South America and South Atlantic Islands

Brazil
Last reviewed: 7 January 2009

Country information

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Map of Brazil

BRAZIL TODAY

Country Facts

Full country name: Federative Republic of Brazil
Area: 8,547,403 sq km
Population: 189.6 million (2008 estimate)
Capital City: Brasilia
Language: Portuguese
Religion: Roman Catholic (73.6%), Pentecostal (15.4%), Animist (1.4%)
Currency: Real
Major political parties: Following the elections in 2002, the Worker's Party (PT) became the largest party in Congress. It formed a coalition with some 10 other parties, giving it loose control of an overall majority in both chambers. However, in the 2006 elections the PT fell short of a majority in both the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate. The PT is a broad left party with close links to the trade union movement. The main opposition parties are the centre-left Social Democratic Party (PSDB), and the centre-right Democrats Party (DEM), formerly known as the Liberal Front Party (PFL).
Government: Brazil is a Federal Republic consisting of 26 States and the Federal District. States have considerable autonomy, being responsible for such issues as security and education. The President is both Head of State and Leader of the Government. Elections for President and Congress take place every 4 years.
Legislature: The 1988 Constitution provides for an elective bicameral Congress consisting of a Federal Senate (81 seats) and a Chamber of Deputies (513 seats).
Head of State: President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva
Foreign Minister: Ambassador Celso Amorim
Membership of international groupings/organisations: United Nations, Organisation of American States, Mercosul, World Trade Organisation, G77, ALADI (Latin American Integration Association), Rio Group, ECLAC (UN Economic Commission for Latin America & the Caribbean), Union of South American Nations.

DID YOU KNOW?

Brazil is larger than the continental US and Australia. It is the fifth largest country in the world.
With a population of 190 million, Brazil is also the fifth most populous country and fourth largest democracy. Sao Paulo is the second most populous city in the world, with almost 20 million people. Four million African slaves were transported to Brazil, 7 times the number transported to the US. The majority of the population is black, or partly so. Only Nigeria has a larger black population.
Brazil is also one of the most unequal societies. 5% of the population own 85% of the wealth.
Brazil is the world's largest exporter of iron ore and soya; it will soon be the largest exporter of frozen meat. Brazilian industry produces more cars than Mexico, more steel than Italy, the same amount as India.
Brazil is technically self-sufficient in oil and If recently discovered reserves are proven, is likely to become a major oil exporter in the future.
Brazil is the country outside the G8 with the best science base (as measured by the frequency its scientific papers are quoted).
Brazil has the world's largest reserves of tropical forest, freshwater and of bio-diversity. Enough water flows out of the Amazon each day to keep New York City going for 10 years.

Environment and Climate Change

Brazil is a world leader in the production of biofuels, bioethanol in particular. It is however the fourth largest global emitter of greenhouse gases.

The country has one of the highest levels of bio-diversity in the world. This is of economic importance in terms of agriculture, as a source of minerals and natural resources, and of potential genetic and pharmaceutical products. It is also of cultural and spiritual significance to Brazil's people who include over 200 indigenous groups. Brazil's key biomes are: Amazon rainforest, wetlands (Pantanal), semi-arid area (caatinga), savannah lands (cerrado), Atlantic forest, and marine and coastal areas. It is home to 15-20% of the total number of world species described to date. The Amazon represents over half of the world's remaining rainforest (8.5 million sq km); 60% of this is in Brazil. Brazil has 3.5 million sq km of coastal and marine waters.

The environment is a complex political issue in Brazil. This is partly due to its commercial significance, but also to conflicting pressures resulting from poverty and social inequality and developmental needs. Brazil also suffers from corruption, red tape and a shortage of resources for policy implementation. Incidences of environmental degradation remain high. 18% of the Brazilian Amazon has been deforested since 1970 (an area equivalent to France and Portugal together). The Brazilian Government has however announced a fall in the rate of deforestation: a 31% fall in the period August 2004 to August 2005 and an estimated 30% fall for the same 2005 to 2006 period, and has increased the number of protected and indigenous reserves (around 35% of Amazonia), and established a national forestry service.

The Brazilian Government takes a conservationist position on many issues. The country hosted the UN Conference on Environment and Development in 1992 (UNCED - the Rio Earth Summit) and played a key role in the World Summit on Sustainable Development in South Africa (referred to as Rio plus 10 by Brazilians), especially in the area of renewable energy.

Brazil plays a crucial and active role in international negotiations on climate change, and was behind the original concept of a Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). It is also active in building partnerships on biofuels.