Brazil

More Information

Brazil's Information


Capital	Brasilia
Languages	Portuguese (official and most widely spoken language)
Ethnic Groups	White 47.7%, mulatto (mixed white and black) 43.1%, black 7.6%, Asian 1.1%, indigenous 0.4% (2010 est.)
Religion	Roman Catholic 64.6%, other Catholic 0.4%, Protestant 22.2% (includes Adventist 6.5%, Assembly of God 2.0%, Christian Congregation of Brazil 1.2%, Universal Kingdom of God 1.0%, other Protestant 11.5%), other Christian 0.7%, Spiritist 2.2%, other 1.4%, none 8%, unspecified 0.4% (2010 est.)
Government	Federal presidential republic
Independance	7 September 1822 (from Portugal)
Area	8,515,770.00 km²
Water Area	157,630.00 km²
Land Area	8,358,140.00 km²
Population	205,823,665.00 The vast majority of people live along, or relatively near, the Atlantic coast in the east; the population core is in the southeast, anchored by the cities of Sao Paolo, Brazilia, and Rio de Janeiro
Location	Eastern South America, bordering the Atlantic Ocean
No. Bordering Countries	10
Bordering Countries	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
GDP(PPP)	$3,080,000,000,000.00 (USD)
GDP (Per Capita)	$14,800.00 (USD)
Export Partners	Its major export partners are the United States and China.
Export Commodities	Its main exports are transport equipment, iron ore, and soybeans.
Import Partners	Its major import partners are China, the United States, and Germany.
Import Commodities	Its major imports include machinery, electrical and transport equp
Climate	Mostly tropical, but temperate in south
Terrain	Mostly flat to rolling lowlands in north; some plains, hills, mountains, and narrow coastal belt

Where is Brazil?

Located in Eastern South America, Brazil has a 16,145.00 km border with 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) and Venezuela (2,137 km). It has a 7,491.00 km coastline. The country is involved in an uncontested boundary dispute with Uruguay over Braziliera Island.

The capital city of Brazil is Brasilia, which is located in the Brazilian Plateau on the shores of Paranoá Lake. It has a tropical savanna climate, although its high elevation prevents the city from experiencing very high temperatures. This city was specifically planned and developed to serve as the capital of Brazil and was officially founded on April 21, 1960. Its outline is said to resemble a large bird. The entire metropolitan population of Brasilia is reported at over 2.9 million, which indicates rapid growth over the last 60 years. It is considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is home to interesting modernist architecture. Brasilia receives a number of tourists every year, who come primarily to observe the architecture and design of the city.

Geography

Brazil has a mean elevation of 320 m above sea level.

It has a tropical climate that is more temperate in the south. Its terrain is mostly flat with some plains, hills, and mountains.

Population

Brazil has a population of 205,823,665 making it the 5th largest in the world. The vast majority of the country lives near the Atlantic coast.

Portuguese is both the official and the most widely spoken language. The majority ethnic groups reported are white, mulatto, and black. The populaton is mainly Roman Catholic and Protestant.

Brazil is home to a large number of languages, although the only nationally recognized official language is Portuguese. In fact, Portuguese is such an important language in this country that it is spoken and understood by approximately 99% of the population. Some European languages share official status at a state level in Santa Catarina (Talian), Espirito Santo (German and East Pomeranian), and Rio Grande do Sul (Talian and Riograndenser Hunsrückisch German). German is the most widely used minority language in Brazil and is spoken and understood by around 1.9% of the population here. Linguists estimate that only around 40,000 individuals, or .2% of the population, continue to utilize the Amerindian, or Indigenous, languages on a regular basis. When traveling to Brazil, it is important to understand some of the unique phrases only heard here. One of these is “fala serio”, which literally means “speak seriously”, but can be understood as “you’re kidding!”

Government

Brazil is an independent country. It became independent from Portugal in 1822. Its constitution was last ratified in 1988.

The government of Brazil is a federal constitutional republic, in which the President serves as both head of state and head of government. Presidents of Brazil may serve for two consecutive four-year terms. After serving these consecutive terms, former presidents may run for office again after sitting out for at least one term. The legislative branch of government is carried out by the National Congress, which is a bicameral body made up of the Chamber of Deputies and the Federal Senate. The National Congress meets at the National Congress Palace, located in Brasilia. Voting in Brazil is mandatory for citizens between the ages of 18 and 70.

Economy

Factoring in Purchasing Power Parity, Brazil's GDP is $3,080,000,000,000.00 (USD) with $14,800.00 (USD) per capita. This makes it the 7th largest economy and its citizens the 106th richest in the world. The currency of Brazil is the Real (BRL).

Its major export partners are the United States and China. Its main exports are transport equipment, iron ore, and soybeans. Its major import partners are China, the United States, and Germany. Its major imports include machinery, electrical and transport equp.

Flag

The current version of the flag of Brazil has been in use since November 19, 1889. It reflects a green background upon which sits a yellow diamond shape in the center. In the middle of the diamond shape lies a dark blue circle with a 27-star constellation and a white banner that reads, “Order and Progress”. The green color represents the family coat of arms of the first Emperor of Brazil, while the yellow color represents that of his wife. This flag was designed by a group of individuals led by Raimundo Teixeira Mendes. It is often considered one of the most beautiful flags in the world.