023 est.)
Death rate [time series]
6.9 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)
Demographic profile [time series]
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. As of 2023, Brazil s total fertility rate the average number of children born per woman was 1.75, below the 2.1 replacement rate needed to prevent a population decrease. The 2022 national census showed that population growth had slowed more than expected. Factors behind the decrease include fewer births as couples marry later and more women work, an increase in the mortality rate as the population ages, the Zika epidemic, the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as economic troubles and the emigration of young people. The current window of opportunity to benefit from a demographic bonus when the working-age population exceeds the number of children and the elderly combined is expected to close around 2035, ten years earlier than expected. Well-funded public pensions have nearly wiped out poverty among the elderly, and Bolsa Familia and other social programs have lifted tens of millions out of poverty. More than half of Brazil s population is considered middle class, but poverty and income inequality levels remain high; the Northeast, North, and Center-West, women, and black, mixed race, and indigenous populations are disproportionately affected. Disparities in opportunities foster social exclusion and contribute to Brazil s high crime rate, particularly violent crime in cities and favelas. Brazil has traditionally been a net recipient of immigrants, with its southeast being the prime destination. After abolishing slavery in 1888, the last country in the Americas to do so, Brazil sought Europeans (Italians, Portuguese, Spaniards, and Germans) and later Asians (Japanese) to work in agriculture, especially coffee cultivation. Lebanese and Syrian immigrants arrived at the end of the 19 th century and focused on trade and later commerce. Between 2011 and 2020, the largest immigrant groups came from Venezuela, Haiti, Bolivia, Colombia, and the US. Since Brazil s economic downturn in the 1980s, emigration to the United States, Paraguay, Europe, and Japan has been rising but is negligible relative to Brazil s total population. The majority of these emigrants are well-educated and middle-class. Fewer Brazilian peasants are emigrating to neighboring countries to take up agricultural work.
Dependency ratios [time series]
total dependency ratio: 43.1 youth dependency ratio: 29.4 elderly dependency ratio: 13.7 potential support ratio: 7.3 (2021 est.)
Drinking water source [time series]
improved: urban: 99.8% of population rural: 96.9% of population total: 99.4% of population unimproved: urban: 0.2% of population rural: 3.1% of population total: 0.6% of population (2020 est.)
Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]
6% of GDP (2019 est.)
Ethnic groups [time series]
White 47.7%, mixed 43.1%, Black 7.6%, Asian 1.1%, Indigenous 0.4% (2010 est.)
Gross reproduction rate [time series]
0.85 (2023 est.)
Hospital bed density [time series]
2.1 beds/1,000 population (2017)
Infant mortality rate [time series]
total: 13.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2023 est.) male: 14.7 deaths/1,000 live births female: 11.5 deaths/1,000 live births
Languages [time series]
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 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 [time series]
total population: 76.1 years (2023 est.) male: 72.6 years female: 79.8 years
Literacy [time series]
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 94.3% male: 94.1% female: 94.5% (2021)
Major infectious diseases [time series]
degree of risk: very high (2023) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea and hepatitis A vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria water contact diseases: schistosomiasis
Major urban areas - population [time series]
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 [time series]
72 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)
Median age [time series]
total: 34.7 years (2023 est.) male: 33.6 years female: 35.7 years
Nationality [time series]
noun: Brazilian(s) adjective: Brazilian
Net migration rate [time series]
-0.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate [time series]
22.1% (2016)
Physician density (Physicians density) [time series]
2.31 physicians/1,000 population (2019)
Population [time series]
218,689,757 (2023 est.)
Population distribution [time series]
the vast majority of people live along, or relatively 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 [time series]
0.64% (2023 est.)
Religions [time series]
Roman Catholic 50%, Evangelical 31%, Spiritist 3%, Umbanda, Candomble, or other Afro-Brazilian religions 2%, Jewish 0.3%, atheist 1%, other 2%, none 10% (2020 est.)
Sanitation facility access [time series]
improved: urban: 94.1% of population rural: 63.6% of population total: 90.2% of population unimproved: urban: 5.9% of population rural: 36.4% of population total: 9.8% of population (2020 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]
total: 16 years male: 15 years female: 16 years (2020)
Sex ratio [time series]
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 (2023 est.)
Tobacco use [time series]
total: 12.8% (2020 est.) male: 16.2% (2020 est.) female: 9.4% (2020 est.)
Total fertility rate [time series]
1.75 children born/woman (2023 est.)
