Brazil

Introduction & Quick Facts
Introduction to Brazil
The land
- Geographic regions
- Relief
  - Guiana Highlands
  - Amazon lowlands
  - Pantanal
  - Brazilian Highlands
  - Coastal lowlands
- Rivers
- Climate
- Soils
- Plant and animal life
  - Highlands, coastal regions, and the Pantanal
  - Amazonia
- Conservation and ecology
- Settlement patterns
  - The Northeast coast
  - The Southeast: Mining and coffee
  - The backlands and Amazonia
  - Ongoing domestic migration
  - Urbanization
The people
- Ethnic groups
  - Indigenous people
  - Africans
  - European and other immigrant groups
- Language
- Religion
- Demography
The economy
- Resources
  - Minerals
  - Biological resources
  - Hydroelectric resources
- Agriculture, fishing, and forestry
  - Agriculture
  - Fishing
  - Forestry
- Industry
  - Mining and quarrying
  - Petroleum and natural gas
  - Power
  - Manufacturing
- Services
  - Finance
  - Trade
  - Tourism
- Transportation
  - Roads
  - Railways
  - Shipping
  - Aerospace
Administration and social conditions
- Government
  - Constitutional framework
    - The legislature
    - The executive
    - The judiciary
  - Regional, state, and local administration
  - Political parties
  - Armed forces and security
- Education
  - Primary and secondary school
  - Higher education
- Welfare and health
Cultural life
- Cultural institutions
- The arts
  - Literature
  - Visual arts
  - Performing arts
- Daily life
  - Carnaval
  - Sports and recreation
- Press and telecommunications
History
- Early period
  - Exploration and initial settlement
  - Royal governors, Jesuits, and the enslaved
  - Dutch and French incursions
  - Expansion and unification
  - Agriculture and prospecting
  - Colonial reforms
- Independence
- The Brazilian Empire
  - Pedro I and the regency
  - Pedro II
  - The collapse of the empire
- The republic to 1960
  - Transition to civilian rule
  - The “coffee presidents”
  - Rebellion against the coffee elite
  - The Vargas era
  - The democratic interlude
  - Kubitschek’s administration
  - Quadros administration
  - Goulart’s presidency
- The beginning of military rule and authoritarian consolidation (1964–85)
- Return to civilian rule and the legacy of the dictatorship
- Brazil since 1990
  - Collor, corruption, and inflation
  - The Real Plan and Cardoso presidency
  - Lula’s leftist political agenda
  - The Petrobras scandal, impeachment of Rousseff, and Temer interregnum
  - The Bolsonaro presidency
  - The return of Lula

References & Edit History Facts & Stats

Images, Videos & Interactives

Map of South America highlighting Brazil in tan, with neighboring countries labeled in white. The capital city, Brasilia, is marked near the center of Brazil. Surrounding countries and French Guiana are labeled, with the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans shown on either side of the continent.

The statue of Christ the Redeemer stands atop Mount Corcovado overlooking Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, with Guanabara Bay and city buildings visible in the background.

Political map of Brazil showing state boundaries, major cities, rivers, and neighboring countries in South America. The map highlights Brazil's borders with nations such as Argentina, Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, and Venezuela, and includes a locator inset in the bottom left corner indicating Brazil's position on the continent.

Map of Brazil displaying the country's major biomes with color-coded regions: Amazonia (Amazon rainforest) in green, Cerrado in yellow, Caatinga in red, Pantanal in purple, Mata Atlantica in blue, and Pampa in orange. Illustrations of representative animals and plants are drawn over each biome, such as a toucan in the Amazon, a giant anteater in the Cerrado, and a monkey in the Atlantic Forest.

White text on a textured blue background reading Cerrado.

Aerial view of Lencois Maranhenses National Park in Brazil, showing bright white sand dunes and blue lagoons with vehicles and people along the water's edge.

A textured blue background with white text reading Lencois Maranhenses.

White text on a textured blue background reading Mata Atlantica.

At a Glance

default image

Brazil: Media

country, South America

Videos

White text on a textured blue background reading Cerrado.

How to Pronounce Cerrado

Video: Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

A textured blue background with white text reading Lencois Maranhenses.

How to Pronounce Lençóis Maranhenses

Video: Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

White text on a textured blue background reading Mata Atlantica.

How to Pronounce Mata Atlântica

Video: Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

White text on a textured blue background reading Caatinga.

How to Pronounce Caatinga

Video: Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

How Did Brazil's Population Become So Diverse?

How Did Brazil's Population Become So Diverse?

