After more than three centuries under Portuguese rule, Brazil gained its independence in 1822.
By far the largest and most populous country in South America, Brazil underwent more than half a century of populist and military government until 1985, when the military regime peacefully ceded power to civilian rulers.
Geography
Area
total : 8,515,770 sq km land: 8,358,140 sq km water: 157,630 sq km
mixed 45.3%, White 43.5%, Black 10.2%, Indigenous 0.6%, Asian 0.4% (2022 est.)
Languages
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
Religions
Roman Catholic 52.8%, Protestant 26.7% (Evangelical 25.5%, other Protestant 1.2%), African-American cultist/Umbanda 1.8%, other 3%, agnostic/atheist 0.6%, none 13.6%, unspecified 1.4% (2023 est.)
Population growth rate
0.61% (2024 est.)
Government
Government type
federal presidential republic
Capital
name: Brasília
Executive branch
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)
Legislative branch
summary: bicameral National Congress consists of the Federal Senate (81 seats) and the Chamber of Deputies (513 seats)
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Maria Luiza Ribeiro VIOTTI (since 30 June 2023)
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Elizabeth Frawley BAGLEY (since 5 February 2023)
Economy
Economic overview
industrial-led economic growth model; recovering from 2014-2016 recession when COVID-19 hit; industry limited by Amazon rainforest but increasing deforestation; new macroeconomic structural reforms; high income inequality; left UNASUR to join PROSUR
