Brazil

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.

10 00 S, 55 00 W

recurring droughts in northeast; floods and occasional frost in south

slightly smaller than the US

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

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

mostly tropical, but temperate in south

7,491 km

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

Agricultural land: 28.3% (2023 est.)

Arable land: 6.7% (2023 est.)

Permanent crops: 0.9% (2023 est.)

Permanent pasture: 20.7% (2023 est.)

Forest: 58.9% (2023 est.)

Other: 12.7% (2023 est.)

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Contiguous zone: 24 nm

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Continental shelf: 200 nm or to edge of the continental margin

alumina, bauxite, beryllium, gold, iron ore, manganese, nickel, niobium, phosphates, platinum, tantalum, tin, rare earth elements, uranium, petroleum, hydropower, timber

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

mostly flat to rolling lowlands in north; some plains, hills, mountains, and narrow coastal belt

Eastern South America, bordering the Atlantic Ocean

South America

91,833 sq km (2022)

8.647 trillion cubic meters (2022 est.)

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

Highest point: Pico da Neblina 2,994 m

Lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m

Mean elevation: 320 m

Amazon Basin, Guarani Aquifer System, Maranhao Basin

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)

Fresh water lake(s): Lagoa dos Patos - 10,140 sq km

Salt water lake(s): Lagoa Mirim (shared with Uruguay) - 2,970 sq 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

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

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)

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.)

Total population: 94.8% (2024 est.)

Male: 94.5% (2024 est.)

Female: 95.1% (2024 est.)

Noun: Brazilian(s)

Adjective: Brazilian

Total: 16 years (2022 est.)

Male: 15 years (2022 est.)

Female: 17 years (2022 est.)

Urban population: 87.8% of total population (2023)

Rate of urbanization: 0.87% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Improved:

Urban: 99.8% of population (2022 est.)

Rural: 98% of population (2022 est.)

Total: 99.6% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved:

Urban: 0.2% of population (2022 est.)

Rural: 2% of population (2022 est.)

Total: 0.4% of population (2022 est.)

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)

2.36 physicians/1,000 population (2023)

2.5 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)

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.)

Improved:

Urban: 94.7% of population (2022 est.)

Rural: 65% of population (2022 est.)

Total: 91% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved:

Urban: 5.3% of population (2022 est.)

Rural: 35% of population (2022 est.)

Total: 9% of population (2022 est.)

mixed 45.3%, White 43.5%, Black 10.2%, Indigenous 0.6%, Asian 0.4% (2022 est.)

Roman Catholic 56.8%, Evangelical 26.9%, none 9.3%, other 4%, Spirtism (Espírita) 1.8%, unspecified 1.4%, Umbanda and Candomblé 1.1%, Indigenous religions .06%, undeclared 0.2% (2022)

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.

9.9% of GDP (2021)

9% of national budget (2022 est.)

0.85 (2024 est.)

56.9% (2019 est.)

Total: 18% (2024 est.)

Male: 15.7% (2024 est.)

Female: 20.9% (2024 est.)

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

-0.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Total: 35.1 years (2024 est.)

Male: 34 years

Female: 36.1 years

67 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

1.74 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Total: 220,051,512 (2024 est.)

Male: 108,166,491

Female: 111,885,021

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

Total: 11.2% (2025 est.)

Male: 14.4% (2025 est.)

Female: 8.3% (2025 est.)

22.1% (2016)

7 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

13.2 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

3.5% (2019 est.)

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.)

Total population: 76.3 years (2024 est.)

Male: 72.6 years

Female: 80.1 years

5.6% of GDP (2022 est.)

12.9% national budget (2022 est.)

0.61% (2024 est.)

Municipal: 16.397 billion cubic meters (2022)

Industrial: 10.2 billion cubic meters (2022)

Agricultural: 41.336 billion cubic meters (2022)

Municipal solid waste generated annually: 79.07 million tons (2024 est.)

Percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 2.8% (2022 est.)

10.9 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

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.)

48.889 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

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:
BrasilliaACS@state.gov

https://br.usembassy.gov/

Consulate(s) general: Recife, Porto Alegre, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo

Branch office(s): Belo Horizonte

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, Rondônia, Roraima, Santa Catarina, São Paulo, Sergipe, Tocantins

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)

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

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

Election/appointment process: 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)

Most recent election date: 2 October 2022, with runoff on 30 October 2022

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%

Expected date of next election: 4 October 2026

Note: the president is both chief of state and head of government

Description: Green with a large yellow diamond in the center, showing a blue celestial globe with 27 five-pointed white stars; the globe has a white equatorial band with the motto ORDEM E PROGRESSO (Order and Progress)

Meaning: Green stands for the country's forests, and yellow for its mineral wealth, with the diamond representing the country's shape; the blue globe 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)

History: The flag was inspired by the former Empire of Brazil's flag (1822-1889)

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

7 September 1822 (from Portugal)

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

civil law

Note: A new civil-law code in 2002 replaced the 1916 code

Legislature name: National Congress (Congresso nacional)

Legislative structure: Bicameral

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 Day, 7 September (1822)

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

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

federal presidential republic

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

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:
contact.washington@itamaraty.gov.br 

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

Title: "Hino Nacional Brasileiro" (Brazilian National Anthem)

Lyrics/music: Joaquim Osorio Duque ESTRADA/Francisco Manoel DA SILVA

History: Music adopted 1890, lyrics adopted 1922; the anthem's music, composed in 1822, was used unofficially for many years

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Southern Cross constellation

Citizenship by birth: Yes

Citizenship by descent only: Yes

Dual citizenship recognized: Yes

Residency requirement for naturalization: 4 years

Total World Heritage Sites: 24 (15 cultural, 9 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);Peruaçu River Canyon (n) 

green, yellow, blue

4.2% (2016 est.)

