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 Getúlio 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 João 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 Inácio 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.
Geography
Location
Eastern South America, bordering the Atlantic Ocean
Geographic coordinates
10 00 S, 55 00 W
Map references
South America
Area
total : 8,515,770 sq km
land: 8,358,140 sq km
water: 157,630 sq km
note: includes Arquipelago de Fernando de Noronha, Atol das Rocas, Ilha da Trindade, Ilhas Martin Vaz, and Penedos de Sao Pedro e Sao Paulo
comparison ranking: total 6
Area – comparative
slightly smaller than the US
Area comparison map:
Land boundaries
total: 16,145 km
border countries (10): Argentina 1,263 km; Bolivia 3,403 km; Colombia 1,790 km; French Guiana 649 km; Guyana 1,308 km; Paraguay 1,371 km; Peru 2,659 km; Suriname 515 km; Uruguay 1,050 km; Venezuela 2,137 km
Coastline
7,491 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to edge of the continental margin
Climate
mostly tropical, but temperate in south
Terrain
mostly flat to rolling lowlands in north; some plains, hills, mountains, and narrow coastal belt
Elevation
highest point: Pico da Neblina 2,994 m
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
mean elevation: 320 m
Natural resources
alumina, bauxite, beryllium, gold, iron ore, manganese, nickel, niobium, phosphates, platinum, tantalum, tin, rare earth elements, uranium, petroleum, hydropower, timber
Land use
agricultural land: 26.7% (2022 est.)
arable land: 6.7% (2022 est.)
permanent crops: 0.9% (2022 est.)
permanent pasture: 19.1% (2022 est.)
forest: 59.1% (2022 est.)
other: 14.2% (2022 est.)
Irrigated land
91,833 sq km (2022)
Major lakes (area sq km)
fresh water lake(s): Lagoa dos Patos – 10,140 sq km
salt water lake(s): Lagoa Mirim (shared with Uruguay) – 2,970 sq km
Major rivers (by length in km)
Amazon river mouth (shared with Peru [s]) – 6,400 km; Río de la Plata/Paraná river source (shared with Paraguay, Argentina, and Uruguay [m]) – 4,880 km; Tocantins – 3,650 km; São Francisco – 3,180 km; Paraguay river source (shared with Argentina and Paraguay [m]) – 2,549 km; Rio Negro river mouth (shared with Colombia [s] and Venezuela) – 2,250 km; Uruguay river source (shared with Argentina and Uruguay [m]) – 1,610 km
note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km)
Atlantic Ocean drainage: Amazon (6,145,186 sq km), Orinoco (953,675 sq km), Paraná (2,582,704 sq km), São Francisco (617,814 sq km), Tocantins (764,213 sq km)
Major aquifers
Amazon Basin, Guarani Aquifer System, Maranhao Basin
Population distribution
the vast majority of people live along or near the Atlantic coast in the east; the population core is in the southeast, anchored by the cities of São Paolo, Brasília, and Rio de Janeiro
Natural hazards
recurring droughts in northeast; floods and occasional frost in south
Geography – note
note 1: largest country in South America and in the Southern Hemisphere; shares common boundaries with every South American country except Chile and Ecuador; most of the Pantanal, the world’s largest tropical wetland, extends through the west central part of the country; shares Iguaçu Falls (Iguazú 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
People and Society
Population
total: 220,051,512 (2024 est.)
male: 108,166,491
female: 111,885,021
comparison rankings: total 7; female 7; male 7
Nationality
noun: Brazilian(s)
adjective: Brazilian
Ethnic groups
mixed 45.3%, White 43.5%, Black 10.2%, Indigenous 0.6%, Asian 0.4% (2022 est.)
