Statistics Brazil 
Brazil in the World
Brazil - Introduction 2012
top of pageBackground: Following more than three centuries under Portuguese rule Brazil gained its independence in 1822 maintaining a monarchical system of government until the abolition of slavery in 1888 and the subsequent proclamation of a republic by the military in 1889. Brazilian coffee exporters politically dominated the country until populist leader Getulio VARGAS rose to power in 1930. By far the largest and most populous country in South America Brazil underwent more than a half century of populist and military government until 1985 when the military regime peacefully ceded power to civilian rulers. Brazil continues to pursue industrial and agricultural growth and development of its interior. Exploiting vast natural resources and a large labor pool it is today South America's leading economic power and a regional leader one of the first in the area to begin an economic recovery. Highly unequal income distribution and crime remain pressing problems.
Terrain: mostly flat to rolling lowlands in north; some plains hills mountains and narrow coastal belt
Natural resources: bauxite gold iron ore manganese nickel phosphates platinum tin rare earth elements uranium petroleum hydropower timber
Geography
Note: largest country in South America; shares common boundaries with every South American country except Chile and Ecuador
Brazil - People 2012
top of pagePopulation: 199,321,413 (July 2012 est.)
Rank: 5
Growth rate: 0.86% (2012 est.)
Growth rate rank: 131
Below poverty line: 21.4% (2009 est.)
Ethnic groups: white 53.7% mulatto (mixed white and black) 38.5% black 6.2% other (includes Japanese Arab Amerindian) 0.9% unspecified 0.7% (2000 census)
Religions: Roman Catholic (nominal) 73.6% Protestant 15.4% Spiritualist 1.3% Bantu/voodoo 0.3% other 1.8% unspecified 0.2% none 7.4% (2000 census)
Demographic profile:
Brazil's rapid fertility decline since the 1960s is the main factor behind the country's slowing population growth rate aging population and fast-paced demographic transition. Brasilia has not taken full advantage of its large working-age population to develop its human capital and strengthen its social and economic institutions. The current favorable age structure will begin to shift around 2025 with the labor force shrinking and the elderly starting to compose an increasing share of the total population. Well-funded public pensions have nearly wiped out poverty among the elderly but limited social spending on children has restricted investment in education - a primary means of escaping poverty. Brazil's poverty and income inequality levels remain high despite improvements in the 2000s and continue to disproportionately affect the Northeast North and Center-West women and black mixed race and indigenous populations. Disparities in opportunities foster social exclusion and contribute to Brazil's high crime rate particularly violent crime in cities and favelas.
Brazil has traditionally been a net recipient of immigrants with its southeast being the prime destination. After the importation of African slaves was outlawed in the mid-19th century Brazil sought Europeans (Italians Portuguese Spaniards and Germans) and later Asians (Japanese) to work in agriculture especially coffee cultivation. Recent immigrants come mainly from Argentina Chile and Andean countries (many are unskilled illegal migrants) or are returning Brazilian nationals. Since Brazil's economic downturn in the 1980s emigration to the United States Europe and Japan has been rising but is negligible relative to Brazil's total population. The majority of these emigrants are well-educated and middle-class. Fewer Brazilian peasants are emigrating to neighboring countries to take up agricultural work.
Brazil has traditionally been a net recipient of immigrants with its southeast being the prime destination. After the importation of African slaves was outlawed in the mid-19th century Brazil sought Europeans (Italians Portuguese Spaniards and Germans) and later Asians (Japanese) to work in agriculture especially coffee cultivation. Recent immigrants come mainly from Argentina Chile and Andean countries (many are unskilled illegal migrants) or are returning Brazilian nationals. Since Brazil's economic downturn in the 1980s emigration to the United States Europe and Japan has been rising but is negligible relative to Brazil's total population. The majority of these emigrants are well-educated and middle-class. Fewer Brazilian peasants are emigrating to neighboring countries to take up agricultural work.
