ARCHIVE // BR // 2025
Brazil
2025 Edition — sovereign
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2025
Communications
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
[time series]
total: 48.4 million (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 23 (2023 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]
percent of population: 84% (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines
[time series]
total subscriptions: 22.5 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 11 (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular
[time series]
total subscriptions: 216 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 102 (2024 est.)
Economy
Agricultural products
[time series]
sugarcane, soybeans, maize, milk, cassava, oranges, chicken, beef, rice, wheat (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
Average household expenditures
[time series]
on food: 16.2% of household expenditures (2023 est.) on alcohol and tobacco: 1.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Budget
[time series]
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
[time series]
-$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
[time series]
$198.582 billion (2023 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars
Economic overview
[time series]
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
[time series]
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
[time series]
$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
[time series]
soybeans, crude petroleum, iron ore, raw sugar, corn (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
Exports - partners
[time series]
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)
[time series]
$2.179 trillion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
GDP - composition, by end use
[time series]
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
[time series]
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
[time series]
51.6 (2023 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality
Household income or consumption by percentage share
[time series]
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
[time series]
$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
[time series]
refined petroleum, fertilizers, crude petroleum, vehicle parts/accessories, gas turbines (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
Imports - partners
[time series]
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
[time series]
3.3% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
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]
4.4% (2024 est.) 4.6% (2023 est.) 9.3% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices
Labor force
[time series]
106.79 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
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]
83% of GDP (2023 est.) note: central government debt as a % of GDP
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
[time series]
$4.165 trillion (2024 est.) $4.029 trillion (2023 est.) $3.902 trillion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars
Real GDP growth rate
[time series]
3.4% (2024 est.) 3.2% (2023 est.) 3% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
Real GDP per capita
[time series]
$19,600 (2024 est.) $19,100 (2023 est.) $18,600 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars
Remittances
[time series]
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
[time series]
$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
[time series]
14% (of GDP) (2023 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP
Unemployment rate
[time series]
7.7% (2024 est.) 8% (2023 est.) 9.3% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
[time series]
total: 18% (2024 est.) male: 15.7% (2024 est.) female: 20.9% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
Energy
Coal
[time series]
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
[time series]
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
[time series]
electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.) electrification - urban areas: 100% electrification - rural areas: 97.3%
Electricity generation sources
[time series]
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
[time series]
48.889 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Natural gas
[time series]
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
[time series]
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
[time series]
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.)
Environment
Carbon dioxide emissions
[time series]
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
[time series]
mostly tropical, but temperate in south
Environmental issues
[time series]
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
[time series]
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
[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: 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
[time series]
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
[time series]
10.9 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Total renewable water resources
[time series]
8.647 trillion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal
[time series]
municipal: 16.397 billion cubic meters (2022) industrial: 10.2 billion cubic meters (2022) agricultural: 41.336 billion cubic meters (2022)
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: 79.07 million tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 2.8% (2022 est.)
Geography
Area
[time series]
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: Rocas Atoll, located off the northeast coast of Brazil, is the only atoll in the South Atlantic
Irrigated land
[time series]
91,833 sq km (2022)
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: 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
[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 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, Rond nia, Roraima, Santa Catarina, S o 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: 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
[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 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
[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 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
[time series]
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
[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: 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
[time series]
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
[time series]
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
[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 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
[time series]
civil law note: a new civil-law code in 2002 replaced the 1916 code
Legislative branch
[time series]
legislature name: National Congress (Congresso nacional) legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch - lower chamber
[time series]
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
[time series]
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)
[time series]
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)
[time series]
green, yellow, blue
National heritage
[time series]
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
[time series]
Independence Day, 7 September (1822)
National symbol(s)
[time series]
Southern Cross constellation
Political parties
[time series]
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
[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]
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 and Security
Military - note
[time series]
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
[time series]
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
[time series]
approximately 360,000 active Armed Forces (220,000 Army; 70,000 Navy; 70,000 Air Force) (2025)
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; 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
[time series]
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
[time series]
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
People and Society
Age structure
[time series]
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
[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]
13.04 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
[time series]
3.5% (2019 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
[time series]
56.9% (2019 est.)
Death rate
[time series]
7.07 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios
[time series]
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
[time series]
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
[time series]
5.6% of GDP (2022 est.) 12.9% national budget (2022 est.)
Ethnic groups
[time series]
mixed 45.3%, White 43.5%, Black 10.2%, Indigenous 0.6%, Asian 0.4% (2022 est.)
Gross reproduction rate
[time series]
0.84 (2025 est.)
Health expenditure
[time series]
9.9% of GDP (2021) 9% of national budget (2022 est.)
Hospital bed density
[time series]
2.5 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Infant mortality rate
[time series]
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
[time series]
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
[time series]
total population: 76.3 years (2024 est.) male: 72.6 years female: 80.1 years
Literacy
[time series]
total population: 94.8% (2024 est.) male: 94.5% (2024 est.) female: 95.1% (2024 est.)
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]
67 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Median age
[time series]
total: 35.4 years (2025 est.) male: 34 years female: 36.1 years
Nationality
[time series]
noun: Brazilian(s) adjective: Brazilian
Net migration rate
[time series]
-0.19 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
[time series]
22.1% (2016)
Physician density
[time series]
2.36 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Population
[time series]
total: 221,359,387 (2025 est.) male: 108,753,532 female: 112,605,855
Population distribution
[time series]
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
[time series]
0.58% (2025 est.)
Religions
[time series]
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
[time series]
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)
[time series]
total: 16 years (2022 est.) male: 15 years (2022 est.) female: 17 years (2022 est.)
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 (2024 est.)
Tobacco use
[time series]
total: 11.2% (2025 est.) male: 14.4% (2025 est.) female: 8.3% (2025 est.)
Total fertility rate
[time series]
1.73 children born/woman (2025 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
Key space-program milestones
[time series]
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
[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 (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)
[time series]
Alcantara Launch Center (Maranh o state); Barreira do Inferno Launch Center (Rio Grande do Norte state) (2025)
Space program overview
[time series]
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)
Terrorism
Terrorist group(s)
[time series]
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
Transnational Issues
Illicit drugs
[time series]
USG identification: major precursor-chemical producer (2025)
Refugees and internally displaced persons
[time series]
refugees: 331,097 (2024 est.) IDPs: 19,043 (2024 est.) stateless persons: 27 (2024 est.)
Trafficking in persons
[time series]
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/
Transportation
Airports
[time series]
5,297 (2025)
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
[time series]
PP
Heliports
[time series]
1,871 (2025)
Merchant marine
[time series]
total: 888 (2023) by type: bulk carrier 13, container ship 20, general cargo 38, oil tanker 27, other 790
Ports
[time series]
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
[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