Brazil

People & Society

Nationality:
noun: Brazilian(s)
adjective: Brazilian

Ethnic groups:
white 47.7%, mulatto (mixed white and black) 43.1%, black 7.6%, Asian 1.1%, indigenous 0.4% (2010 est.)

Languages:
Portuguese (official and most widely spoken language)
note: less common languages include Spanish (border areas and schools), German, Italian, Japanese, English, and a large number of minor Amerindian languages

Religions:
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.)

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 but is funding a study abroad program to bring advanced skills back to the country. 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, and Bolsa Familia and other social programs have lifted tens of millions out of poverty. More than half of Brazil’s population is considered middle class, but poverty and income inequality levels remain high; the Northeast, North, and Center-West, women, and black, mixed race, and indigenous populations are disproportionately affected. 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.

Population:
202,656,788 (July 2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6

Age structure:
0-14 years: 23.8% (male 24,534,129/female 23,606,332)
15-24 years: 16.5% (male 16,993,708/female 16,521,057)
25-54 years: 43.7% (male 43,910,790/female 44,674,915)
55-64 years: 7.6% (male 8,067,022/female 9,036,519)
65 years and over: 7.3% (male 6,507,069/female 8,805,247) (2014 est.)

Dependency ratios:
total dependency ratio: 45.8 %
youth dependency ratio: 34.4 %
elderly dependency ratio: 11.3 %
potential support ratio: 8.8 (2014 est.)

Median age:
total: 30.7 years
male: 29.9 years
female: 31.5 years (2014 est.)

Population growth rate:
0.8% (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137

Birth rate:
14.72 births/1,000 population (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134

Death rate:
6.54 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148

Net migration rate:
-0.15 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117

Urbanization:
urban population: 84.6% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization: 1.15% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major urban areas – population:
Sao Paulo 19.924 million; Rio de Janeiro 11.96 million; Belo Horizonte 5.487 million; Porto Alegre 3.933 million; Recife 3.733 million; BRASILIA (capital) 3.813 million (2011)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2014 est.)

Maternal mortality rate:
56 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
country comparison to the world: 103
Infant mortality rate:
total: 19.21 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 94
male: 22.47 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 15.78 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 73.28 years
country comparison to the world: 126
male: 69.73 years
female: 77 years (2014 est.)

Total fertility rate:
1.79 children born/woman (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155

Contraceptive prevalence rate:
80.3% (2006)

Health expenditures:
8.9% of GDP (2011)
country comparison to the world: 47

Physicians density:
1.76 physicians/1,000 population (2008)

Hospital bed density:
2.3 beds/1,000 population (2011)

Drinking water source:
improved:
urban: 99.5% of population
rural: 84.5% of population
total: 97.2% of population
unimproved:
urban: 0.5% of population
rural: 15.5% of population
total: 2.8% of population (2011 est.)

Sanitation facility access:
improved:
urban: 86.7% of population
rural: 48.4% of population
total: 80.8% of population
unimproved:
urban: 13.3% of population
rural: 51.6% of population
total: 19.2% of population (2011 est.)

HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate:
NA

HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA

HIV/AIDS – deaths:
NA

Obesity – adult prevalence rate:
18.8% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 102

Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
2.2% (2007)
country comparison to the world: 119

Education expenditures:
5.8% of GDP (2010)
country comparison to the world: 49

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 90.4%
male: 90.1%
female: 90.7% (2010 est.)

Child labor – children ages 5-14:
total number: 959,942
percentage: 3 %
note: data represents children ages 5-13 (2009 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
total: 15.4%
country comparison to the world: 82
male: 12.2%
female: 19.8% (2011)

Tabs Top

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Federative Republic of Brazil
conventional short form: Brazil
local long form: Republica Federativa do Brasil
local short form: Brasil

Government type:
federal republic

Capital:
name: Brasilia
geographic coordinates: 15 47 S, 47 55 W
time difference: UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins third Sunday in October; ends third Sunday in February
note: Brazil has three time zones, including one for the Fernando de Noronha Islands

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, Sao Paulo, Sergipe, Tocantins

Independence:
7 September 1822 (from Portugal)

National holiday:
Independence Day, 7 September (1822)

Constitution:
several previous; latest ratified 5 October 1988; amended many times, last in 2012 (2012)