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
Sanitation facility access:
urban: 87% of population
rural: 37% of population
total: 80% of population
rural: 37% of population
total: 80% of population
Unimproved:
urban: 13% of population
rural: 63% of population
total: 20% of population
rural: 63% of population
total: 20% of population
Brazil - Government 2012
top of pageAdministrative 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 Sao Paulo Sergipe Tocantins
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Suffrage: voluntary between 16 to under 18 years of age and over 70; compulsory 18 to 70 years of age; note - military conscripts do not vote by law
Legislative branch: bicameral National Congress or Congresso Nacional consists of the Federal Senate or Senado Federal (81 seats; 3 members from each state and federal district elected according to the principle of majority to serve eight-year terms; one-third and two-thirds of members elected every four years alternately) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camara dos Deputados (513 seats; members are elected by proportional representation to serve four-year terms)
Judicial branch: Supreme Federal Tribunal or STF (11 ministers are appointed for life by the president and confirmed by the Senate); Superior Tribunal of Justice or STJ; Superior Electoral Tribunal or TSE; Regional Federal Tribunals (judges are appointed for life); note - though appointed 'for life' judges like all federal employees have a mandatory retirement age of 70
Political parties and leaders: Brazilian Democratic Movement Party or PMDB [Michel TEMER]; Brazilian Labor Party or PTB [Roberto JEFFERSON]; Brazilian Renewal Labor Party or PRTB [Jose Levy FIDELIX da Cruz]; Brazilian Republican Party or PRB [Vitor Paulo DOS SANTOS]; Brazilian Social Democracy Party or PSDB [Sergio GUERRA]; Brazilian Socialist Party or PSB [Eduardo Henrique Accioly CAMPOS]; Christian Labor Party or PTC [Daniel TOURINHO]; Communist Party of Brazil or PCdoB [Jose Renato RABELO]; Democratic Labor Party or PDT [Carlos Roberto LUPI]; the Democrats or DEM [Jose AGRIPINO] (formerly Liberal Front Party or PFL); Freedom and Socialism Party or PSOL [Ivan VALENTE]; Green Party or PV [Jose Luiz PENNA]; Humanist Party of Solidarity or PHS [Philippe GUEDON]; Labor Party of Brazil or PTdoB [Luis Henrique de Oliveira RESENDE]; National Mobilization Party or PMN [Celso BRANT]; Party of the Republic or PR [Sergio Victor TAMER]; Popular Socialist Party or PPS [Roberto Joao PEREIRA FREIRE]; Progressive Party or PP [Francisco DORNELLES]; Social Christian Party or PSC [Vitor Jorge Abdala NOSSEIS]; Social Democracy Party or PSD [Gilberto KASSAB]; Workers' Party or PT [Rui FALCAO]
International organization participation: AfDB (nonregional member) BIS BRICS CAN (associate) CD CELAC CPLP FAO FATF G-15 G-20 G-24 G-77 IADB IAEA IBRD ICAO ICC (national committees) 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 NAM (observer) NSG OAS OECD (Enhanced Engagement OPANAL OPCW Paris Club (associate) PCA SICA (observer) UN UNASUR UNCTAD UNESCO UNFICYP UNHCR UNIDO UNIFIL Union Latina UNISFA UNITAR UNMIL UNMISS UNMIT UNOCI UNWTO UPU WCO WFTU (NGOs) WHO WIPO WMO WTO
Flag description: green with a large yellow diamond in the center bearing a blue celestial globe with 27 white five-pointed stars; the globe has a white equatorial band with the motto ORDEM E PROGRESSO (Order and Progress); the current flag was inspired by the banner of the former Empire of Brazil (1822-1889); on the imperial flag the green represented the House of Braganza of Pedro I the first Emperor of Brazil while the yellow stood for the Habsburg Family of his wife; on the modern flag the green represents the forests of the country and the yellow rhombus its mineral wealth; the blue circle and stars which replaced the coat of arms of the original flag depict the sky over Rio de Janeiro on the morning of 15 November 1889 - the day the Republic of Brazil was declared; the number of stars has changed with the creation of new states and has risen from an original 21 to the current 27 (one for each state and the Federal District)
Brazil - Economy 2012
top of pageEconomy overview: Characterized by large and well-developed agricultural mining manufacturing and service sectors Brazil's economy outweighs that of all other South American countries and Brazil is expanding its presence in world markets. Since 2003 Brazil has steadily improved its macroeconomic stability building up foreign reserves and reducing its debt profile by shifting its debt burden toward real denominated and domestically held instruments. In 2008 Brazil became a net external creditor and two ratings agencies awarded investment grade status to its debt. After strong growth in 2007 and 2008 the onset of the global financial crisis hit Brazil in 2008. Brazil experienced two quarters of recession as global demand for Brazil's commodity-based exports dwindled and external credit dried up. However Brazil was one of the first emerging markets to begin a recovery. In 2010 consumer and investor confidence revived and GDP growth reached 7.5% the highest growth rate in the past 25 years. Rising inflation led the authorities to take measures to cool the economy; these actions and the deteriorating international economic situation slowed growth to 2.7% in 2011 and 1.5% in 2012. Despite slower growth in 2011 Brazil overtook the United Kingdom as the world's seventh largest economy in terms of GDP. Unemployment is at historic lows and Brazil's traditionally high level of income inequality has declined for each of the last 14 years. Brazil's historically high interest rates have made it an attractive destination for foreign investors. Large capital inflows over the past several years have contributed to the appreciation of the currency hurting the competitiveness of Brazilian manufacturing and leading the government to intervene in foreign exchanges markets and raise taxes on some foreign capital inflows. President Dilma ROUSSEFF has retained the previous administration's commitment to inflation targeting by the central bank a floating exchange rate and fiscal restraint. In an effort to boost growth in 2012 the administration implemented a series of more expansionary monetary and fiscal policies that have failed to stimulate much growth.