Learn about how Brazil's population became one of the most diverse in the world.

Video: Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

How Brazil Became the World's Largest Producer of Coffee Beans

How Brazil Became the World's Largest Producer of Coffee Beans

Brazil is the world's leading producer of coffee beans.

Video: Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Brazil's Shift from Meat Exports to Ethanol Production

Brazil's Shift from Meat Exports to Ethanol Production

Learn about the production of ethanol as a biofuel in Brazil.

Video: Contunico © ZDF Studios GmbH, Mainz

Rio de Janiero: From Carnaval and Samba Schools to Favelas and Skyscrapers

Rio de Janiero: From Carnaval and Samba Schools to Favelas and Skyscrapers

Portrait of Rio de Janeiro as a city of contrasts.

Video: Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

A textured blue background with white text reading Axé.

How to Pronounce Axé

Video: Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Learn how the Portuguese settlers established the world's first coffee plantations in Brazil

Learn how the Portuguese settlers established the world's first coffee plantations in Brazil

Harvesting and drying of coffee in Brazil

Video: Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Learn how the Iguaçu Falls supply hydroelectric power to new industries in Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay

Learn how the Iguaçu Falls supply hydroelectric power to new industries in Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay

The Iguaçu Falls supply hydroelectric power to Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay.

Video: Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Learn how the Brazilian government incentivized forest clearing in the Amazon for beef production and ranching

Learn how the Brazilian government incentivized forest clearing in the Amazon for beef production and ranching

Deforestation of the Amazon River basin has followed a pattern of cutting, burning,...

Video: Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Investigate how segments of Brazil's Amazon Rainforest are cleared for lumber, agriculture, and grazing

Investigate how segments of Brazil's Amazon Rainforest are cleared for lumber, agriculture, and grazing

Damage to the Amazon rainforest caused by burning and cutting.

Video: Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Learn about effects of mercury used in gold mining on drinking water of innocent wildlife in Amazon Basin

Learn about effects of mercury used in gold mining on drinking water of innocent wildlife in Amazon Basin

Gold and other mineral deposits in parts of the Amazon River basin have drawn both...

Video: Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Witness the lives of gold miners in shantytowns along the road network that carves up the Amazon Rainforest

Witness the lives of gold miners in shantytowns along the road network that carves up the Amazon Rainforest

Shantytowns filled with gold miners in the Amazon River basin.

Video: Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

The samba: An expression of Afro-Brazilian culture

The samba: An expression of Afro-Brazilian culture

Overview of the samba de roda, a traditional dance in Bahia state, Brazil.

Video: Contunico © ZDF Studios GmbH, Mainz

Images

Brazil

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Map of South America highlighting Brazil in tan, with neighboring countries labeled in white. The capital city, Brasilia, is marked near the center of Brazil. Surrounding countries and French Guiana are labeled, with the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans shown on either side of the continent.

Brazil

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

The statue of Christ the Redeemer stands atop Mount Corcovado overlooking Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, with Guanabara Bay and city buildings visible in the background.

Christ the Redeemer, Mount Corcovado, Brazil

Statue of Christ the Redeemer standing on Mount Corcovado's summit, overlooking Rio...

© Donatas Dabravolskas/stock.adobe.com

Political map of Brazil showing state boundaries, major cities, rivers, and neighboring countries in South America. The map highlights Brazil's borders with nations such as Argentina, Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, and Venezuela, and includes a locator inset in the bottom left corner indicating Brazil's position on the continent.

Brazil

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Map of Brazil displaying the country's major biomes with color-coded regions: Amazonia (Amazon rainforest) in green, Cerrado in yellow, Caatinga in red, Pantanal in purple, Mata Atlantica in blue, and Pampa in orange. Illustrations of representative animals and plants are drawn over each biome, such as a toucan in the Amazon, a giant anteater in the Cerrado, and a monkey in the Atlantic Forest.

Major biomes of Brazil

Brazil is home to six major terrestrial biomes—Amazonia, Cerrado, Caatinga, Pantanal,...

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc./Refugio Mariscal

Aerial view of Lencois Maranhenses National Park in Brazil, showing bright white sand dunes and blue lagoons with vehicles and people along the water's edge.

Lençóis Maranhenses National Park

Seasonal freshwater lagoons are nestled among expansive white sand dunes in Lençóis...

© guilhermespengler/Shutterstock.com

Field of pinkish-purple molasses grass swaying in the wind, with scattered trees and rocky outcrops under a partly cloudy sky at Serra da Canastra National Park, Brazil.