Legal system:
civil law; note – a new civil law code was enacted in 2002 replacing the 1916 code
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

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Dilma ROUSSEFF (since 1 January 2011); Vice President Michel Miguel Elias TEMER Lulia (since 1 January 2011); note – the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Dilma ROUSSEFF (since 1 January 2011); Vice President Michel Miguel Elias TEMER Lulia (since 1 January 2011)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
(For more information visit the World Leaders website Opens in New Window)
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for a single four-year term; election last held on 3 October 2010 with runoff on 31 October 2010 (next to be held on 5 October 2014 and, if necessary, a runoff election on 26 October 2014)
election results: Dilma ROUSSEFF (PT) elected president in a runoff election; percent of vote – Dilma ROUSSEFF 56.01%, Jose SERRA (PSDB) 43.99%

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)
elections: Federal Senate – last held on 3 October 2010 for two-thirds of the Senate (next to be held in October 2014 for one-third of the Senate); Chamber of Deputies – last held on 3 October 2010 (next to be held in October 2014)
election results: Federal Senate – percent of vote by party – NA; seats by party – PMDB 20, PT 13, PSDB 10, DEM (formerly PFL) 7, PTdoB 6, PP 5, PDT 4, PR 4, PSB 4, PPS 1, PRB 1, other 3; Chamber of Deputies – percent of vote by party – NA; seats by party – PT 87, PMDB 80, PSDB 53, DEM (formerly PFL) 43, PP 41, PR 41, PSB 34, PDT 28, PTdoB 21, PSC 17, PCdoB 15, PV 15, PPS 12, other 26

Judicial branch:
highest court(s): Supreme Federal Court (consists of 11 justices)
judge selection and term of office: justices appointed by the president and approved by the Federal Senate; justices appointed to serve until mandatory retirement at age 70
subordinate courts: Federal Appeals Court, Superior Court of Justice, Superior Electoral Court, regional federal courts; state court system

Political parties and leaders:
Brazilian Communist Party or PCB [Ivan Martins PINHEIRO]
Brazilian Democratic Movement Party or PMDB [Michel TEMER]
Brazilian Labor Party or PTB [Benito GAMA]
Brazilian Renewal Labor Party or PRTB [Jose Levy FIDELIX da Cruz]
Brazilian Republican Party or PRB [Marcos Antonio PEREIRA]
Brazilian Social Democracy Party or PSDB [Aecio NEVES]
Brazilian Socialist Party or PSB [Eduardo CAMPOS]
Christian Labor Party or PTC [Daniel TOURINHO]
Christian Social Democratic Party or PSDC [Jose Maria EYMAEL]
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)
Free Homeland Party or PPL [Sergio RUBENS]
Green Party or PV [Jose Luiz PENNA]
Humanist Party of Solidarity or PHS [Eduardo MACHADO]
Labor Party of Brazil or PTdoB [Luis Henrique de Oliveira RESENDE]
National Ecologic Party or PEN [Adilson Barroso OLIVEIRA]
National Labor Party or PTN [Jose Masci de ABREU]
National Mobilization Party or PMN [Oscar Noronha FILHO]
Party of the Republic or PR [Alfredo NASCIMENTO]
Popular Socialist Party or PPS [Roberto Joao Pereira FREIRE]
Progressive Party or PP [Ciro NOGUEIRA]
Progressive Republican Party or PRP [Ovasco Roma Altimari RESENDE]
Social Christian Party or PSC [Vitor Jorge Abdala NOSSEIS]
Social Democratic Party or PSD [Gilberto KASSAB]
Social Liberal Party or PSL [Luciano Caldas BIVAR]
Socialism and Freedom Party or PSOL [Luiz ARAUJO]
United Socialist Workers’ Party or PSTU [Jose Maria DE ALMEIDA]
Workers’ Cause Party or PCO [Rui Costa PIMENTA]
Workers’ Party or PT [Rui FALCAO]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Landless Workers’ Movement or MST
other: industrial federations; labor unions and federations; large farmers’ associations; religious groups including evangelical Christian churches and the Catholic Church

