{ "Introduction": { "Background": { "text": "
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. Brazilian coffee exporters politically dominated the country until populist leader Getúlio VARGAS rose to power in 1930. VARGAS governed through various versions of democratic and authoritarian regimes from 1930 to 1945. Democratic rule returned in 1945 -- including a democratically elected VARGAS administration from 1951 to 1954 -- and lasted until 1964, when the military overthrew President João GOULART. The military regime censored journalists and repressed and tortured dissidents in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The dictatorship lasted until 1985, when the military regime peacefully ceded power to civilian rulers, and the Brazilian Congress passed its current constitution in 1988.
By far the largest and most populous country in South America, Brazil continues to pursue industrial and agricultural growth and development of its interior. Having successfully weathered a period of global financial difficulty in the late 20th century, Brazil was soon seen as one of the world's strongest emerging markets and a contributor to global growth under President Luiz Inácio LULA da Silva (2003-2010). The awarding of the 2014 FIFA World Cup and 2016 Summer Olympic Games -- the first ever to be held in South America -- to Brazil was symbolic of the country's rise. However, from about 2013 to 2016, Brazil was plagued by a sagging economy, high unemployment, and high inflation, only emerging from recession in 2017. Congress removed then-President Dilma ROUSSEFF (2011-2016) from office in 2016 for having committed impeachable acts against Brazil's budgetary laws, and her vice president, Michel TEMER, served the remainder of her second term. A money-laundering investigation, Operation Lava Jato, uncovered a vast corruption scheme and prosecutors charged several high-profile Brazilian politicians with crimes. Former President LULA was convicted of accepting bribes and served jail time (2018-19), although his conviction was overturned in 2021. LULA's revival became complete in 2022 when he narrowly defeated incumbent Jair BOLSONARO (2019-2022) in the presidential election. Positioning Brazil as an independent global leader on climate change and promoting sustainable development, LULA took on the 2024 G20 presidency, balancing the fight against deforestation with sustainable energy and other projects designed to alleviate poverty and promote economic growth, such as expanding fossil fuel exploration.
Act (Agir) (formerly Christian Labor Party or PTC)
Avante (formerly Labor Party of Brazil or PTdoB)
Brazil Union (União Brasil); note - founded from a merger between the Democrats (DEM) and the Social Liberal Party (PSL)
Brazilian Communist Party or PCB
Brazilian Democratic Movement or MDB
Brazilian Labor Party or PTB
Brazilian Renewal Labor Party or PRTB
Brazilian Labor Party or PTB
Brazilian Social Democracy Party or PSDB
Brazilian Socialist Party or PSB
Christian Democracy or DC (formerly Christian Social Democratic Party)
Cidadania (formerly Popular Socialist Party or PPS)
Communist Party of Brazil or PCdoB
Democratic Labor Party or PDT
Democratic Party or PSDC
Democrats or DEM (formerly Liberal Front Party or PFL); note - dissolved in February 2022
Green Party or PV
Liberal Party or PL [Valdemar Costa Neto] (formerly Party of the Republic or PR)
National Mobilization Party or PMN
New Party or NOVO
Patriota (formerly National Ecologic Party or PEN)
Podemos (formerly National Labor Party or PTN)
Progressive Party (Progressistas) or PP
Republican Social Order Party or PROS
Republicans (Republicanos) (formerly Brazilian Republican Party or PRB)
Social Christian Party or PSC
Social Democratic Party or PSD
Social Liberal Party or PSL
Socialism and Freedom Party or PSOL
Solidarity or SD
Sustainability Network or REDE
United Socialist Workers' Party or PSTU
Workers' Cause Party or PCO
Workers' Party or PT
Brasilia (c); Historic Salvador de Bahia (c); Historic Ouro Preto (c); Historic Center of the Town of Olinda (c); Iguaçu National Park (n); Jesuit Missions of the Guaranis (c); Rio de Janeiro: Carioca Landscapes (c); Central Amazon Conservation Complex (n); Atlantic Forest South-East Reserves (n); Historic Center of Salvador de Bahia (c); Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Congonhas (c ); Brasilia (c ); Serra da Capivara National Park (c ); Historic Center of Sao Luis( c); Discovery Coast Atlantic Forest Reserves (n); Historic Center of the Town of Diamantina (c ); Pantanal Conservation Area (n); Brazilian Atlantic Islands: Fernando de Noronha and Atol das Rocas Reserves (n); Cerrado Protected Areas: Chapada dos Veadeiros and Emas National Parks (n); Historic Centre of the Town of Goiás (c); São Francisco Square in the Town of São Cristóvão (c ); Rio de Janeiro: Carioca Landscapes between the Mountain and the Sea (c ); Pampulha Modern Ensemble (c ); Valongo Wharf Archaeological Site (c ); Paraty and Ilha Grande – Culture and Biodiversity (m); Sítio Roberto Burle Marx (c ); Lençóis Maranhenses National Park (n)
" } } }, "Economy": { "Economic overview": { "text": "upper-middle-income, largest Latin American economy; Mercosur, BRICS, G20 member and OECD accession candidate; growth driven by strong domestic consumption; monetary tightening helping curb inflation rate; high inequality in income and access to health and education
