1996 Edition

Description

green with a large yellow diamond in the center bearing a blue celestial globe with 27 white five-pointed stars (one for each state and the Federal District) arranged in the same pattern as the night sky over Brazil; the globe has a white equatorial band with the motto ORDEM E PROGRESSO (Order and Progress)

Location

10 00 S, 55 00 W -- Eastern South America, bordering the Atlantic Ocean Flag ----

Area

comparative area

slightly smaller than the US

land area

8,456,510 sq km

note

includes Arquipelago de Fernando de Noronha, Atol das Rocas, Ilha da Trindade, Ilhas Martin Vaz, and Penedos de Sao Pedro e Sao Paulo

total area

8,511,965 sq km

Climate

mostly tropical, but temperate in south

Coastline

7,491 km

Environment

current issues

deforestation in Amazon Basin destroys the habitat and endangers the existence of a multitude of plant and animal species indigenous to the area; air and water pollution in Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, and several other large cities; land degradation and water pollution caused by improper mining activities

international agreements

party to - Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Desertification

natural hazards

recurring droughts in northeast; floods and occasional frost in south

Geographic coordinates

10 00 S, 55 00 W

Geographic note

largest country in South America; shares common boundaries with every South American country except Chile and Ecuador

International disputes

short section of the boundary with Paraguay, just west of Salto das Sete Quedas (Guaira Falls) on the Rio Parana, is in dispute; two short sections of boundary with Uruguay are in dispute - Arroio Invernada (Arroyo de la Invernada) area of the Rio Quarai (Rio Cuareim) and the islands at the confluence of the Rio Quarai and the Uruguay River

Irrigated land

27,000 sq km (1989 est.)

Land boundaries

border countries

Argentina 1,224 km, Bolivia 3,400 km, Colombia 1,643 km, French Guiana 673 km, Guyana 1,119 km, Paraguay 1,290 km, Peru 1,560 km, Suriname 597 km, Uruguay 985 km, Venezuela 2,200 km

total

14,691 km

Land use

arable land

7%

forest and woodland

67%

meadows and pastures

19%

other

6%

permanent crops

1%

Location

Eastern South America, bordering the Atlantic Ocean

Map references

South America

Maritime claims

contiguous zone

24 nm

continental shelf

200 nm

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural resources

bauxite, gold, iron ore, manganese, nickel, phosphates, platinum, tin, uranium, petroleum, hydropower, timber

Terrain

mostly flat to rolling lowlands in north; some plains, hills, mountains, and narrow coastal belt

highest point

Pico da Neblina 3,014 m

lowest point

Atlantic Ocean 0 m

Age structure

0-14 years: 31% (male 25,286,278; female 24,422,897) 15-64 years: 65% (male 52,232,435; female 53,094,724) 65 years and over: 4% (male 3,072,720; female 4,552,160) (July 1996 est.)

Birth rate

20.8 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate

9.19 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions

white (includes Portuguese, German, Italian, Spanish, Polish) 55%, mixed white and African 38%, African 6%, other (includes Japanese, Arab, Amerindian) 1%

Infant mortality rate

55.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Languages

Portuguese (official), Spanish, English, French

Life expectancy at birth

female

66.81 years (1996 est.)

male

56.67 years

total population

61.62 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)

female

83.2%

male

83.3%

total population

83.3%

Nationality

adjective

Brazilian

noun

Brazilian(s)

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Population

162,661,214 (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate

1.16% (1996 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic (nominal) 70%

Sex ratio

all ages

0.98 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years

1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

2.34 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Administrative divisions

26 states (estados, singular - estado) and 1 federal district* (distrito federal); Acre, Alagoas, Amapa, Amazonas, Bahia, Ceara, Distrito Federal*, Espirito Santo, Goias, Maranhao, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais, Para, Paraiba, Parana, Pernambuco, Piaui, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Norte, Rio Grande do Sul, Rondonia, Roraima, Santa Catarina, Sao Paulo, Sergipe, Tocantins

Capital

Brasilia

Chamber of Deputies (Camara dos Deputados)

election last held 3 October 1994 (next to be held October 1998); results - PMDB 21%, PFL 18%, PDT 7%, PSDB 12%, PPR 10%, PTB 6%, PT 10%, other 16%; seats - (517 total) seats by party NA

note

party totals since Fall 1994 have changed considerably due to extensive party-switching