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

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Mauro Luiz Iecker VIEIRA (since 11 January 2010)
chancery: 3006 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 238-2805
FAX: [1] (202) 238-2827
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Hartford (CT), Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Liliana AYALDE (since 1 August 2013)
embassy: Avenida das Nacoes, Quadra 801, Lote 3, Distrito Federal Cep 70403-900, Brasilia
mailing address: Unit 7500, DPO, AA 34030
telephone: [55] (61) 3312-7000
FAX: [55] (61) 3225-9136
consulate(s) general: Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo
consulate(s): Recife

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)

National symbol(s):
Southern Cross constellation

National anthem:
name: “Hino Nacional Brasileiro” (Brazilian National Anthem)

Tabs Top

Economy

Economy – overview:
Characterized by large and well-developed agricultural, mining, manufacturing, and service sectors, and a rapidly expanding middle class, 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 in 2011-13. 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 exchange 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.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
$2.416 trillion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8
$2.362 trillion (2012 est.)
$2.342 trillion (2011 est.)
note: data are in 2013 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate):
$2.19 trillion (2013 est.)
GDP – real growth rate:
2.3% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136
0.9% (2012 est.)
2.7% (2011 est.)

GDP – per capita (PPP):
$12,100 (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105
$11,900 (2012 est.)
$11,900 (2011 est.)
note: data are in 2013 US dollars

Gross national saving:
14.8% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
15.2% of GDP (2012 est.)
17.6% of GDP (2011 est.)

GDP – composition, by end use:
household consumption: 62.5%
government consumption: 21.7%
investment in fixed capital: 18.3%
investment in inventories: 0%
exports of goods and services: 12.4%
imports of goods and services: -14.9%
(2013 est.)

GDP – composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture: 5.5%
industry: 26.4%
services: 68.1%
(2013 est.)

Agriculture – products:
coffee, soybeans, wheat, rice, corn, sugarcane, cocoa, citrus; beef

Industries:
textiles, shoes, chemicals, cement, lumber, iron ore, tin, steel, aircraft, motor vehicles and parts, other machinery and equipment

Industrial production growth rate:
3% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99

Labor force:
107.3 million (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6

Labor force – by occupation:
agriculture: 15.7%
industry: 13.3%
services: 71%
(2011 est.)

Unemployment rate:
5.7% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
5.5% (2012 est.)

Population below poverty line:
21.4%
note: official Brazilian data show 4.2% of the population being below the “extreme” poverty line in 2011 (2009 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 0.8%
highest 10%: 42.9% (2009 est.)

Distribution of family income – Gini index:
51.9 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 16
55.3 (2001)

Budget:
revenues: $851.1 billion
expenditures: $815.6 billion (2013 est.)

Taxes and other revenues:
38.9% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
1.6% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21

Public debt:
59.2% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
58.8% of GDP (2012 est.)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
6.2% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180
5.4% (2012 est.)

Central bank discount rate:
10% (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
11% (31 December 2011 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:
26.9% (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2
36.64% (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of narrow money:
$157.6 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
$159.1 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of broad money:
$870.8 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
$863.5 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of domestic credit:
$2.435 trillion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11
$2.381 trillion (31 December 2012 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:
$1.23 trillion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8
$1.229 trillion (31 December 2011)
$1.546 trillion (31 December 2010 est.)

Current account balance:
-$77.63 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191
-$54.23 billion (2012 est.)

Exports:
$244.8 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
$242.6 billion (2012 est.)

Exports – commodities:
transport equipment, iron ore, soybeans, footwear, coffee, autos

Exports – partners:
China 17%, US 11.1%, Argentina 7.4%, Netherlands 6.2% (2012)

Imports:
$241.4 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
$223.2 billion (2012 est.)

Imports – commodities:
machinery, electrical and transport equipment, chemical products, oil, automotive parts, electronics

Imports – partners:
China 15.3%, US 14.6%, Argentina 7.4%, Germany 6.4%, South Korea 4.1% (2012)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$378.3 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8
$373.1 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Debt – external:
$475.9 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27
$438.9 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment – at home:
$663.3 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
$604.5 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment – abroad:
$179.6 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
$177.1 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Exchange rates:
reals (BRL) per US dollar –
2.153 (2013 est.)
1.9546 (2012 est.)
1.7592 (2010 est.)
2 (2009)
1.8644 (2008)

Tabs Top