" }, "Real GDP (purchasing power parity)": { "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023": { "text": "$4.016 trillion (2023 est.)" }, "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022": { "text": "$3.902 trillion (2022 est.)" }, "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021": { "text": "$3.788 trillion (2021 est.)" }, "note": "note: data in 2021 dollars" }, "Real GDP growth rate": { "Real GDP growth rate 2023": { "text": "2.91% (2023 est.)" }, "Real GDP growth rate 2022": { "text": "3.02% (2022 est.)" }, "Real GDP growth rate 2021": { "text": "4.76% (2021 est.)" }, "note": "note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency" }, "Real GDP per capita": { "Real GDP per capita 2023": { "text": "$19,000 (2023 est.)" }, "Real GDP per capita 2022": { "text": "$18,600 (2022 est.)" }, "Real GDP per capita 2021": { "text": "$18,100 (2021 est.)" }, "note": "note: data in 2021 dollars" }, "GDP (official exchange rate)": { "text": "$2.174 trillion (2023 est.)", "note": "note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate" }, "Inflation rate (consumer prices)": { "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024": { "text": "4.4% (2024 est.)" }, "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023": { "text": "4.6% (2023 est.)" }, "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022": { "text": "9.3% (2022 est.)" }, "note": "note: annual % change based on consumer prices" }, "GDP - composition, by sector of origin": { "agriculture": { "text": "6.2% (2023 est.)" }, "industry": { "text": "22.3% (2023 est.)" }, "services": { "text": "58.9% (2023 est.)" }, "note": "note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data" }, "GDP - composition, by end use": { "household consumption": { "text": "63.3% (2023 est.)" }, "government consumption": { "text": "18.2% (2023 est.)" }, "investment in fixed capital": { "text": "16.5% (2023 est.)" }, "investment in inventories": { "text": "-0.5% (2023 est.)" }, "exports of goods and services": { "text": "18.1% (2023 est.)" }, "imports of goods and services": { "text": "-15.7% (2023 est.)" }, "note": "note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection" }, "Agricultural products": { "text": "sugarcane, soybeans, maize, milk, cassava, oranges, chicken, beef, rice, wheat (2023)", "note": "note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage" }, "Industries": { "text": "textiles, shoes, chemicals, cement, lumber, iron ore, tin, steel, aircraft, motor vehicles and parts, other machinery and equipment" }, "Industrial production growth rate": { "text": "1.59% (2023 est.)", "note": "note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency" }, "Labor force": { "text": "106.79 million (2024 est.)", "note": "note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work" }, "Unemployment rate": { "Unemployment rate 2024": { "text": "7.6% (2024 est.)" }, "Unemployment rate 2023": { "text": "7.9% (2023 est.)" }, "Unemployment rate 2022": { "text": "9.2% (2022 est.)" }, "note": "note: % of labor force seeking employment" }, "Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)": { "total": { "text": "18% (2024 est.)" }, "male": { "text": "15.7% (2024 est.)" }, "female": { "text": "20.9% (2024 est.)" }, "note": "note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment" }, "Population below poverty line": { "text": "4.2% (2016 est.)", "note": "note: approximately 4% of the population are below the \"extreme\" poverty line" }, "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income": { "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022": { "text": "52 (2022 est.)" }, "note": "note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality" }, "Average household expenditures": { "on food": { "text": "16.2% of household expenditures (2023 est.)" }, "on alcohol and tobacco": { "text": "1.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.)" } }, "Household income or consumption by percentage share": { "lowest 10%": { "text": "1.2% (2022 est.)" }, "highest 10%": { "text": "41% (2022 est.)" }, "note": "note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population" }, "Remittances": { "Remittances 2023": { "text": "0.2% of GDP (2023 est.)" }, "Remittances 2022": { "text": "0.25% of GDP (2022 est.)" }, "Remittances 2021": { "text": "0.25% of GDP (2021 est.)" }, "note": "note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities" }, "Budget": { "revenues": { "text": "$578.267 billion (2022 est.)" }, "expenditures": { "text": "$666.279 billion (2022 est.)" }, "note": "note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated" }, "Public debt": { "Public debt 2023": { "text": "83.7% of GDP (2023 est.)" }, "note": "note: central government debt as a % of GDP" }, "Taxes and other revenues": { "text": "14.2% (of GDP) (2023 est.)", "note": "note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP" }, "Current account balance": { "Current account balance 2024": { "text": "-$61.194 billion (2024 est.)" }, "Current account balance 2023": { "text": "-$27.933 billion (2023 est.)" }, "Current account balance 2022": { "text": "-$42.157 