Administrative divisions26 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
Age structure
0-14 years: 26.6% (male 24,915,902; female 23,966,713)
15-64 years: 67.6% (male 61,739,012; female 62,770,480)
65 years and over: 5.8% (male 4,389,659; female 6,319,343) (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products
coffee, soybeans, wheat, rice, corn, sugarcane, cocoa, citrus; beef
Airports
3,803 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways
total: 677
over 3,047 m: 7
2,438 to 3,047 m: 23
914 to 1,523 m: 445
under 914 m: 45 (2003 est.)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 157
Airports - with unpaved runways
total: 3,126
1,524 to 2,437 m: 75
914 to 1,523 m: 1,434
under 914 m: 1,617 (2003 est.)
Area
total: 8,511,965 sq km
land: 8,456,510 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
water: 55,455 sq km
Area - comparative
slightly smaller than the US
Background
Following three centuries under the rule of Portugal, Brazil became an independent nation in 1822. By far the largest and most populous country in South America, Brazil has overcome more than half a century of military intervention in the governance of the country to pursue industrial and agricultural growth and development of the interior. Exploiting vast natural resources and a large labor pool, Brazil is today South America's leading economic power and a regional leader. Highly unequal income distribution remains a pressing problem.
Birth rate
17.25 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Budget
revenues: $147.2 billion
expenditures: $172.4 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2003)
Capital
Brasilia
Climate
mostly tropical, but temperate in south
Coastline
7,491 km
Constitution
5 October 1988
Country name
conventional long form: Federative Republic of Brazil
conventional short form: Brazil
local short form: Brasil
local long form: Republica Federativa do Brasil
Currency
real (BRL)
Currency code
BRL
Current account balance
$3.52 billion (2003)
Death rate
6.14 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Debt - external
$214.9 billion (2003)
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Donna J. HRINAK
embassy: Avenida das Nacoes, Quadra 801, Lote 3, Distrito Federal Cep 70403-900, Brasilia
mailing address: Unit 3500, APO AA 34030
telephone: [55] (61) 312-7000
FAX: [55] (61) 225-9136
consulate(s) general: Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo
consulate(s): Recife
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Roberto ABDENUR
FAX: [1] (202) 238-2827
consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, and San Francisco
chancery: 3006 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 238-2700
Disputes - international
unruly region at convergence of Argentina-Brazil-Paraguay borders is locus of money laundering, smuggling, arms and drug trafficking, and fundraising for extremist organizations; uncontested dispute with Uruguay over certain islands in the Quarai/Cuareim and Invernada boundary streams and the resulting tripoint with Argentina
Distribution of family income - Gini index
60.7 (1998)
Economic aid - recipient
$30 billion IMF disbursement (2002)
Economy - overview
Possessing large and well-developed agricultural, mining, manufacturing, and service sectors, Brazil's economy outweighs that of all other South American countries and is expanding its presence in world markets. From 2001-03 real wages fell and Brazil's economy grew, on average, only 1.1% per year, as the country absorbed a series of domestic and international economic shocks. That Brazil absorbed these shocks without financial collapse is a tribute to the resiliency of the Brazilian economy and the economic program put in place by former President CARDOSO and strengthened by President Lula DA SILVA. The three pillars of the economic program are a floating exchange rate, an inflation-targeting regime, and tight fiscal policy, which have been reinforced by a series of IMF programs. The currency depreciated sharply in 2001 and 2002, which contributed to a dramatic current account adjustment: in 2003, Brazil ran a record trade surplus and recorded the first current account surplus since 1992. While economic management has been good, there remain important economic vulnerabilities. The most significant are debt-related: the government's largely domestic debt increased steadily from 1994 to 2003, straining government finances, while Brazil's foreign debt (a mix of private and public debt) is large in relation to Brazil's modest (but growing) export base. Another challenge is maintaining economic growth over a period of time to generate employment and make the government debt burden more manageable.
Electricity - consumption
335.9 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports
37.19 billion kWh; note - supplied by Paraguay (2001)
Electricity - production
321.2 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source
fossil fuel: 8.3%
hydro: 82.7%
other: 4.6% (2001)
nuclear: 4.4%
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Pico da Neblina 3,014 m
Environment - current issues
deforestation in Amazon Basin destroys the habitat and endangers a multitude of plant and animal species indigenous to the area; there is a lucrative illegal wildlife trade; 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
Environment - international agreements
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Ethnic groups
white (includes Portuguese, German, Italian, Spanish, Polish) 55%, mixed white and black 38%, black 6%, other (includes Japanese, Arab, Amerindian) 1%
Exchange rates
reals per US dollar - 3.0771 (2003), 2.9208 (2002), 2.3577 (2001), 1.8301 (2000), 1.8147 (1999)
note: from October 1994 through 14 January 1999, the official rate was determined by a managed float; since 15 January 1999, the official rate floats independently with respect to the US dollar
Executive branch
chief of state: President Luiz Inacio "Lula" DA SILVA (since 1 January 2003); Vice President Jose ALENCAR (since 1 January 2003); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
election results: in runoff election 27 October 2002, Luiz Inacio "Lula" DA SILVA (PT) was elected with 61.3% of the vote; Jose SERRA (PSDB) 38.7%
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 6 October 2002 (next to be held NA October 2006); runoff election held 27 October 2002
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
head of government: President Luiz Inacio "Lula" DA SILVA (since 1 January 2003); Vice President Jose ALENCAR (since 1 January 2003); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
Exports
$73.28 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Exports - commodities
transport equipment, iron ore, soybeans, footwear, coffee, autos
Exports - partners
US 22.4%, China 6.9%, Germany 5.1%, Netherlands 4.4%, Mexico 4.2%, Argentina 4.1% (2003 est.)
Fiscal year
calendar year
Flag description
green with a large yellow diamond in the center bearing a blue celestial globe with 27 white five-pointed stars (one for each state and the Federal District) arranged in the same pattern as the night sky over Brazil; the globe has a white equatorial band with the motto ORDEM E PROGRESSO (Order and Progress)
GDP
purchasing power parity - $1.375 trillion (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector
agriculture: 10.2%
industry: 38.7%
services: 51.2% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita
purchasing power parity - $7,600 (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate
-0.2% (2003 est.)
Geographic coordinates
10 00 S, 55 00 W
Geography - note
largest country in South America; shares common boundaries with every South American country except Chile and Ecuador
Government type
federative republic
Heliports
417 (2003 est.)
Highways
total: 1,724,929 km
paved: 94,871 km
unpaved: 1,630,058 km (2000)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
0.7% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths
15,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
660,000 (2003 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage shar
lowest 10%: 0.7%
highest 10%: 48% (1998)
Illicit drugs
illicit producer of cannabis; minor coca cultivation in the Amazon region, used for domestic consumption; government has a large-scale eradication program to control cannabis; important transshipment country for Bolivian, Colombian and Peruvian cocaine headed for Europe and the US; also used by traffickers as a way station for narcotics air transshipments between Peru and Colombia; upsurge in drug-related violence and weapons smuggling; important market for Colombian, Bolivian, and Peruvian cocaine; illicit narcotics proceeds earned in Brazil are often laundered through the financial system; significant illicit financial activity in the Tri-Border Area
Imports
$48.25 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Imports - commodities
machinery, electrical and transport equipment, chemical products, oil
Imports - partners
US 21.4%, Argentina 11%, Germany 8.7%, China 4.1% (2003 est.)
Independence
7 September 1822 (from Portugal)
Industrial production growth rate
0.4% (2003 est.)
Industries
textiles, shoes, chemicals, cement, lumber, iron ore, tin, steel, aircraft, motor vehicles and parts, other machinery and equipment
Infant mortality rate
total: 30.66 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 26.65 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
male: 34.47 deaths/1,000 live births
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
14.7% (2003)
International organization participation
AfDB, BIS, FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, NAM (observer), NSG, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMIL, UNMISET, UNMOVIC, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Internet country code
.br
Internet hosts
3,163,349 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
50 (2000)
Internet users
14.3 million (2002)
Investment (gross fixed)
18% of GDP (2003)
Irrigated land
26,560 sq km (1998 est.)
Judicial branch
Supreme Federal Tribunal (11 ministers are appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate); Higher Tribunal of Justice; Regional Federal Tribunals (judges are appointed for life)
Labor force
82.59 million (2003 est.)
Labor force - by occupation
agriculture 23%, industry 24%, services 53%
Land boundaries
total: 14,691 km
border countries: Argentina 1,224 km, Bolivia 3,400 km, Colombia 1,643 km, French Guiana 673 km, Guyana 1,119 km, Paraguay 1,290 km, Peru 1,560 km, Suriname 597 km, Uruguay 985 km, Venezuela 2,200 km
Land use
arable land: 6.96%
permanent crops: 0.9%
other: 92.15% (2001)
Languages
Portuguese (official), Spanish, English, French
Legal system
based on Roman codes; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch
bicameral National Congress or Congresso Nacional consists of the Federal Senate or Senado Federal (81 seats; three members from each state or federal district elected according to the principle of majority to serve eight-year terms; one-third elected after a four-year period, two-thirds elected after the next four-year period) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camara dos Deputados (513 seats; members are elected by proportional representation to serve four-year terms)
election results: Federal Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party PMBD 19, PFL 19, PT 14, PSDB 11, PDT 5, PSB 4, PL 3, PTB 3, PPS 1, PSD 1, PP 1; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PT 91, PFL 84, PMDB 74, PSDB 71, PP 49, PL 26, PTB 26, PSB 22, PDT 21, PPS 15, PCdoB 12, PRONA 6, PV 5, other 11; note - many congressmen have changed party affiliation since the election
elections: Federal Senate - last held 6 October 2002 for two-thirds of the Senate (next to be held NA October 2006 for one-third of the Senate); Chamber of Deputies - last held 6 October 2002 (next to be held NA October 2006)
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 71.41 years
male: 67.45 years
female: 75.57 years (2004 est.)