Urbanization [time series]
urban population: 87.8% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.87% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Space
Space agency/agencies [time series]
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 (established, 1971; part of the Brazilian Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovations); Space Operations Command (Armed Forces); Department of Aerospace Science and Technology (DCTA; established in 1953 as a military space research program under the Brazilian Air Force) (2023)
Space launch site(s) [time series]
Alcantara Launch Site (Maranh o state); Barreira do Inferno Launch Center (Rio Grande do Norte state) (2023)
Space program overview [time series]
has an active program with a long history, although it has been hampered by inconsistent funding; 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 space 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 European Space Agency and individual 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 with expertise in satellite technology (2023) note: further details about the key activities, programs, and milestones of the country s space program, as well as government spending estimates on the space sector, appear in Appendix S
Terrorism
Terrorist group(s) [time series]
Hizballah (2022) 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 Appendix-T
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international [time series]
Brazil-Bolivia: the Robor Accord of March 29, 1958 placed the long-disputed Isla Su rez/Ilha de Guajar -Mirim, a fluvial island on the R o Mamor , between the two towns of Guajar -Mirim (Brazil) and Guayaramerin (Bolivia), under Bolivian administration but did not resolve the sovereignty dispute Brazil-Colombia: contraband smuggling (narcotics and arms), illegal migration, trafficking in animals, plants, lumber, illegal exploitation of mineral resources, and incursions by Colombian insurgent/narco-terrorists groups in the area remain problematic issues Brazil-Uruguay: the uncontested boundary dispute between Brazil and Uruguay over Arroyo de la Invernada triangle and sovereignty over Isla Brasilera leaves the tripoint with Argentina in question; smuggling of firearms and narcotics continues to be an issue along the Uruguay-Brazil border Brazil-Venezuela: Colombian-organized illegal narcotics and paramilitary activities penetrate Brazil's border region with Venezuela
Illicit drugs [time series]
a significant drug transit and destination country for cocaine bound for Europe and other destinations including the United States; domestic drug use and addiction is a significant problem and it is second only to the United States in cocaine consumption; a major source of precursor or essential chemicals used in the production of illicit narcotics
Refugees and internally displaced persons [time series]
refugees (country of origin): 449,678 (Venezuela) (economic and political crisis; includes Venezuelans who have claimed asylum, are recognized as refugees, or received alternative legal stay) (2023) IDPs: 5,600 (2022) stateless persons: 12 (2022)
Transportation
Airports [time series]
4,093 (2021)
Airports - with paved runways [time series]
698 civil airports: 35 military airports: 14 joint use (civil-military) airports: 17 other airports: 632 note: paved runways have a concrete or asphalt surface but not all have facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control; the length of a runway required for aircraft to safely operate depends on a number of factors including the type of aircraft, the takeoff weight (including passengers, cargo, and fuel), engine types, flap settings, landing speed, elevation of the airport, and average maximum daily air temperature; paved runways can reach a length of 5,000 m (16,000 ft.), but the typical length of a commercial airline runway is between 2,500-4,000 m (8,000-13,000 ft.)
Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]
3,395 note: unpaved runways have a surface composition such as grass or packed earth and are most suited to the operation of light aircraft; unpaved runways are usually short, often less than 1,000 m (3,280 ft.) in length; airports with unpaved runways often lack facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix [time series]
PP
Heliports [time series]
13 (2021)
Merchant marine [time series]
total: 877 (2022) by type: bulk carrier 11, container ship 20, general cargo 40, oil tanker 27, other 779
National air transport system [time series]
number of registered air carriers: 9 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 443 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 102,109,977 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 1,845,650,000 (2018) mt-km
Pipelines [time series]
5,959 km refined petroleum product (1,165 km distribution, 4,794 km transport), 11,696 km natural gas (2,274 km distribution, 9,422 km transport), 1,985 km crude oil (distribution), 77 km ethanol/petrochemical (37 km distribution, 40 km transport) (2016)
Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]
major seaport(s): Belem, Itajai, Paranagua, Rio Grande, Rio de Janeiro, Santos, Sao Sebastiao, Tubarao oil terminal(s): DTSE/Gegua oil terminal, Ilha Grande (Gebig), Guaiba Island terminal, Guamare oil terminal container port(s) (TEUs): Itajai (1,610,092), Paranagua (1,044,157), Santos (4,442,876) (2021) LNG terminal(s) (import): Pecem, Rio de Janiero river port(s): Manaus (Amazon) dry bulk cargo port(s): Sepetiba ore terminal, Tubarao
Railways [time series]
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
Roadways [time series]
total: 2 million km (2018) paved: 246,000 km (2018) unpaved: 1.754 million km (2018)
Waterways [time series]
50,000 km (2012) (most in areas remote from industry and population)