Languages
Portuguese (official and most widely spoken language); less common languages include Spanish (border areas and schools), German, Italian, Japanese, English, and many minor Amerindian languages
major-language sample(s):
O Livro de Fatos Mundiais, a fonte indispensável para informação básica. (Brazilian Portuguese)
The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions
Roman Catholic 52.8%, Protestant 26.7% (Evangelical 25.5%, other Protestant 1.2%), African-American cultist/Umbanda 1.8%, other 3%, agnostic/atheist 0.6%, none 13.6%, unspecified 1.4% (2023 est.)
Age structure
0-14 years: 19.6% (male 22,025,593/female 21,088,398)
15-64 years: 69.5% (male 75,889,089/female 77,118,722)
65 years and over: 10.9% (2024 est.) (male 10,251,809/female 13,677,901)
2024 population pyramid:
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: 43.8 (2024 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 28.2 (2024 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 15.6 (2024 est.)
potential support ratio: 6.4 (2024 est.)
Median age
total: 35.1 years (2024 est.)
male: 34 years
female: 36.1 years
comparison ranking: total 101
Population growth rate
0.61% (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 138
Birth rate
13.2 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 131
Death rate
7 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 119
Net migration rate
-0.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 103
Population distribution
the vast majority of people live along or near the Atlantic coast in the east; the population core is in the southeast, anchored by the cities of São Paolo, Brasília, and Rio de Janeiro
Urbanization
urban population: 87.8% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0.87% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas – population
22.620 million São Paulo, 13.728 million Rio de Janeiro, 6.248 million Belo Horizonte, 4.873 million BRASÍLIA (capital), 4.264 million Recife, 4.212 million Porto Alegre (2023)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio
72 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)
comparison ranking: 86
Infant mortality rate
total: 12.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
male: 14.6 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 11.1 deaths/1,000 live births
comparison ranking: total 107
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 76.3 years (2024 est.)
male: 72.6 years
female: 80.1 years
comparison ranking: total population 113
Total fertility rate
1.74 children born/woman (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 151
Gross reproduction rate
0.85 (2024 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate
80.5% (2019)
Drinking water source
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.)
Health expenditure
9.9% of GDP (2021)
9% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density
2.36 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Hospital bed density
2.5 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Sanitation facility access
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.)
Obesity – adult prevalence rate
22.1% (2016)
comparison ranking: 81
Alcohol consumption per capita
total: 6.12 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer: 3.84 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 0.24 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 2 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 0.04 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
comparison ranking: total 68
Tobacco use
total: 11.2% (2025 est.)
male: 14.4% (2025 est.)
female: 8.3% (2025 est.)
comparison ranking: total 121
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
3.1% (2019)
comparison ranking: 79
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
55.9% (2023 est.)
Education expenditure
5.5% of GDP (2021 est.)
12.8% national budget (2021 est.)
comparison ranking: Education expenditure (% GDP) 40
Literacy
total population: 93% (2018 est.)
male: 93% (2018 est.)
female: 93% (2018 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
total: 16 years
male: 15 years
female: 16 years (2020)
Environment
Environment – current issues
deforestation in Amazon Basin; illegal wildlife trade; illegal poaching; air and water pollution in Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, and other large cities; land degradation and water pollution from mining; wetland degradation; oil spills
Environment – international agreements
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping-London Protocol
Climate
mostly tropical, but temperate in south
Land use
agricultural land: 26.7% (2022 est.)
arable land: 6.7% (2022 est.)
permanent crops: 0.9% (2022 est.)
permanent pasture: 19.1% (2022 est.)
forest: 59.1% (2022 est.)
other: 14.2% (2022 est.)
Urbanization
urban population: 87.8% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0.87% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Air pollutants
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.)
Waste and recycling
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.)
