#7 in world Americas UN member

Brazil

Brasília Americas South America

Brazil is the largest country in South America and the 7th most populous nation globally. Current estimates show a population of approximately 214 million people with a projected GDP per capita of 11,028 USD.

Where is Brazil?

Brazil

Continent
Americas
Country
Brazil
Coordinates
-10.00°, -55.00°

Population Details

Population
214M
Area
8,515,767 km²
Density per km²
25 / km²
Growth rate
+0.41%
Annual growth
+866.6K people
Daily growth
+2.4K people
World population share
2.63%

Population Trend

Historical series from 1960 to 2026

Start 72M Latest 214M

Population & Social Snapshot

Age structure, urbanization, and benchmark indicators for Brazil

Age Distribution

0-14 years 42M
15-64 years 148M
65+ years 24M

Urbanization

87.9% Urban
188M
Urban 188M
Rural 26M

Health & Education Benchmarks

Life Expectancy at Birth +3%
76.0 years
World avg: 74.0 years
Fertility Rate -31%
1.61 births per woman
World avg: 2.35 births per woman
Infant Mortality Rate -34%
12.3 per 1,000 live births
World avg: 18.6 per 1,000 live births
Literacy Rate (Adults) +6%
94.7 % of adults
World avg: 89.5 % of adults
Internet Users +16%
84.5 % of population
World avg: 72.5 % of population

Demographics

Quick Facts

Capital
Brasília
Region
Americas
Area
8,515,767 km²
Languages
Portuguese
Currency
Brazilian real (R$)
Timezones
UTC-05:00, UTC-04:00, UTC-03:00, UTC-02:00
UN Member
Yes

Economy

With a nominal GDP ranking 10th globally and 3rd in the Americas, the economy is bolstered by robust agribusiness, mining, and manufacturing sectors. Recent data shows annual GDP growth of 3.4% and an unemployment rate of 5.97%, which ranks 78th globally. The nation leverages vast natural resources like iron ore and petroleum to maintain its position as the 5th-ranked country for GDP per capita in South America.

Society

Social indicators highlight significant progress, with the adult literacy rate reaching 94.7% and life expectancy at birth standing at 76.0 years. The country ranks 97th globally for life expectancy and 79th for literacy, reflecting long-term investments in public health and education. Furthermore, digital connectivity is high, as 84.5% of the population uses the internet, placing the nation 88th in the global ranking for internet penetration.

Climate & Environment

Brazil features a predominantly tropical climate, with the massive Amazon Basin maintaining high humidity and temperatures throughout the year. The southern regions experience more temperate conditions, including distinct seasonal variations and occasional frost during the winter months.

Government & Politics

Government Type
Federal presidential republic
Independence
1822-09-07 (Portugal)

Brazil is a federal presidential republic where the president serves as both the head of state and head of government. The political structure is defined by the 1988 Constitution, which established a clear separation of powers between the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. The legislative branch consists of the bicameral National Congress, comprising the 81-seat Federal Senate and the 513-seat Chamber of Deputies. One of the unique aspects of the Brazilian system is mandatory voting for literate citizens between the ages of 18 and 70. The nation is a federation of 26 states and one Federal District, Brasília, which serves as the capital. The judiciary is headed by the Supreme Federal Court, which is responsible for constitutional matters. The political landscape is characterized by a multi-party system that often requires the formation of broad coalitions to govern effectively, reflecting the diverse interests of its population of approximately 212 million people.

History

Portuguese explorer Pedro Álvares Cabral arrived in 1500, marking the beginning of over 3 centuries of colonial rule. During this period, Brazil became the center of the global sugar trade and later experienced a massive gold rush that shifted the economic heart of the colony southward. Unlike many of its neighbors, Brazil achieved independence with relatively little bloodshed when Prince Dom Pedro I declared it an independent empire on 7 September 1822. The Empire of Brazil lasted until 1889, during which time it saw the gradual abolition of slavery, culminating in the Golden Law of 1888. A military coup subsequently replaced the monarchy with a republican government. The 20th century was marked by periods of political transition, including the populist era of Getúlio Vargas and a military dictatorship that lasted from 1964 to 1985. The return to civilian rule led to the adoption of the 1988 Constitution, which remains the foundation of its modern democracy. Since then, Brazil has transitioned from a primarily agrarian economy to a global industrial and agricultural leader, overcoming hyperinflation in the 1990s and expanding its influence in international affairs as a prominent member of the BRICS nations and the G20.

Notable Facts

  • Brazil is home to the Amazon Rainforest, which contains approximately 60% of the world's most biodiverse tropical forest and the massive Amazon River system.
  • The country shares a land border with 10 different nations, touching every country in South America except for Chile and Ecuador.
  • Brazil is the most successful nation in FIFA World Cup history, having won the global championship 5 times.
  • The annual Carnival of Rio de Janeiro is recognized as the largest street festival in the world, attracting millions of local and international participants.
  • Brasília, the capital city, was built in just 41 months during the late 1950s and is a UNESCO World Heritage site famous for its modernist architecture designed by Oscar Niemeyer.

Geography

Highest Point
Pico da Neblina (2,994 m)
Lowest Point
Atlantic Ocean (0 m)
Coastline
7,491 km

Explore weather and climate data for cities in Brazil

Monthly averages for Brasília

January
Wet
Temp
26°C / 19°C
Feels Like
29°C / 20°C
Rain
24days (231 mm) Wet
Sun
9.9h Good
Humidity
79% Humid
February
Wet
Temp
27°C / 19°C
Feels Like
30°C / 20°C
Rain
20days (212 mm) Wet
Sun
9.8h Good
Humidity
78% Humid
March
Good
Temp
27°C / 18°C
Feels Like
30°C / 20°C
Rain
18days (143 mm) Wet
Sun
10.4h Excellent
Humidity
75% Muggy
April
Good
Temp
27°C / 18°C
Feels Like
29°C / 19°C
Rain
13days (99 mm) Wet
Sun
10.5h Excellent
Humidity
76% Humid
May best
Excellent
Temp
26°C / 15°C
Feels Like
27°C / 15°C
Rain
1days (4 mm) Excellent
Sun
10.7h Excellent
Humidity
67% Muggy
June best
Excellent
Temp
26°C / 15°C
Feels Like
26°C / 14°C
Rain
1days (3 mm) Excellent
Sun
10.5h Excellent
Humidity
61% Muggy
July best
Excellent
Temp
26°C / 14°C
Feels Like
25°C / 12°C
Rain
0days (0 mm) Excellent
Sun
10.8h Excellent
Humidity
51% Moderate
August best
Excellent
Temp
28°C / 16°C
Feels Like
27°C / 14°C
Rain
1days (6 mm) Excellent
Sun
11h Excellent
Humidity
45% Moderate
September best
Excellent
Temp
31°C / 18°C
Feels Like
30°C / 17°C
Rain
3days (12 mm) Excellent
Sun
11.5h Excellent
Humidity
42% Moderate
October
Good
Temp
29°C / 19°C
Feels Like
31°C / 20°C
Rain
16days (107 mm) Wet
Sun
10.9h Excellent
Humidity
61% Muggy
November
Wet
Temp
27°C / 19°C
Feels Like
30°C / 20°C
Rain
21days (200 mm) Wet
Sun
10h Excellent
Humidity
75% Muggy
December
Wet
Temp
27°C / 19°C
Feels Like
29°C / 21°C
Rain
24days (243 mm) Wet
Sun
9.3h Good
Humidity
78% Humid
Month Temp Feels Like Rain Sun Humidity Status Details
January 26°C / 19°C 29°C / 20°C 24days (231 mm) Wet 9.9h Good 79% Humid Wet View Details
February 27°C / 19°C 30°C / 20°C 20days (212 mm) Wet 9.8h Good 78% Humid Wet View Details
March 27°C / 18°C 30°C / 20°C 18days (143 mm) Wet 10.4h Excellent 75% Muggy Good View Details
April 27°C / 18°C 29°C / 19°C 13days (99 mm) Wet 10.5h Excellent 76% Humid Good View Details
May best 26°C / 15°C 27°C / 15°C 1days (4 mm) Excellent 10.7h Excellent 67% Muggy Excellent View Details
June best 26°C / 15°C 26°C / 14°C 1days (3 mm) Excellent 10.5h Excellent 61% Muggy Excellent View Details
July best 26°C / 14°C 25°C / 12°C 0days (0 mm) Excellent 10.8h Excellent 51% Moderate Excellent View Details
August best 28°C / 16°C 27°C / 14°C 1days (6 mm) Excellent 11h Excellent 45% Moderate Excellent View Details
September best 31°C / 18°C 30°C / 17°C 3days (12 mm) Excellent 11.5h Excellent 42% Moderate Excellent View Details
October 29°C / 19°C 31°C / 20°C 16days (107 mm) Wet 10.9h Excellent 61% Muggy Good View Details
November 27°C / 19°C 30°C / 20°C 21days (200 mm) Wet 10h Excellent 75% Muggy Wet View Details
December 27°C / 19°C 29°C / 21°C 24days (243 mm) Wet 9.3h Good 78% Humid Wet View Details

Temperature

42°C 36°C 30°C 24°C 18°C 12°C 6°C JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
HighLow

Line chart showing monthly temperatures. Jan: 26°C / 19°C . Feb: 27°C / 19°C . Mar: 27°C / 18°C . Apr: 27°C / 18°C . May: 26°C / 15°C . Jun: 26°C / 15°C . Jul: 26°C / 14°C . Aug: 28°C / 16°C . Sep: 31°C / 18°C . Oct: 29°C / 19°C . Nov: 27°C / 19°C . Dec: 27°C / 19°C .

Rainfall

0 mm 42 mm 84 mm 126 mm 168 mm 210 mm JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Rainfall

Bar chart showing monthly rainfall. Jan: 231 mm. Feb: 212 mm. Mar: 143 mm. Apr: 99 mm. May: 4 mm. Jun: 3 mm. Jul: 0 mm. Aug: 6 mm. Sep: 12 mm. Oct: 107 mm. Nov: 200 mm. Dec: 243 mm.

Frequently Asked Questions

The population of Brazil is approximately 214M (2024).

The capital of Brazil is Brasília.

Brazil's GDP per capita is $11K (2024).

Life expectancy in Brazil is 76.02 years (2024).

Brazil covers 8,515,767 km² (3,287,955 sq mi).

Brazil is sparsely populated, averaging 25 people per km², below the global average of 60.

Brazil's population is growing slowly at 0.4% per year, below the global average.

Based on GDP per capita, Brazil falls in the upper-middle GDP-per-person tier at $11K. Official World Bank income groups use Atlas-method GNI per capita, so this is a GDP-based comparison rather than an official income-group label.

Brazil's intentional homicide rate is 19.3 per 100,000 people, above the global average.

The official language of Brazil is Portuguese.

Brazil uses the Brazilian real (R$) as its sole official currency.

The best months to visit Brazil are May, June, July, August, September, based on climate data for the capital.

Brazil has a population of approximately 214 million people, making it the most populous country in South America and the 2nd most populous in the Americas. Recent data ranks the nation 7th globally in terms of total population, reflecting a steady annual growth rate of approximately 0.41%.

Brazil holds the 10th largest economy in the world based on nominal GDP and is the 3rd largest in the Americas. Recent data indicates a GDP per capita of 11,028 USD and an annual growth rate of 3.4%, supported by diverse sectors such as agribusiness, mining, and manufacturing.

The adult literacy rate in Brazil is approximately 94.7%, which places the country 79th in global literacy rankings. This figure reflects sustained efforts in expanding access to basic education across both urban and rural regions, supported by federal and state-level social programs and educational infrastructure investments.

Current estimates show that life expectancy at birth in Brazil is 76.0 years, which ranks the country 97th globally for this indicator. Improvements in public health infrastructure and access to medical services have contributed to this figure, which remains higher than the regional average for several neighboring South American nations.

Approximately 84.5% of the population uses the internet, a figure that ranks the nation 88th globally for digital connectivity. This high level of internet penetration is driven by widespread mobile device adoption and significant urban concentration, as nearly 87.9% of citizens live in cities.

The unemployment rate in Brazil is currently 5.97%, which ranks the country 78th globally when ordered from lowest to highest unemployment. This recent data indicates a relatively stable labor market compared to historical trends, supported by growth in the services sector and robust international commodity exports.

Brazil covers an area of approximately 8.5 million km² (3.3 million sq mi), making it the largest nation in South America. Its highest point is Pico da Neblina, which reaches an elevation of 2,994 m (9,823 ft) near the northern border with Venezuela.

Brazil currently ranks 7th of 215 countries globally. Within its geographic region, it is the 2nd most populous country in the Americas and the 1st most populous in South America. This high ranking underscores Brazil's role as a major global demographic power and the dominant population center in its region.

The population density is currently estimated at 25.6 people per km² (66.3 people per sq mi). This ranks Brazil 180th globally, as its massive land area of 8,515,767 km² (3,287,956 sq mi) includes vast, sparsely inhabited regions like the Amazon, while most people live in dense coastal cities.

Brazil's population is still growing, but at a decreasing rate. The latest annual growth rate is 0.41%, which is significantly lower than in previous decades. While the population is expected to reach 214 million by 2026, the declining fertility rate suggests it will eventually stabilize and potentially begin a slow decline later this century.

The current fertility rate in Brazil is 1.6 births per woman, which is below the replacement level of 2.1. This ranks Brazil 134th globally for fertility. The rate has dropped consistently since the 1960s, driven by urbanization and increased access to education and family planning for women.

Approximately 87.9% of Brazil's population resides in urban areas, ranking it 39th globally for urbanization. This high percentage reflects a rapid 20th-century shift from agriculture to industry and services, resulting in a population that is heavily concentrated in large metropolitan regions like São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.

All Indicators

Explore Brazil's data across 50+ indicators

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