billion (2022 est.)" }, "note": "note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars" }, "Exports": { "Exports 2024": { "text": "$388.333 billion (2024 est.)" }, "Exports 2023": { "text": "$389.192 billion (2023 est.)" }, "Exports 2022": { "text": "$380.492 billion (2022 est.)" }, "note": "note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars" }, "Exports - partners": { "text": "China 30%, USA 10%, Argentina 5%, Netherlands 3%, Chile 2% (2023)", "note": "note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports" }, "Exports - commodities": { "text": "soybeans, crude petroleum, iron ore, raw sugar, corn (2023)", "note": "note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars" }, "Imports": { "Imports 2024": { "text": "$377.05 billion (2024 est.)" }, "Imports 2023": { "text": "$340.195 billion (2023 est.)" }, "Imports 2022": { "text": "$369.861 billion (2022 est.)" }, "note": "note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars" }, "Imports - partners": { "text": "China 23%, USA 16%, Germany 5%, Argentina 5%, Russia 4% (2023)", "note": "note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports" }, "Imports - commodities": { "text": "refined petroleum, fertilizers, crude petroleum, vehicle parts/accessories, gas turbines (2023)", "note": "note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars" }, "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold": { "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024": { "text": "$318.857 billion (2024 est.)" }, "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023": { "text": "$355.021 billion (2023 est.)" }, "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022": { "text": "$324.673 billion (2022 est.)" }, "note": "note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars" }, "Debt - external": { "Debt - external 2023": { "text": "$198.582 billion (2023 est.)" }, "note": "note: present value of external debt in current US dollars" }, "Exchange rates": { "Currency": { "text": "reals (BRL) per US dollar -" }, "Exchange rates 2024": { "text": "5.389 (2024 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2023": { "text": "4.994 (2023 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2022": { "text": "5.164 (2022 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2021": { "text": "5.394 (2021 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2020": { "text": "5.155 (2020 est.)" } } }, "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { "text": "100% (2022 est.)" }, "electrification - urban areas": { "text": "100%" }, "electrification - rural areas": { "text": "97.3%" } }, "Electricity": { "installed generating capacity": { "text": "240.251 million kW (2023 est.)" }, "consumption": { "text": "608.451 billion kWh (2023 est.)" }, "exports": { "text": "7.186 billion kWh (2023 est.)" }, "imports": { "text": "22.294 billion kWh (2023 est.)" }, "transmission/distribution losses": { "text": "106.916 billion kWh (2023 est.)" } }, "Electricity generation sources": { "fossil fuels": { "text": "8.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)" }, "nuclear": { "text": "2.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)" }, "solar": { "text": "6.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)" }, "wind": { "text": "13.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)" }, "hydroelectricity": { "text": "60.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)" }, "biomass and waste": { "text": "8.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)" } }, "Nuclear energy": { "Number of operational nuclear reactors": { "text": "2 (2025)" }, "Number of nuclear reactors under construction": { "text": "1 (2025)" }, "Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors": { "text": "1.88GW (2025 est.)" }, "Percent of total electricity production": { "text": "2.2% (2023 est.)" } }, "Coal": { "production": { "text": "15.556 million metric tons (2023 est.)" }, "consumption": { "text": "32.223 million metric tons (2023 est.)" }, "exports": { "text": "5,000 metric tons (2023 est.)" }, "imports": { "text": "18.257 million metric tons (2023 est.)" }, "proven reserves": { "text": "6.596 billion metric tons (2023 est.)" } }, "Petroleum": { "total petroleum production": { "text": "4.221 million bbl/day (2023 est.)" }, "refined petroleum consumption": { "text": "3.163 million bbl/day (2023 est.)" }, "crude oil estimated reserves": { "text": "12.715 billion barrels (2021 est.)" } }, "Natural gas": { "production": { "text": "22.702 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)" }, "consumption": { "text": "29.065 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)" }, "exports": { "text": "101.203 million cubic meters (2023 est.)" }, "imports": { "text": "6.356 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)" }, "proven reserves": { "text": "363.985 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)" } }, "Carbon dioxide emissions": { "total emissions": { "text": "437.769 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)" }, "from coal and metallurgical coke": { "text": "53.664 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)" }, "from petroleum and other liquids": { "text": "331.079 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)" }, "from