Note: Approximately 4% of the population are below the "extreme" poverty line

Lowest 10%: 1.3% (2023 est.)

Highest 10%: 40.8% (2023 est.)

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

soybeans, crude petroleum, iron ore, raw sugar, corn (2023)

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

China 30%, USA 10%, Argentina 5%, Netherlands 3%, Chile 2% (2023)

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

sugarcane, soybeans, maize, milk, cassava, oranges, chicken, beef, rice, wheat (2023)

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Revenues: $556.303 billion (2023 est.)

Expenditures: $706.816 billion (2023 est.)

note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

refined petroleum, fertilizers, crude petroleum, vehicle parts/accessories, gas turbines (2023)

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

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.)

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

$2.179 trillion (2024 est.)

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Household consumption: 63.8% (2024 est.)

Government consumption: 18.8% (2024 est.)

Investment in fixed capital: 17% (2024 est.)

Investment in inventories: -0.1% (2024 est.)

Exports of goods and services: 18% (2024 est.)

Imports of goods and services: -17.5% (2024 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

China 23%, USA 16%, Germany 5%, Argentina 5%, Russia 4% (2023)

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

On food: 16.2% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

On alcohol and tobacco: 1.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

0.2% of GDP (2024 est.)
0.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
0.3% of GDP (2022 est.)

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

106.79 million (2024 est.)

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

$198.582 billion (2023 est.)

note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

$329.732 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

83% of GDP (2023 est.)

note: central government debt as a % of GDP

7.7% (2024 est.)
8% (2023 est.)
9.3% (2022 est.)

note: % of labor force seeking employment

14% (of GDP) (2023 est.)

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

$4.165 trillion (2024 est.)
$4.029 trillion (2023 est.)
$3.902 trillion (2022 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

4.4% (2024 est.)
4.6% (2023 est.)
9.3% (2022 est.)

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

-$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

$19,600 (2024 est.)
$19,100 (2023 est.)
$18,600 (2022 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

$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

$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

3.4% (2024 est.)
3.2% (2023 est.)
3% (2022 est.)

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

3.3% (2024 est.)

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Agriculture: 5.6% (2024 est.)

Industry: 21.3% (2024 est.)

Services: 59.3% (2024 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)

Electrification - urban areas: 100%

Electrification - rural areas: 97.3%

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.)

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.)

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.)

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.)

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.)

Percent of population: 84% (2023 est.)

.br

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)

Total subscriptions: 213 million (2023 est.)

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 99 (2022 est.)

Total: 48.4 million (2023 est.)

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 23 (2023 est.)

Total subscriptions: 25.574 million (2023 est.)

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 12 (2023 est.)

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

PP

5,297 (2025)

Total: 888 (2023)

By type: Bulk carrier 13, container ship 20, general cargo 38, oil tanker 27, other 790

1,871 (2025)

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.)

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)

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)

approximately 360,000 active Armed Forces (220,000 Army; 70,000 Navy; 70,000 Air Force) (2025)

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 (2025)

18-45 years of age for compulsory military service for men (only 5-10% of those inducted are required to serve); compulsory service obligation is generally 12 months; 17-45 (18 for women) years of age for voluntary service (2025)

Note: In 2024, women were reported to comprise approximately 10% of the Brazilian military

USG identification:
Major precursor-chemical producer (2025)

Refugees: 331,097 (2024 est.)

IDPs: 19,043 (2024 est.)

Stateless persons: 27 (2024 est.)

Tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List — Brazil did not demonstrate overall increasing efforts to eliminate trafficking compared with the previous reporting period and was downgraded to Tier 2 Watch List; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/brazil/

Terrorist group(s): Hizballah; Tren de Aragua (TdA)

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

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.)

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 satellite 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 ESA, individual ESA 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 (2025)

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 (INPE, under the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovations); Department of Aerospace Science and Technology (DCTA, under the Aeronautics Command (COMAER) of the Ministry of Defense) (2025)

Alcantara Launch Center (Maranhão state); Barreira do Inferno Launch Center (Rio Grande do Norte state) (2025)

Total global geoparks and regional networks: 6

Global geoparks and regional networks: Araripe; Cacapava; Quarta Colonia; Serido; Southern Canyons Pathways; Uberaba (2024)

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

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 (106)

Percentage of women in chamber: 18.1%

Expected date of next election: October 2026

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

1960s - established a national space program under the Air Force

1984 - began satellite launch vehicle (SLV) program (Veículo Lançador de Satélites or VLS-1) 

1985 - first communications satellite jointly produced with Canada and launched on European SLV

1993 - first domestically built experimental communications satellite (Satélite de Coleta de Dados, SCD-1) launched by US

2004 - launched a sounding rocket into sub-orbital space, but the subsequent catastrophic failure of a VLS-1 during a test launch led to scaling back the program

2006 - first Brazilian astronaut to the International Space Station on a Russian rocket

2008 - began work on a 3-stage microsatellite launch vehicle (Veículo Lançador de Microssatélite or VLM-1) in partnership with Germany

2021 - first independently produced remote sensing (RS) satellite (Amazonia-1) launched by India; signed US-led Artemis Accords on space exploration cooperation and signed cooperation agreements with the space agencies of China, India, Russia, and South Africa for the joint development of an RS satellite constellation

2022 - successfully launched suborbital rocket more than 225 km (140 miles) in height

Energy: 1,759.1 kt (2022-2024 est.)

Agriculture: 13,761.9 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Waste: 3,361.8 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Other: 382.6 kt (2019-2021 est.)

51.6 (2023 est.)

note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality