Brazil
Capital Brasília
Largest city São Paulo
Official languages Portuguese
Government Presidential Federal republic
- President: Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
- Vice President: José Alencar Gomes da Silva
- President of the Chamber of Deputies: Arlindo Chinaglia
- President of the Senate: Garibaldi Alves Filho
- Chief Justice: Gilmar Ferreira Mendes
Independence from Portugal
- Declared September 7, 1822
- Recognized August 29, 1825
- Republic November 15, 1889
Area :
- Total 8,514,877 km² (5th) 3,287,597 sq mi
- Water (%) 0.65
Population :
- 2008 estimate 186,757,608 (5th) - 2000 census 169,799,170 - Density 22/km² (182nd) 57/sq mi
GDP (PPP) 2007 estimate :
- Total US$1.804 trillion (8th)
- Per capita US$11,873 (65th)
GDP (nominal) 2007 estimate :
- Total US$1,314 trillion (10th) - Per capita US$6,842 (61st) Gini (2005) ▼ 56.6
HDI (2007) ▲ 0.800 (high) (70th)
Currency Real (R$) (BRL)
Time zone BRT1 (UTC-2 to -5)
- Summer (DST) BRST2 (UTC-2 to -5)
Internet TLD .br Calling code +55 1 Officially UTC-3 (Brasília time). From June 24th, 2008, timezone will change into UTC-2 to UTC-4.[1] 2 Officially UTC-2 (Brasília time). From June 24, 2008, DST will change into UTC-2 to UTC-3.
Brazil
(pronounced /brəˈzɪl/ ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil
(Portuguese: Brasil or República Federativa do Brasil), is a country in South America.[2] It is the fifth-largest country by geographical area, the fifth most populous country, and the fourth most populous democracy in the world. The official language is Portuguese.
Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion.
Bounded by the Atlantic Ocean on the east, Brazil has a coastline of over 7,367 kilometres (4577 miles).
Brazil borders every nation on the South American continent except Ecuador and Chile. Venezuela, Suriname, Guyana and the department of French Guiana are to the north, Colombia to the northwest, Bolivia and Peru to the west, Argentina and Paraguay to the southwest, and Uruguay to the south.
Numerous archipelagos are part of the Brazilian territory, such as Penedos de São Pedro e São Paulo, Fernando de Noronha, Trindade and Martim Vaz and Atol das Rocas.
Brazil is crossed by both the Equator and Tropic of Capricorn, and as such is home to a vast array of flora and fauna, natural environments, and extensive natural resources. Its region within the tropics is, by far, the largest of any country; about twice as large as that of Australia. The Brazilian population is concentrated along the coastline and in a few large urban centers in the interior. While Brazil is one of the most populous nations in the world, population density drops dramatically as one moves inland.
Brazil was a colony of Portugal from the landing of Pedro Álvares Cabral in 1500 until its independence in 1822. Initially independent as the Brazilian Empire, the country has been a republic since 1889, although the bicameral legislature (now called Congress) dates back to 1824, when the first constitution was ratified. Its current Constitution defines Brazil as a Federal Republic.
The Federation is formed by the union of the States, the Federal District, and the Municipalities.[3] There are currently 26 States and 5,564 Municipalities.