Major lakes (area sq km)
fresh water lake(s): Lagoa dos Patos – 10,140 sq km
salt water lake(s): Lagoa Mirim (shared with Uruguay) – 2,970 sq km
Major rivers (by length in km)
Amazon river mouth (shared with Peru [s]) – 6,400 km; Río de la Plata/Paraná river source (shared with Paraguay, Argentina, and Uruguay [m]) – 4,880 km; Tocantins – 3,650 km; São Francisco – 3,180 km; Paraguay river source (shared with Argentina and Paraguay [m]) – 2,549 km; Rio Negro river mouth (shared with Colombia [s] and Venezuela) – 2,250 km; Uruguay river source (shared with Argentina and Uruguay [m]) – 1,610 km
note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km)
Atlantic Ocean drainage: Amazon (6,145,186 sq km), Orinoco (953,675 sq km), Paraná (2,582,704 sq km), São Francisco (617,814 sq km), Tocantins (764,213 sq km)
Major aquifers
Amazon Basin, Guarani Aquifer System, Maranhao Basin
Total water withdrawal
municipal: 16.13 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
industrial: 9.51 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
agricultural: 41.42 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Total renewable water resources
8.65 trillion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Geoparks
total global geoparks and regional networks: 6
global geoparks and regional networks: Araripe; Cacapava; Quarta Colonia; Serido; Southern Canyons Pathways; Uberaba (2024)
Government
Country name
conventional long form: Federative Republic of Brazil
conventional short form: Brazil
local long form: República 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
Government type
federal presidential republic
Capital
name: Brasília
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)
Administrative divisions
26 states (estados, singular – estado) and 1 federal district* (distrito federal); Acre, Alagoas, Amapa, Amazonas, Bahia, Ceara, Distrito Federal*, Espirito Santo, Goias, Maranhao, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais, Para, Paraiba, Parana, Pernambuco, Piaui, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Norte, Rio Grande do Sul, Rondonia, Roraima, Santa Catarina, São Paulo, Sergipe, Tocantins
Legal system
civil law
note: a new civil-law code in 2002 replaced the 1916 code
Constitution
history: several previous; latest ratified 5 October 1988
amendment process: proposed by at least one third of either house of the National Congress, by the president of the republic, or by simple majority vote by more than half of the state legislative assemblies; passage requires at least three-fifths majority vote by both houses in each of two readings; constitutional provisions affecting the federal form of government, separation of powers, suffrage, or individual rights and guarantees cannot be amended
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship
citizenship by birth: yes
citizenship by descent only: yes
dual citizenship recognized: yes
residency requirement for naturalization: 4 years
Suffrage
voluntary between 16 to 18 years of age, over 70, and if illiterate; compulsory between 18 to 70 years of age; note – military conscripts by law cannot vote
Executive branch
chief of state: President Luiz Inácio LULA da Silva (since 1 January 2023)
head of government: President Luiz Inácio LULA da Silva (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 Inácio LULA da Silva elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round – Luiz Inácio 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 Inácio 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%
note: the president is both chief of state and head of government
Legislative branch
legislature name: National Congress (Congresso nacional)
legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch – lower chamber
chamber name: Chamber of Deputies (Cámara dos Deputados)
number of seats: 513 (all directly elected)
electoral system: proportional representation
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 4 years
most recent election date: 10/2/2022
parties elected and seats per party: Liberal Party (PL) (99); Workers’ Party (PT) (69); Brazil Union (União) (59); Progressive Party (PP) (47); Brazilian Democratic Movement (MDB) (42); Social Democratic Party (PSD) (42); Republicans (Republicanos) (40); Other (115)
percentage of women in chamber: 18.1%
expected date of next election: October 2026
Legislative branch – upper chamber
chamber name: Federal Senate (Senado Federal)
number of seats: 81 (all directly elected)
electoral system: plurality/majority
scope of elections: partial renewal
term in office: 8 years
most recent election date: 10/2/2022
parties elected and seats per party: Liberal Party (PL) (8); Brazil Union (União) (5); Workers’ Party (PT) (4); Progressive Party (PP) (3); Social Democratic Party (PSD) (2); Republicans (Republicanos) (2); Other (3)
percentage of women in chamber: 19.8%
expected date of next election: October 2026
Judicial branch
highest court(s): Supreme Federal Court or Supremo Tribunal Federal (consists of 11 justices)