Serra da Canastra National Park

A field of molasses grass (Melinis minutiflora), part of the open grasslands...

© Luciano Queiroz/stock.adobe.com

Wide view of Iguazu Falls with multiple cascades of water flowing over cliffs surrounded by lush green vegetation, spanning the border between Argentina and Brazil.

Iguaçu Falls

Located on the border between Brazil and Argentina, Iguaçu Falls is one of the world's...

© Seungki/stock.adobe.com

Aerial view of the Amazon rainforest in Brazil, showing dense green forest with winding dark rivers cutting through the landscape.

The Amazon River: Artery of a continent

Flowing more than 4,000 miles (6,400 km) from the Andes Mountains to the Atlantic...

© Curioso.Photography/stock.adobe.com

Vector map showing the mouth of the Amazon River in Brazil, with labeled waterways, islands including Ilha de Marajo, and the Atlantic Ocean to the north and east.

Map of the Amazon River

Detailed vector map of the mouth of the Amazon River, where it enters the Atlantic...

© Rainer Lesniewski/Shutterstock.com

Close-up of a Pilosocereus gounellei cactus with a round, pale fruit split open to reveal bright pink edible flesh dotted with small seeds, surrounded by long yellow spines.

Xiquexique cactus

Pink edible fruit of the xiquexique cactus (Xiquexique gounellei) can be...

© Raul Romario/Dreamstime.com

Emperor tamarin (Saguinus imperator) with a distinctive long white mustache sits on a piece of wood, looking toward the camera.

Emperor tamarin (Saguinus imperator)

This primate—named for its long white moustache, which is said to resemble that of...

© Eric Gevaert/stock.adobe.com

A pink Amazon river dolphin, Inia geoffrensis, breaches the surface of the Rio Negro with water splashing around its body, forested riverbank in the background.

Amazon river dolphin (Inia geoffrensis)

Known for its distinctive pink coloration, this freshwater cetacean, locally called...

© Sylvain Cordier—Photographer's Choice RF/Getty Imaages

A male Flame-crested tanager, Loriotus cristatus, with black plumage and a bright orange-red crest and chin, perched on a tree branch.

Flame-crested tanager (Loriotus cristatus)

Recognized by its glossy black plumage and vivid orange crest, the flame-crested...

© Leandro/stock.adobe.com

Large tree stumps and barren ground show deforestation along the Xingu River in the Amazon, Brazil, with smoke and a sparse tree line in the distance.

Deforestation in the Amazon rainforest

Cleared land reveals the scale of illicit logging and land conversion in Brazil's...

© Marcio Isensee e Sá/stock.adobe.com

A wild great egret bird stands among floating plastic trash and debris at the edge of the Amazon river near Manaus, Brazil.

Great egret (Egretta alba) amid pollution in the Amazon region

Walking across floating plastic debris, a great egret navigates the polluted waters...

© juerginho/shutterstock.com

Iguaçu Falls, Iguaçu National Park, Paraná, Brazil

Iguaçu Falls, Iguaçu National Park, Paraná, Brazil

A view of Iguaçu Falls in Iguaçu National Park, which was established in 1939 and...

© Aad Clemens/Alamy

The twin Yachthouse towers under construction rise above the skyline of Balneario Camboriu, Santa Catarina, with the ocean and city buildings in the background.

Urbanization in Brazil: Vertical growth and coastal development

Yachthouse Towers, two of the tallest buildings in Brazil, rise above the skyline...

© Jair/stock.adobe.com

São Paulo: Metropolitan Cathedral

São Paulo: Metropolitan Cathedral

Metropolitan Cathedral, Sé Square, São Paulo.

© Wilfredo Rodríguez (A Britannica Publishing Partner)

Iron mine, Pará state, Brazil

Iron mine, Pará state, Brazil

Large iron mine in the Serra dos Carajás, Pará state, Brazil.

© Tony Morrison/South American Pictures

A sugarcane harvester loads freshly cut sugarcane into a truck beside a tall green field on a farm near Sao Jose do Rio Preto, Brazil.

Sugarcane harvesting

A cutting machine on a plantation in São José do Rio Prêto, Brazil, harvesting sugarcane,...

© Paulo Fridman—Corbis/Getty Images

Brazil: Nuclear power plant

Brazil: Nuclear power plant

Angra nuclear power plant, Angra dos Reis, Rio de Janeiro.

Agencia Brasil courtesy IAEA

Water rushes down the wide spillway of the Itaipu Dam on the Parana River, with mist rising and green landscape on both sides along the Brazil-Paraguay border.