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 86.4%
male: 86.1%
female: 86.6% (2003 est.)
Location
Eastern South America, bordering the Atlantic Ocean
Map references
South America
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 12 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to edge of the continental margin
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Median age
total: 27.4 years
male: 26.7 years
female: 28.2 years (2004 est.)
Merchant marine
total: 151 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 2,961,431 GRT/4,725,267 DWT
by type: bulk 29, cargo 22, chemical tanker 7, combination ore/oil 6, container 12, liquefied gas 12, multi-functional large load carrier 1, passenger/cargo 5, petroleum tanker 48, roll on/roll off 8, short-sea/passenger 1
registered in other countries: 11 (2003 est.)
foreign-owned: Chile 2, Germany 7, Monaco 9, Panama 1, Spain 7
Military branches
Brazilian Army, Brazilian Navy (including Naval Air and Marines), Brazilian Air Force (FAB)
Military expenditures - dollar figure
$10,439.4 million (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP
2.1% (2003)
Military manpower - availability
males age 15-49: 52,100,042 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service
males age 15-49: 34,799,098 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - military age
18 years of age (2004 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually
males: 1,788,495 (2004 est.)
National holiday
Independence Day, 7 September (1822)
Nationality
noun: Brazilian(s)
adjective: Brazilian
Natural gas - consumption
9.59 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports
3.64 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - production
5.95 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves
221.7 billion cu m (1 January 2002)
Natural hazards
recurring droughts in northeast; floods and occasional frost in south
Natural resources
bauxite, gold, iron ore, manganese, nickel, phosphates, platinum, tin, uranium, petroleum, hydropower, timber
Net migration rate
-0.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Oil - consumption
2.199 million bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports
NA (2001)
Oil - imports
NA (2001)
Oil - production
1.561 million bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - proved reserves
8.507 billion bbl (1 January 2002)
Pipelines
condensate/gas 243 km; gas 10,984 km; liquid petroleum gas 341 km; oil 5,113 km; refined products 4,800 km (2003)
Political parties and leaders
Brazilian Democratic Movement Party or PMDB [Michel TEMER]; Brazilian Labor Party or PTB [Roberto JEFFERSON]; Brazilian Social Democracy Party or PSDB [Senator Jose SERRA]; Brazilian Socialist Party or PSB [Miguel ARRAES]; Brazilian Progressive Party or PP [Paulo Salim MALUF]; Communist Party of Brazil or PCdoB [Renato RABELO]; Democratic Labor Party or PDT [Leonel BRIZOLA]; Green Party or PV [Jose Luiz DE FRANCA Penna]; Liberal Front Party or PFL [Jorge BORNHAUSEN]; Liberal Party or PL [Deputy Valdemar COSTA Neto]; National Order Reconstruction Party or PRONA [Dr. Eneas CARNEIRO]; Popular Socialist Party or PPS [Senator Roberto FREIRE]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [leader NA]; Worker's Party or PT [Jose GENOINO]
Political pressure groups and leaders
left wing of the Catholic Church; Landless Worker's Movement; labor unions allied to leftist Workers' Party
Population
184,101,109
note: Brazil took a count in August 2000, which reported a population of 169,799,170; that figure was about 3.3% lower than projections by the US Census Bureau, and is close to the implied underenumeration of 4.6% for the 1991 census; estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2004 est.)
Population below poverty line
22% (1998 est.)
Population growth rate
1.11% (2004 est.)
Ports and harbors
Belem, Fortaleza, Ilheus, Imbituba, Manaus, Paranagua, Porto Alegre, Recife, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande, Salvador, Santos, Vitoria
Public debt
58.5% of GDP (2003)
Radio broadcast stations
AM 1,365, FM 296, shortwave 161 (of which 91 are collocated with AM stations) (1999)
Radios
71 million (1997)
Railways
total: 29,412 km (1,610 km electrified)
broad gauge: 4,907 km 1.600-m gauge (942 km electrified)
standard gauge: 194 km 1.440-m gauge
dual gauge: 396 km 1.000-m and 1.600-m gauges (three rails) (78 km electrified) (2003)
narrow gauge: 23,915 km 1.000-m gauge (581 km electrified)
Religions
Roman Catholic (nominal) 80%
Reserves of foreign exchange & gold
$49.3 billion (2003)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Suffrage
voluntary between 16 and 18 years of age and over 70; compulsory over 18 and under 70 years of age
Telephone system
general assessment: good working system
domestic: extensive microwave radio relay system and a domestic satellite system with 64 earth stations
international: country code - 55; 3 coaxial submarine cables; 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
Telephones - main lines in use
38.81 million (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular
46,373,300 (2003)
Television broadcast stations
138 (1997)
Televisions
36.5 million (1997)
Terrain
mostly flat to rolling lowlands in north; some plains, hills, mountains, and narrow coastal belt
Total fertility rate
1.97 children born/woman (2004 est.)
Unemployment rate
12.3% (2003 est.)
Waterways
50,000 km