2003 Edition

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 27.1% (male 25,151,855; female 24,196,506) 15-64 years: 67.2% (male 60,667,014; female 61,683,580) 65 years and over: 5.7% (male 4,232,784; female 6,100,865) (2003 est.)

Area

land

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

8,511,965 sq km

water

55,455 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than the US

Background

Following three centuries under the rule of Portugal, Brazil became an independent nation in 1822. By far the largest and most populous country in South America, Brazil has overcome more than half a century of military intervention in the governance of the country to pursue industrial and agricultural growth and development of the interior. Exploiting vast natural resources and a large labor pool, Brazil is today South America's leading economic power and a regional leader. Highly unequal income distribution remains a pressing problem. Geography Brazil

Birth rate

17.67 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Capital

Brasilia

Climate

mostly tropical, but temperate in south

Coastline

7,491 km

Constitution

5 October 1988

Country name

conventional long form

Federative Republic of Brazil

conventional short form

Brazil

local long form

Republica Federativa do Brasil

local short form

Brasil

Death rate

6.13 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Pico da Neblina 3,014 m

lowest point

Atlantic Ocean 0 m

Environment - current issues

deforestation in Amazon Basin destroys the habitat and endangers a multitude of plant and animal species indigenous to the area; there is a lucrative illegal wildlife trade; 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; wetland degradation; severe oil spills

Environment - international agreements

party to

Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

Ethnic groups

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

Executive branch

chief of state

President Luiz Inacio LULA DA SILVA (since 1 January 2003); Vice President Jose ALENCAR (since 1 January 2003); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of

Geographic coordinates

10 00 S, 55 00 W

Geography - note

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

Government type

federative republic

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.7% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

8,400 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

610,000 (2001 est.)

Independence

7 September 1822 (from Portugal)

Infant mortality rate

female

27.68 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)

male

35.61 deaths/1,000 live births

total

31.74 deaths/1,000 live births

Irrigated land

26,560 sq km (1998 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

6.3%

other

92.28% (1998 est.)

permanent crops

1.42%

Languages

Portuguese (official), Spanish, English, French

Legal system

based on Roman codes; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Life expectancy at birth

female

75.3 years (2003 est.)

male

67.16 years

total population

71.13 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

86.6% (2003 est.) Government Brazil

male

86.1%

total population

86.4%

Location

Eastern South America, bordering the Atlantic Ocean

Map references

South America

Maritime claims

contiguous zone

24 NM

continental shelf

200 NM or to edge of the continental margin

exclusive economic zone

200 NM

territorial sea

12 NM

Median age

female

27.7 years (2002)

male

26.2 years

total

27 years

National holiday

Independence Day, 7 September (1822)

Nationality

adjective

Brazilian

noun

Brazilian(s)

Natural hazards

recurring droughts in northeast; floods and occasional frost in south

Natural resources

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

Net migration rate

-0.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Population

182,032,604

note

Brazil took a count in August 2000, which reported a population of 169,799,170; that figure was about 3.3% lower than projections by the US Census Bureau, and is close to the implied underenumeration of 4.6% for the 1991 census; estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2003 est.)

Population growth rate

1.15% (2003 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic (nominal) 80%

Sex ratio

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

under 15 years

1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female

Suffrage

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

Terrain

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

Total fertility rate

2.01 children born/woman (2003 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Airports

3,590 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways

over 3,047 m

7 2,438 to 3,047 m: 23 1,524 to 2,437 m: 155 914 to 1,523 m: 435

total

665

under 914 m

45 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

2,925 1,524 to 2,437 m: 70 914 to 1,523 m: 1,384

under 914 m

1,471 (2002) Military Brazil

Budget

expenditures

$91.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000)

revenues

$100.6 billion

Currency

real (BRL)

Currency code

BRL

Debt - external

$222.4 billion (2002)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Donna J. HRINAK

embassy

Avenida das Nacoes, Quadra 801, Lote 3, Distrito Federal Cep 70403-900, Brasilia

mailing address

Unit 3500, APO AA 34030

telephone

[55] (61) 312-7000

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Rubens Antonio BARBOSA; note - Ambassador-Designate Roberto ABDENUR expected to arrive March 2004