consumed natural gas": { "text": "53.026 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)" } }, "Energy consumption per capita": { "Total energy consumption per capita 2023": { "text": "48.889 million Btu/person (2023 est.)" } } }, "Communications": { "Telephones - fixed lines": { "total subscriptions": { "text": "25.574 million (2023 est.)" }, "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": { "text": "12 (2023 est.)" } }, "Telephones - mobile cellular": { "total subscriptions": { "text": "213 million (2023 est.)" }, "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": { "text": "99 (2022 est.)" } }, "Broadcast media": { "text": "state-run Radiobras operates a radio and a TV network; more than 1,000 radio stations and more than 100 TV channels operating, mostly privately owned; private media ownership highly concentrated (2022)" }, "Internet country code": { "text": ".br" }, "Internet users": { "percent of population": { "text": "84% (2023 est.)" } }, "Broadband - fixed subscriptions": { "total": { "text": "48.4 million (2023 est.)" }, "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": { "text": "23 (2023 est.)" } } }, "Transportation": { "Civil aircraft registration country code prefix": { "text": "PP" }, "Airports": { "text": "5,297 (2025)" }, "Heliports": { "text": "1,871 (2025)" }, "Railways": { "total": { "text": "29,849.9 km (2014)" }, "standard gauge": { "text": "194 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge" }, "narrow gauge": { "text": "23,341.6 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge (24 km electrified)" }, "broad gauge": { "text": "5,822.3 km (2014) 1.600-m gauge (498.3 km electrified)" }, "dual gauge": { "text": "492 km (2014) 1.600-1.000-m gauge" } }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { "text": "888 (2023)" }, "by type": { "text": "bulk carrier 13, container ship 20, general cargo 38, oil tanker 27, other 790" } }, "Ports": { "total ports": { "text": "45 (2024)" }, "large": { "text": "4" }, "medium": { "text": "7" }, "small": { "text": "19" }, "very small": { "text": "15" }, "ports with oil terminals": { "text": "31" }, "key ports": { "text": "Belem, DTSE/Gegua Oil Terminal, Itajai, Port de Salvador, Porto Alegre, Recife, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande, Santos, Tubarao, Vitoria" } } }, "Military and Security": { "Military and security forces": { "text": "Brazilian Armed Forces (Forças Armadas Brasileiras): Brazilian Army (Exercito Brasileiro, EB), Brazilian Navy (Marinha do Brasil; includes Naval Aviation (Aviacao Naval Brasileira) and Marine Corps (Corpo de Fuzileiros Navais)), Brazilian Air Force (Forca Aerea Brasileira) (2025)", "note": "note: the three national police forces – the Federal Police, Federal Highway Police, and Federal Railway Police – have domestic security responsibilities and report to the Ministry of Justice and Public Security (Ministry of Justice)" }, "Military expenditures": { "Military Expenditures 2024": { "text": "1.1% of GDP (2024 est.)" }, "Military Expenditures 2023": { "text": "1.1% of GDP (2023 est.)" }, "Military Expenditures 2022": { "text": "1.2% of GDP (2022 est.)" }, "Military Expenditures 2021": { "text": "1.3% of GDP (2021 est.)" }, "Military Expenditures 2020": { "text": "1.4% of GDP (2020 est.)" } }, "Military and security service personnel strengths": { "text": "approximately 360,000 active Armed Forces (220,000 Army; 70,000 Navy; 70,000 Air Force) (2025)" }, "Military equipment inventories and acquisitions": { "text": "the Brazilian military's inventory consists of a mix of domestically produced and imported weapons, largely from Europe and the US; Brazil's defense industry designs and manufactures equipment for all three military services and for export; it also jointly produces equipment with other countries (2024)" }, "Military service age and obligation": { "text": "18-45 years of age for compulsory military service for men (women exempted); only 5-10% of those inducted are required to serve; conscript service obligation is 10-12 months; 17-45 (18 for women) years of age for voluntary service (2024)", "note": "note: in 2024, women were reported to comprise approximately 10% of the Brazilian military" }, "Military - note": { "text": "the Brazilian Armed Forces (BAF) are the second largest military in the Western Hemisphere behind the US; they are responsible for external security and protecting the country's sovereignty but also have an internal security role; the BAF’s missions include patrolling and protecting the country’s long borders and coastline and extensive territorial waters and river network, assisting with internal security, providing domestic disaster response and humanitarian assistance, and participating in multinational peacekeeping missions; it also cooperates with neighboring countries such as Argentina and Paraguay to combat cross-border smuggling and traffickinga significant drug transit and destination country for cocaine bound for Europe and other destinations including the United States; domestic drug use and addiction is a significant problem and it is second only to the United States in cocaine consumption; a major source of precursor or essential chemicals used in the production of illicit narcotics
" } } }