Constitution

5 October 1988

Data code

BR

Diplomatic representation in US

chancery

3006 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Paulo Tarso FLECHA de LIMA

telephone

[1] (202) 745-2700

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet was appointed by the president

chief of state and head of government

President Fernando Henrique CARDOSO (since 1 January 1995) was elected for a four-year term by popular vote; election last held 3 October 1994; (next to be held October 1998); results - Fernando Henrique CARDOSO 53%, Luis Inacio LULA da Silva 26%, Eneas CARNEIRO 7%, Orestes QUERCIA 4%, Leonel BRIZOLA 3%, Espiridiao AMIN 3%; note - second direct presidential election since 1960; Vice President Marco MARCIEL (since NA)

FAX

[1] (202) 745-2827

[55] (61) 225-9136

consulate(s)

Houston

consulate(s)

Porto Alegre, Recife

consulate(s) general

Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Juan (Puerto Rico), and San Francisco

consulate(s) general

Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo

Federal Senate (Senado Federal)

election last held 3 October 1994 for two-thirds of Senate (next to be held October 1996 for one-third of the Senate); results - PMBD 28%, PFL 22%, PSDB 12%, PPR 7%, PDT 7%, PT 6%, PTB 6%, other 12%; seats - (81 total) seats by party NA

Flag

green with a large yellow diamond in the center bearing a blue celestial globe with 27 white five-pointed stars (one for each state and the Federal District) arranged in the same pattern as the night sky over Brazil; the globe has a white equatorial band with the motto ORDEM E PROGRESSO (Order and Progress)

Independence

7 September 1822 (from Portugal)

International organization participation

AfDB, AG (observer), CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, MTCR, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UNAVEM III, UNCRO, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNPREDEP, UNPROFOR, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Judicial branch

Supreme Federal Tribunal, judges are appointed for life by the Senate

Legal system

based on Roman codes; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch

bicameral National Congress (Congresso Nacional)

Name of country

conventional long form

Federative Republic of Brazil

conventional short form

Brazil

local long form

Republica Federativa do Brasil

local short form

Brasil

National holiday

Independence Day, 7 September (1822)

Other political or pressure groups

left wing of the Catholic Church and labor unions allied to leftist Workers' Party are critical of government's social and economic policies

Political parties and leaders

National Reconstruction Party (PRN), Daniel TOURINHO, president; Brazilian Democratic Movement Party (PMDB), Paes DE ANDRADE, president; Liberal Front Party (PFL), Jorge BORNHAUSEN, president; Workers' Party (PT), Jose DIRCEU, president; Brazilian Workers' Party (PTB), Rodrigues PALMA, president; Democratic Labor Party (PDT), Leonel BRIZOLA, president; Brazilian Progressive Party (PPB), Espiridiao AMIN, president; Brazilian Social Democracy Party (PSDB), Artur DA TAVOLA, president; Popular Socialist Party (PPS), Roberto FREIRE, president; Communist Party of Brazil (PCdoB), Joao AMAZONAS, chairman; Liberal Party (PL), Alvaro VALLE, president

Suffrage

voluntary between 16 and 18 years of age and over 70; compulsory over 18 and under 70 years of age

Type of government

federal republic

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission

Ambassador Melvyn LEVITSKY

embassy

Avenida das Nacoes, Lote 3, Brasilia, Distrito Federal

mailing address

Unit 3500, APO AA 34030

telephone

[55] (61) 321-7272

Agriculture

coffee, soybeans, wheat, rice, corn, sugarcane, cocoa, citrus; beef

Budget

expenditures

$54.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1994)

revenues

$58.7 billion

Currency

1 real (R$) = 100 centavos

Economic aid

recipient

ODA, $107 million (1993)