Disputes - international

unruly region at convergence of Argentina-Brazil-Paraguay borders is locus of money laundering, smuggling, arms and drug trafficking, and harbors Islamist militants; uncontested dispute with Uruguay over certain islands in the Quarai/Cuareim and Invernada boundary streams and the resulting tripoint with Argentina

Distribution of family income - Gini index

60.7 (1998)

Economic aid - recipient

$30 billion IMF disbursement (2002)

Economy - overview

Possessing large and well-developed agricultural, mining, manufacturing, and service sectors, Brazil's economy outweighs that of all other South American countries and is expanding its presence in world markets. The maintenance of large current account deficits via capital account surpluses became problematic as investors became more risk averse to emerging markets as a consequence of the Asian financial crisis in 1997 and the Russian bond default in August 1998. After crafting a fiscal adjustment program and pledging progress on structural reform, Brazil received a $41.5 billion IMF-led international support program in November 1998. In January 1999, the Brazilian Central Bank announced that the real would no longer be pegged to the US dollar. The consequent devaluation helped moderate the downturn in economic growth in 1999, and the country posted moderate GDP growth in 2000. Economic growth slowed considerably in 2001-03 - to less than 2% - because of a slowdown in major markets and the hiking of interest rates by the Central Bank to combat inflationary pressures. New president DA SILVA, who took office 1 January 2003, has given priority to reforming the complex tax code, trimming the overblown civil service pension system, and continuing the fight against inflation.

Electricity - consumption

335.9 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports

37.19 billion kWh; note - supplied by Paraguay (2001)

Electricity - production

321.2 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

8.3%

hydro

82.7%

nuclear

4.4%

other

4.6% (2001)

Exchange rates

reals per US dollar - 2.92 (2002), 2.36 (2001), 1.83 (2000), 1.81 (1999), 1.16 (1998)

note

from October 1994 through 14 January 1999, the official rate was determined by a managed float; since 15 January 1999, the official rate floats independently with respect to the US dollar

Exports

$59.4 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities

transport equipment, iron ore, soybeans, footwear, coffee, autos

Exports - partners

US 23.8%, Argentina 8.5%, Germany 5%, China 4.3%, Netherlands 4.2% (2002)

FAX

[1] (202) 238-2827

[55] (61) 225-9136

chancery

3006 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

consulate(s)

Recife

consulate(s) general

Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, and San Francisco

consulate(s) general

Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo

telephone

[1] (202) 238-2700

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications Brazil

Flag 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) Economy Brazil

GDP

purchasing power parity - $1.376 trillion (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

8%

industry

36%

services

56% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $7,600 (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

1.5% (2002 est.)

Highways

paved

94,871 km

total

1,724,929 km

unpaved

1,630,058 km (2000)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

48% (1998)

lowest 10%

0.7%

Illicit drugs

illicit producer of cannabis; minor coca cultivation in the Amazon region, used for domestic consumption; government has a large-scale eradication program to control cannabis; important transshipment country for Colombian and Peruvian cocaine headed for the US and Europe; also used by traffickers as a way station for narcotics air transshipments between Peru and Colombia; upsurge in drug-related violence and weapons smuggling; important market for Colombian, Bolivian, and Peruvian cocaine; illicit narcotics proceeds earned in Brazil are often laundered through the financial system; significant illicit financial activity in the Tri-Border Area This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

Imports

$46.2 billion f.o.b. (2002)

Imports - commodities

machinery, electrical, and transport equipment, chemical products, oil

Imports - partners

US 23.3%, Argentina 12.6%, Germany 8.7%, France 5.2% (2002)

Industrial production growth rate

2.3% (2002 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

8.3% (2002)

International organization participation

AfDB, BIS, ECLAC, FAO, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, NAM (observer), NSG, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMISET, UNMOP, UNMOVIC, UNU, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Internet country code

.br

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

50 (2000)

Internet users

13.98 million (2002) Transportation Brazil

Judicial branch

Supreme Federal Tribunal (11 ministers are appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate); Higher Tribunal of Justice; Regional Federal Tribunals (judges are appointed for life)

