Brazil
The Country of the Week
Quick Facts
- Capital
- Brasília
- Population
- 221,359,387 (2025 est.)
- Area
- 8,515,770 sq km
- Government
- federal presidential republic
- Religions
- 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)
- Ethnic Groups
- mixed 45.3%, White 43.5%, Black 10.2%, Indigenous 0.6%, Asian 0.4% (2022 est.)
- Currency
- reals (BRL)
- Life Expectancy
- 76.3 years (2024 est.)
- Internet Domain
- .br
- Climate
- mostly tropical, but temperate in south
- Terrain
- mostly flat to rolling lowlands in north; some plains, hills, mountains, and narrow coastal belt
- Natural Resources
- alumina, bauxite, beryllium, gold, iron ore, manganese, nickel, niobium, phosphates, platinum, tantalum, tin, rare earth elements, uranium, petroleum, hydropower, timber
- Major Exports
- soybeans, crude petroleum, iron ore, raw sugar, corn (2023)
Source: CIA World Factbook (public domain)
Overview
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.