judge selection and term of office: justices appointed by the president and approved by absolute majority by the Federal Senate; justices appointed to serve until mandatory retirement at age 75
subordinate courts: Tribunal of the Union, Federal Appeals Court, Superior Court of Justice, Superior Electoral Court, regional federal courts; state court system
Political parties
Act (Agir) (formerly Christian Labor Party or PTC)
Avante (formerly Labor Party of Brazil or PTdoB)
Brazil Union (União 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
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Maria Luiza Ribeiro VIOTTI (since 30 June 2023)
chancery: 3006 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 238-2700
FAX: [1] (202) 238-2827
email address and website:
[email protected]
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
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Gabriel ESCOBAR (since 21 January 2025)
embassy: SES – Avenida das Nações, Quadra 801, Lote 03, 70403-900 – Brasília, DF
mailing address: 7500 Brasilia Place, Washington DC 20521-7500
telephone: [55] (61) 3312-7000
FAX: [55] (61) 3225-9136
email address and website:
[email protected]
https://br.usembassy.gov/
consulate(s) general: Recife, Porto Alegre, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo
branch office(s): Belo Horizonte
International organization participation
AfDB (nonregional member), BIS, BRICS, CAN (associate), CD, CELAC, CPLP, FAO, FATF, G-15, G-20, G-24, G-5, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, LAIA, LAS (observer), Mercosur, MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NAM (observer), NSG, OAS, OECD (enhanced engagement), OPANAL, OPCW, Paris Club (associate), PCA, PROSUR, SICA (observer), UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNIFIL, Union Latina, UNISFA, UNITAR, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNOOSA, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence
7 September 1822 (from Portugal)
National holiday
Independence Day, 7 September (1822)
Flag description
green with a large yellow diamond in the center, showing 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 flag was inspired by the former Empire of Brazil’s flag (1822-1889); the green represents the forests of the country, and the yellow its mineral wealth, with the diamond representing the country’s shape; the blue circle 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)
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
National symbol(s)
Southern Cross constellation
National colors
green, yellow, blue
National anthem
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
total World Heritage Sites: 24 (15 cultural, 8 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); Iguaçu 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 Goiás (c); São Francisco Square in the Town of São Cristóvão (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); Sítio Roberto Burle Marx (c ); Lençóis Maranhenses National Park (n)
Economy
Economic overview
upper-middle-income, largest Latin American economy; Mercosur, BRICS, G20 member and OECD accession candidate; growth driven by strong domestic consumption; monetary tightening helping curb inflation rate; high inequality in income and access to health and education
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$4.016 trillion (2023 est.)
$3.902 trillion (2022 est.)
$3.788 trillion (2021 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
comparison ranking: 7
Real GDP growth rate
2.91% (2023 est.)
3.02% (2022 est.)
4.76% (2021 est.)
note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 112
Real GDP per capita
$19,000 (2023 est.)
$18,600 (2022 est.)
$18,100 (2021 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
comparison ranking: 104
GDP (official exchange rate)
$2.174 trillion (2023 est.)
note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
4.4% (2024 est.)
4.6% (2023 est.)
9.3% (2022 est.)
note: annual % change based on consumer prices
comparison ranking: 138
GDP – composition, by sector of origin
agriculture: 6.2% (2023 est.)
industry: 22.3% (2023 est.)
services: 58.9% (2023 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
comparison rankings: services 97; industry 124; agriculture 104
GDP – composition, by end use
household consumption: 63.3% (2023 est.)
government consumption: 18.2% (2023 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 16.5% (2023 est.)
investment in inventories: -0.5% (2023 est.)
exports of goods and services: 18.1% (2023 est.)
imports of goods and services: -15.7% (2023 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection
Agricultural products
sugarcane, soybeans, maize, milk, cassava, oranges, chicken, beef, rice, wheat (2023)
note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
Industries
textiles, shoes, chemicals, cement, lumber, iron ore, tin, steel, aircraft, motor vehicles and parts, other machinery and equipment
Industrial production growth rate
1.59% (2023 est.)
note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 117
Labor force
106.79 million (2024 est.)
note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
comparison ranking: 6
Unemployment rate
7.6% (2024 est.)