Labor force

79 million (1999 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

services 53%, agriculture 23%, industry 24%

Legislative branch

bicameral National Congress or Congresso Nacional consists of the Federal Senate or Senado Federal (81 seats; three members from each state or federal district elected according to the principle of majority to serve eight-year terms; one-third elected after a four-year period, two-thirds elected after the next four-year period) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camara dos Deputados (513 seats; members are elected by proportional representation to serve four-year terms)

election results

Federal Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party PMBD 19, PFL 19, PT 14, PSDB 11, PDT 5, PSB 4, PL 3, PTB 3, PPS 1, PSD 1, PPB 1; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PT 91, PFL 84, PMDB 74, PSDB 71, PPB 49, PL 26, PTB 26, PSB 22, PDT 21, PPS 15, PCdoB 12, PRONA 6, PV 5, other 11

elections

Federal Senate - last held 6 October 2002 for two-thirds of the Senate (next to be held NA October 2006 for one-third of the Senate); Chamber of Deputies - last held 6 October 2002 (next to be held NA October 2006)

Merchant marine

convenience

Chile 2, Germany 6, Greece 1, Monaco 1 (2002 est.)

note

includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of

ships by type

bulk 29, cargo 23, chemical tanker 7, combination ore/oil 7, container 12, liquefied gas 11, multi-functional large-load carrier 1, passenger/cargo 5, petroleum tanker 53, roll on/roll off 10, short-sea passenger 1

total

159 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 3,257,186 GRT/5,101,578 DWT

Military branches

Brazilian Army, Brazilian Navy (includes naval air and marines), Brazilian Air Force, Federal Police (paramilitary)

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$13.408 billion (FY99)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

1.9% (FY99) Transnational Issues Brazil

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49

51,381,048 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49

34,347,078 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - military age

18 years of age (2003 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males

1,744,148 (2003 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

9.59 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports

3.64 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - production

5.95 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

221.7 billion cu m (37257)

Oil - consumption

2.199 million bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA (2001)

Oil - imports

NA (2001)

Oil - production

1.561 million bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

8.507 billion bbl (37257)

Pipelines

condensate/gas 243 km; gas 10,984 km; liquid petroleum gas 341 km; oil 5,113 km; refined products 4,800 km (2003)

Political parties and leaders

Brazilian Democratic Movement Party or PMDB [Michel TEMER]; Brazilian Labor Party or PTB [Jose Carlos MARTINEZ]; Brazilian Social Democracy Party or PSDB [Senator Jose ANIBAL]; Brazilian Socialist Party or PSB [Miguel ARRAES]; Brazilian Progressive Party or PPB [Paulo Salim MALUF]; Communist Party of Brazil or PCdoB [Renato RABELLO]; Democratic Labor Party or PDT [Leonel BRIZOLA]; Green Party or PV [leader NA]; Liberal Front Party or PFL [Jorge BORNHAUSEN]; Liberal Party or PL [Deputy Valdemar COSTA Neto]; National Order Reconstruction Party or PRONA [Dr. Eneas CARNEIRO]; Popular Socialist Party or PPS [Senator Roberto FREIRE]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [leader NA]; Worker's Party or PT [Jose GENOINO]

Political pressure groups and leaders

left wing of the Catholic Church; Landless Worker's Movement; labor unions allied to leftist Worker's Party

Population below poverty line

22% (1998 est.)

Ports and harbors

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

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1,365, FM 296, shortwave 161 (of which 91 are collocated with AM stations) (1999)

Radios

71 million (1997)

Railways

broad gauge

4,961 km 1.600-m gauge (692 km electrified)

dual gauge

396 km 1.000-m and 1.600-m gauges (three rails) (78 km electrified) (2002)

narrow gauge

25,992 km 1.000-m gauge (581 km electrified)

standard gauge

194 km 1.440-m gauge (630 km electrified)

total

31,543 km (1,981 km electrified)

Telephone system

domestic

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

general assessment

good working system

international

3 coaxial submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean region east), connected by microwave relay system to Mercosur Brazilsat B3 satellite earth station

Telephones - main lines in use

17.039 million (1997)

Telephones - mobile cellular

4.4 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations

138 (1997)

Televisions

36.5 million (1997)

Unemployment rate

6.4% (2001 est.)

Waterways

50,000 km