Economic overview

With its large and well-developed agricultural, mining, manufacturing, and service sectors, Brazil has South America's largest GDP by far and has the potential to become a major player in the world economy. Prior to the institution of a stabilization plan in mid-1994, stratospheric inflation rates had devastated the economy and discouraged foreign investment. Since then, tight monetary policy has apparently brought inflation under control - consumer prices increased by 23% in 1995 compared to more than 1,000% in 1994. At the same time, GDP growth slowed from 5.7% to 4.2% as credit was tightened and the steadily appreciating real encouraged imports while depressing export growth. The increased stability of the Brazilian economy allowed it to weather the fallout from the Mexican peso crisis relatively well, with foreign funds flowing in during the second half of 1995 to swell official foreign exchange reserves past the $50 billion mark. Stock market indices in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, however, ended 26% lower in 1995. President CARDOSO remains committed to further reducing inflation in 1996 while boosting growth, but he faces key challenges. Servicing domestic debt has become dramatically more burdensome for both public and private sector entities because of very high real interest rates which are contributing to growing budget deficits and a surge in bankruptcies. Fiscal reforms, many of which require constitutional amendments, are proceeding at a slow pace through the Brazilian legislature; in their absence, the government is maintaining its strict monetary policy. Brazil's natural resources remain a major, long-run economic strength.

Electricity

capacity

55,130,000 kW

consumption per capita

1,589 kWh (1993)

production

241.4 billion kWh

Exchange rates

R$ per US$1 - 0.975 (January 1996), 0.918 (1995), 0.639 (1994); CR$ per US$1 - 390.845 (January 1994), 88.449 (1993), 4.513 (1992), 0.407 (1991)

note

on 1 August 1993 the cruzeiro real (CR$), equal to 1,000 cruzeiros, was introduced; another new currency, the real (R$) was introduced on 1 July 1994, equal to 2,750 cruzeiro reals

Exports

$46.5 billion (f.o.b., 1995)

commodities

iron ore, soybean bran, orange juice, footwear, coffee, motor vehicle parts

partners

EU 27.6%, Latin America 21.8%, US 17.4%, Japan 6.3% (1993)

External debt

$94 billion (1995 est.)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $976.8 billion (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector

agriculture

16%

industry

25%

services

59% (1994)

GDP per capita

$6,100 (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate

4.2% (1995)

Illicit drugs

illicit producer of cannabis, coca cultivation in the Amazon region has diminished in recent years because of its low alkaloid content, mostly for domestic consumption; government has a large-scale eradication program to control cannabis; important transshipment country for Bolivian and Colombian cocaine headed for the US and Europe

Imports

$49.7 billion (f.o.b., 1995)

commodities

crude oil, capital goods, chemical products, foodstuffs, coal

partners

US 23.3%, EU 22.5%, Middle East 13.0%, Latin America 11.8%, Japan 6.5% (1993)

Industrial production growth rate

3.5% (1995 est.)

Industries

textiles, shoes, chemicals, cement, lumber, iron ore, tin, steel, aircraft, motor vehicles and parts, other machinery and equipment

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

23% (1995)

Labor force

57 million (1989 est.)

by occupation

services 42%, agriculture 31%, industry 27%

Unemployment rate

5% (1995 est.)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1,223, FM 0, shortwave 151

Radios

60 million (1993 est.)

Telephone system

good working system

domestic

extensive microwave radio relay system and a domestic satellite system with 64 earth stations

international

3 coaxial submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean Region East)

Telephones

14,426,673 (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations

112

note

Brazil has the world's fourth largest television broadcasting system

Televisions

30 million (1993 est.)

Airports

total

2,950

with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m

122

with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m

19

with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m

295

with paved runways over 3 047 m

5

with paved runways under 914 m

1,298

with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m

66

with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m

1,145 (1995 est.)

Highways

paved

142,919 km

total

1,661,850 km

unpaved

1,518,931 km (1992 est.)

Merchant marine

ships by type

bulk 48, cargo 29, chemical tanker 11, combination ore/oil 12, container 14, liquefied gas tanker 11, multifunction large-load carrier 1, oil tanker 64, passenger-cargo 5, refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 11 (1995 est.)

total

207 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,108,543 GRT/8,477,760 DWT

Pipelines

crude oil 2,000 km; petroleum products 3,804 km; natural gas 1,095 km

Ports

Belem, Fortaleza, Ilheus, Imbituba, Manaus, Paranagua, Porto Alegre, Recife, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande, Salvador, Santos, Vitoria

Railways

broad gauge

5,730 km 1.600-m gauge

dual gauge

523 km 1.000-m and 1.600-m gauges

narrow gauge

20,958 km 1.000-m gauge; 13 km 0.760-m gauge

standard gauge

194 km 1.440-m gauge

total

27,418 km (1,750 km electrified)

Waterways

50,000 km navigable