7.9% (2023 est.)
9.2% (2022 est.)
note: % of labor force seeking employment
comparison ranking: 139
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
total: 18% (2024 est.)
male: 15.7% (2024 est.)
female: 20.9% (2024 est.)
note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
comparison ranking: total 70
Population below poverty line
4.2% (2016 est.)
note: approximately 4% of the population are below the “extreme” poverty line
Gini Index coefficient – distribution of family income
52 (2022 est.)
note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality
comparison ranking: 7
Average household expenditures
on food: 16.2% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
on alcohol and tobacco: 1.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: 1.2% (2022 est.)
highest 10%: 41% (2022 est.)
note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population
Remittances
0.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
0.25% of GDP (2022 est.)
0.25% of GDP (2021 est.)
note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Budget
revenues: $578.267 billion (2022 est.)
expenditures: $666.279 billion (2022 est.)
note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
Public debt
83.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
note: central government debt as a % of GDP
comparison ranking: 33
Taxes and other revenues
14.2% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP
comparison ranking: 142
Current account balance
-$61.194 billion (2024 est.)
-$27.933 billion (2023 est.)
-$42.157 billion (2022 est.)
note: balance of payments – net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
comparison ranking: 204
Exports
$388.333 billion (2024 est.)
$389.192 billion (2023 est.)
$380.492 billion (2022 est.)
note: balance of payments – exports of goods and services in current dollars
comparison ranking: 24
Exports – partners
China 30%, USA 10%, Argentina 5%, Netherlands 3%, Chile 2% (2023)
note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Exports – commodities
soybeans, crude petroleum, iron ore, raw sugar, corn (2023)
note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
Imports
$377.05 billion (2024 est.)
$340.195 billion (2023 est.)
$369.861 billion (2022 est.)
note: balance of payments – imports of goods and services in current dollars
comparison ranking: 23
Imports – partners
China 23%, USA 16%, Germany 5%, Argentina 5%, Russia 4% (2023)
note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Imports – commodities
refined petroleum, fertilizers, crude petroleum, vehicle parts/accessories, gas turbines (2023)
note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$318.857 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
comparison ranking: 11
Debt – external
$198.582 billion (2023 est.)
note: present value of external debt in current US dollars
comparison ranking: 5
Exchange rates
reals (BRL) per US dollar –
Exchange rates:
5.389 (2024 est.)
4.994 (2023 est.)
5.164 (2022 est.)
5.394 (2021 est.)
5.155 (2020 est.)
Energy
Electricity access
electrification – total population: 100% (2022 est.)
electrification – urban areas: 100%
electrification – rural areas: 97.3%
Electricity
installed generating capacity: 240.251 million kW (2023 est.)
consumption: 608.451 billion kWh (2023 est.)
exports: 7.186 billion kWh (2023 est.)
imports: 22.294 billion kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 106.916 billion kWh (2023 est.)
comparison rankings: transmission/distribution losses 208; imports 8; exports 32; consumption 6; installed generating capacity 7
Electricity generation sources
fossil fuels: 8.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
nuclear: 2.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar: 6.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
wind: 13.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
hydroelectricity: 60.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
biomass and waste: 8.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Nuclear energy
Number of operational nuclear reactors: 2 (2025)
Number of nuclear reactors under construction: 1 (2025)
Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors: 1.88GW (2025 est.)
Percent of total electricity production: 2.2% (2023 est.)
