Brazil
Federative Republic of Brazil
Capital: Brasilia
History
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.
Geography
Metric Units
|
Total Area
|
8,514,877
sq km
|
| Land Boundaries |
16,885
km
|
| Border Countries |
Argentina 1,261 km, Bolivia 3,423 km, Colombia 1,644 km, French Guiana 730 km, Guyana 1,606 km, Paraguay 1,365 km, Peru 2,995 km, Suriname 593 km, Uruguay 1,068 km, Venezuela 2,200 km |
| Coastline |
7,491
km
|
| Terrain |
mostly flat to rolling lowlands in north; some plains, hills, mountains, and narrow coastal belt |
| Minimum Elevation |
0
m
|
| Maximum Elevation |
2,994
m
|
| Climate |
mostly tropical, but temperate in south |
| Natural Resources |
bauxite, gold, iron ore, manganese, nickel, phosphates, platinum, tin, rare earth elements, uranium, petroleum, hydropower, timber |
| Arable Land |
8.45% |
| Permanent Crops |
0.83% |
Economy
Budget & Debt
Trade
| Exports |
$242 billion |
| Export Items |
transport equipment, iron ore, soybeans, footwear, coffee, autos |
| Export Partners |
China 17%, US 10.8%, Argentina 7.5% (2012) |
| Imports |
$238.8 billion |
| Import Items |
machinery, electrical and transport equipment, chemical products, oil, automotive parts, electronics |
| Import Partners |
US 15.1%, China 14.5%, Argentina 7.5%, Germany 6.7%, South Korea 4.5% (2011) |
People
| Population |
201,009,622 |
| Population Growth |
0.83% |
| 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) |
| Religion |
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) |
| Life Expectancy |
73.02 years |
| Infant Mortality |
0.98 deaths/1,000 live births |
| Maternal Mortality |
1.1 deaths/100,000 live births |
Energy