One of the ten largest economies in the world, the country has a diversified middle-income economy with wide variations in development levels and mature manufacturing, mining and agriculture sectors. Technology and services also play an important role and are growing rapidly. Brazil is a net exporter, having gone through free trade and privatization reforms in the 1990s
Contents [hide] 1 History
1.1 Origins
1.2 Colonization
1.3 Empire
1.4 Republic
2 Government and politics
2.1 Law
2.2 Foreign relations and the military
3 Subdivisions
3.1 Regions
3.2 States
4 Geography
4.1 Climate
4.2 Wildlife
5 Economy
5.1 Energy policy
5.2 Science and technology
6 Demographics
6.1 Education and health
6.2 Language
7 Culture
7.1 Religion
7.2 Sport
8 References
9 Further reading
10 External links
Largest city São Paulo
Official languages Portuguese
Government Presidential Federal republic
- President: Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
- Vice President: José Alencar Gomes da Silva
- President of the Chamber of Deputies: Arlindo Chinaglia
- President of the Senate: Garibaldi Alves Filho
- Chief Justice: Gilmar Ferreira Mendes
Independence from Portugal
- Declared September 7, 1822
- Recognized August 29, 1825
- Republic November 15, 1889
Area :
- Total 8,514,877 km² (5th) 3,287,597 sq mi
- Water (%) 0.65
Population :
- 2008 estimate 186,757,608 (5th) - 2000 census 169,799,170 - Density 22/km² (182nd) 57/sq mi
GDP (PPP) 2007 estimate :
- Total US$1.804 trillion (8th)
- Per capita US$11,873 (65th)
GDP (nominal) 2007 estimate :
- Total US$1,314 trillion (10th) - Per capita US$6,842 (61st) Gini (2005) ▼ 56.6
HDI (2007) ▲ 0.800 (high) (70th)
Currency Real (R$) (BRL)
Time zone BRT1 (UTC-2 to -5)
- Summer (DST) BRST2 (UTC-2 to -5)
Internet TLD .br Calling code +55 1 Officially UTC-3 (Brasília time). From June 24th, 2008, timezone will change into UTC-2 to UTC-4.[1] 2 Officially UTC-2 (Brasília time). From June 24, 2008, DST will change into UTC-2 to UTC-3.
Brazil
(pronounced /brəˈzɪl/ ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil
(Portuguese: Brasil or República Federativa do Brasil), is a country in South America.[2] It is the fifth-largest country by geographical area, the fifth most populous country, and the fourth most populous democracy in the world. The official language is Portuguese.
Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion.
Bounded by the Atlantic Ocean on the east, Brazil has a coastline of over 7,367 kilometres (4577 miles).
Brazil borders every nation on the South American continent except Ecuador and Chile. Venezuela, Suriname, Guyana and the department of French Guiana are to the north, Colombia to the northwest, Bolivia and Peru to the west, Argentina and Paraguay to the southwest, and Uruguay to the south.
Numerous archipelagos are part of the Brazilian territory, such as Penedos de São Pedro e São Paulo, Fernando de Noronha, Trindade and Martim Vaz and Atol das Rocas.
Brazil is crossed by both the Equator and Tropic of Capricorn, and as such is home to a vast array of flora and fauna, natural environments, and extensive natural resources. Its region within the tropics is, by far, the largest of any country; about twice as large as that of Australia. The Brazilian population is concentrated along the coastline and in a few large urban centers in the interior. While Brazil is one of the most populous nations in the world, population density drops dramatically as one moves inland.
Brazil was a colony of Portugal from the landing of Pedro Álvares Cabral in 1500 until its independence in 1822. Initially independent as the Brazilian Empire, the country has been a republic since 1889, although the bicameral legislature (now called Congress) dates back to 1824, when the first constitution was ratified. Its current Constitution defines Brazil as a Federal Republic.
The Federation is formed by the union of the States, the Federal District, and the Municipalities.[3] There are currently 26 States and 5,564 Municipalities.
One of the ten largest economies in the world, the country has a diversified middle-income economy with wide variations in development levels and mature manufacturing, mining and agriculture sectors. Technology and services also play an important role and are growing rapidly. Brazil is a net exporter, having gone through free trade and privatization reforms in the 1990s
Contents [hide] 1 History
1.1 Origins
1.2 Colonization
1.3 Empire
1.4 Republic
2 Government and politics
2.1 Law
2.2 Foreign relations and the military
3 Subdivisions
3.1 Regions
3.2 States
4 Geography
4.1 Climate
4.2 Wildlife
5 Economy
5.1 Energy policy
5.2 Science and technology
6 Demographics
6.1 Education and health
6.2 Language
7 Culture
7.1 Religion
7.2 Sport
8 References
9 Further reading
10 External links