Coal
production: 15.556 million metric tons (2023 est.)
consumption: 32.223 million metric tons (2023 est.)
exports: 5,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
imports: 18.257 million metric tons (2023 est.)
proven reserves: 6.596 billion metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum
total petroleum production: 4.221 million bbl/day (2023 est.)
refined petroleum consumption: 3.163 million bbl/day (2023 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves: 12.715 billion barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas
production: 22.702 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
consumption: 29.065 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
exports: 101.203 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
imports: 6.356 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
proven reserves: 363.985 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
437.769 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 53.664 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 331.079 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from consumed natural gas: 53.026 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: total emissions 14
Energy consumption per capita
48.889 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: 95
Communications
Telephones – fixed lines
total subscriptions: 25.574 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 12 (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 10
Telephones – mobile cellular
total subscriptions: 213 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 99 (2022 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 8
Broadcast media
state-run Radiobras operates a radio and a TV network; more than 1,000 radio stations and more than 100 TV channels operating, mostly privately owned; private media ownership highly concentrated (2022)
Internet country code
.br
Internet users
percent of population: 84% (2023 est.)
Broadband – fixed subscriptions
total: 48.4 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 23 (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: total 3
Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
PP
Airports
5,297 (2025)
comparison ranking: 2
Heliports
1,871 (2025)
comparison ranking: 3
Railways
total: 29,849.9 km (2014)
standard gauge: 194 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 23,341.6 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge (24 km electrified)
broad gauge: 5,822.3 km (2014) 1.600-m gauge (498.3 km electrified)
dual gauge: 492 km (2014) 1.600-1.000-m gauge
Merchant marine
total: 888 (2023)
by type: bulk carrier 13, container ship 20, general cargo 38, oil tanker 27, other 790
comparison ranking: total 26
Ports
total ports: 45 (2024)
large: 4
medium: 7
small: 19
very small: 15
ports with oil terminals: 31
key ports: Belem, DTSE/Gegua Oil Terminal, Itajai, Port de Salvador, Porto Alegre, Recife, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande, Santos, Tubarao, Vitoria
Military and Security
Military and security forces
Brazilian Armed Forces (Forças 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 expenditures
1.1% of GDP (2024 est.)
1.1% of GDP (2023 est.)
1.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
1.3% of GDP (2021 est.)
1.4% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths
approximately 360,000 active Armed Forces (220,000 Army; 70,000 Navy; 70,000 Air Force) (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the Brazilian military’s inventory consists of a mix of domestically produced and imported weapons, largely from Europe and the US; Brazil’s defense industry designs and manufactures equipment for all three military services and for export; it also jointly produces equipment with other countries (2024)
Military service age and obligation
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 (18 for women) years of age for voluntary service (2024)
note: in 2024, women were reported to comprise approximately 10% of the Brazilian military
Military – note
the Brazilian Armed Forces (BAF) are the second largest military in the Western Hemisphere behind the US; they are responsible for external security and protecting the country’s sovereignty but also have an internal security role; the BAF’s missions include patrolling and protecting the country’s long borders and coastline and extensive territorial waters and river network, assisting with internal security, providing domestic disaster response and humanitarian assistance, and participating in multinational peacekeeping missions; it also cooperates with neighboring countries such as Argentina and Paraguay to combat cross-border smuggling and trafficking
Brazil has Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status with the US, a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation
the origins of Brazil’s military stretch back to the 1640s; Brazil provided a 25,000-man expeditionary force with air and ground units to fight with the Allies in the Mediterranean Theater during World War II; the Navy participated in the Battle of the Atlantic (2025)
Space
Space agency/agencies
Brazilian Space Agency (Agência 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) (2024)
Space launch site(s)
Alcantara Launch Site (Maranhão state); Barreira do Inferno Launch Center (Rio Grande do Norte state) (2024)
Space program overview
has an active program with a long history; 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 (2024)
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 the Space Programs reference guide
Terrorism
Terrorist group(s)
Terrorist group(s): Hizballah
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
Refugees and internally displaced persons
refugees (country of origin): 510,499 (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)
Illicit drugs
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