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$1.546 trillion (31 December 2010)
$1.167 trillion (31 December 2009)
$1.167 trillion (31 December 2009)
Rank: 10
Exports: $256 billion (2011 est.)
Rank: 24
Commodities: transport equipment iron ore soybeans footwear coffee autos
Partners: China 17.3% US 10.1% Argentina 8.9% Netherlands 5.3% (2011)
Imports: $226.2 billion (2011 est.)
Rank: 22
Commodities: machinery electrical and transport equipment chemical products oil automotive parts electronics
Partners: US 15.1% China 14.5% Argentina 7.5% Germany 6.7% South Korea 4.5% (2011)
Exchange rates:
reals (BRL) per US dollar -
2.1 (2012 est.)
1.675 (2011 est.)
1.7592 (2010 est.)
2 (2009)
1.8644 (2008)
2.1 (2012 est.)
1.675 (2011 est.)
1.7592 (2010 est.)
2 (2009)
1.8644 (2008)
Brazil - Energy 2012
top of pageElectricity
Production: 489.5 billion kWh (2010 est.)
Production rank: 11
Consumption: 438.3 billion kWh (2010 est.)
Consumption rank: 12
Exports: 1.257 billion kWh (2010 est.)
Exports rank: 56
Imports: 36.63 billion kWh (2010 est.)
Imports rank: 7
Installed generating capacity: 106.2 million kW (2010 est.)
Installed generating capacity rank: 11
Generation sources fossil fuels: 17.1% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels rank: 193
Generation sources nuclear: 1.9% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Generation sources nuclear rank: 31
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 74.7% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity rank: 20
Generation sources other renewable sources: 6.3% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Generation sources other renewable sources rank: 31
Petroleum
Petroleum total petroleum production: 2.633 million bbl/day (2011 est.)
Petroleum total petroleum production rank: 12
Crude oil exports: 533,200 bbl/day (2009 est.)
Crude oil exports rank: 21
Crude oil imports: 412,500 bbl/day (2009 est.)
Crude oil imports rank: 20
Crude oil proven reserves: 26 billion bbl (1 January 2013 est.)
Crude oil proven reserves rank: 13
Refined petroleum
Products production: 2.008 million bbl/day (2008 est.)
Products production rank: 10
Products consumption: 2.594 million bbl/day (2011 est.)
Products consumption rank: 9
Products exports: 164,300 bbl/day (2008 est.)
Products exports rank: 35
Products imports: 325,400 bbl/day (2008 est.)
Products imports rank: 21
Natural gas
Production: 24.07 billion m³ (2011 est.)
Production rank: 31
Consumption: 26.7 billion m³ (2011 est.)
Consumption rank: 32
Exports: 0 m³ (2011 est.)
Exports rank: 166
Imports: 12.6 billion m³ (2011 est.)
Imports rank: 23
Proven reserves: 416.9 billion m³ (1 January 2012 est.)
Proven reserves rank: 34
Carbon dioxide emissions
From consumption of energy: 453.9 million Mt (2010 est.)
From consumption of energy rank: 14
Brazil - Communication 2012
top of pageTelephones
Main lines in use: 43.026 million (2011)
Main lines in use rank: 6
Mobile cellular: 244.358 million (2011)
Mobile cellular rank: 5
Broadcast media: state-run Radiobras operates a radio and a TV network; more than 1000 radio stations and more than 100 TV channels operating - mostly privately owned; private media ownership highly concentrated (2007)
Internet
Country code: .br
Hosts: 26.577 million (2012)
Hosts rank: 3
Users: 75.982 million (2009)
Users rank: 4
Brazil - Military 2012
top of pageMilitary service age and obligation: 21-45 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - 9 to 12 months; 17-45 years of age for voluntary service; an increasing percentage of the ranks are 'long-service' volunteer professionals; women were allowed to serve in the armed forces beginning in early 1980s when the Brazilian Army became the first army in South America to accept women into career ranks; women serve in Navy and Air Force only in Women's Reserve Corps (2001)
Brazil - Transportation 2012
top of pagePipelines: condensate/gas 62 km; gas 13,514 km; liquid petroleum gas 352 km; oil 3,729 km; refined products 4,684 km (2010)
Brazil - Transnational issues 2012
top of pageDisputes international: uncontested boundary dispute between Brazil and Uruguay over Braziliera/Brasiliera Island in the Quarai/Cuareim River leaves the tripoint with Argentina in question; smuggling of firearms and narcotics continues to be an issue along the Uruguay-Brazil border; Colombian-organized illegal narcotics and paramilitary activities penetrate Brazil's border region with Venezuela
Illicit drugs: second-largest consumer of cocaine in the world; illicit producer of cannabis; trace amounts of 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; 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 are often laundered through the financial system; significant illicit financial activity in the Tri-Border Area (2008)
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