Itaipú Dam, Brazil-Paraguay border

Spillway of the Itaipú Dam, on the Paraná River at the Brazil-Paraguay border.

© R.M. Nunes/Shutterstock.com

Madeira River

Madeira River

The Madeira River near Pôrto Velho, Rondônia state, Brazil

© Diego Queiroz/Shutterstock.com

The National Congress buildings in Brasilia, Brazil, designed by Oscar Niemeyer, featuring a pair of tall towers flanked by a white dome and a bowl-shaped structure.

Oscar Niemeyer: National Congress buildings

National Congress buildings, Brasília; designed by Oscar Niemeyer.

© Dabldy/Dreamstime.com

Favela, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Favela, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

A favela in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

© Celso Pupo/Fotolia

Crowds fill grandstands as dancers in elaborate costumes and large parade floats with bright yellow flame decorations move along the Sambadrome during Rio de Janeiro Carnival.

Rio de Janeiro: Carnaval (or Carnival) parade

Carnaval parade in Rio de Janeiro, 2014.

© CP DC Press/Shutterstock.com

The Sao Paulo Museum of Art in Brazil, a modern glass and concrete building elevated on bold red pillars above a busy city street.

São Paulo Art Museum

Exterior of the São Paulo Art Museum.

© Antonio Salverry/Shutterstock.com

The Chapel of Sao Francisco de Assis in Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, Brazil, features a curved blue roof and a tall, narrow bell tower, set beside a lake with trees in the background.

Oscar Niemeyer: Chapel of São Francisco

Chapel of São Francisco, designed by Oscar Niemeyer, in Belo Horizonte, Brazil.

© Caio Acquesta/Dreamstime.com

Aleijadinho: Prophet sculpture

Aleijadinho: Prophet sculpture

One of the Twelve Prophets, soapstone sculpture outside the Sanctuary of Bom Jesus...

©pic3d/Fotolia

São Paulo: Municipal Theater

São Paulo: Municipal Theater

Municipal Theater of São Paulo, Brazil.

© Wilfredo Rodríguez (A Britannica Publishing Partner)

Densely packed, multi-story brick and concrete homes with metal roofs in a favela in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, with some greenery visible among the buildings.

Rio de Janeiro favela

A favela in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

© Urbanhearts/stock.adobe.com

Rio de Janeiro: Carnaval

Rio de Janeiro: Carnaval

Brazilians celebrating Carnaval (or Carnival) in Rio de Janeiro.

© Flowerpower/Fotolia

Black and white photo of a crowded stadium as Brazilian soccer legend Pele scores a goal during the 1958 World Cup final, helping Brazil win its first title; defenders and the goalkeeper react as the ball heads toward the net.

Pelé the legend

In 1958 Brazil's Pelé, at 17, became the youngest player to score in the final of...

© TT News Agency/Alamy

Brazil's forward Ronaldo, wearing number 9, lifts the World Cup trophy above his head while celebrating with teammates after winning the 2002 FIFA World Cup final in Yokohama, Japan.

Brazil, 2002 World Cup champions

Members of the Brazilian national team celebrating after defeating Germany 2–0 in...

Odd Andersen—AFP/Getty Images

Vinícius Júnior of Brazil in a yellow jersey and blue shorts takes a shot during a soccer match against South Korea at Seoul World Cup Stadium.

Vinícius Júnior playing for Brazil

Real Madrid's Vinícius Júnior (in yellow and blue) attempting to score for Brazil...

© Ricardo Nogueira—Sports Press Photo/Getty Images

The Brazil Olympic Team, dressed in green, blue, and yellow, enters Maracana Stadium waving the Brazilian flag during the opening ceremony of the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

Opening ceremony at the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic Games

Brazil's Olympic team entering Maracana Stadium during the opening ceremony of the...

© Zhukovsky/Dreamstime.com

Attack on Brazil's capital, 2023

Attack on Brazil's capital, 2023

Supporters of former president Jair Bolsonaro storming the National Congress building,...

Eraldo Peres—AP/Shutterstock.com

Aerial view of the wide Amazon River winding through dense green rainforest in Brazil, with clouds scattered above the landscape.

Amazon River

Aerial view of the Amazon River in Brazil.

© guentermanaus/Shutterstock.com

Skyline of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, with tall buildings along the coastline and boats in the blue waters of Todos os Santos Bay.

Skyline of Salvador, Brazil

Skyline of Salvador, Brazil, from Todos os Santos Bay.

© ostill/Shutterstock.com

Map of southeastern South America highlighting southern Brazil and neighboring countries. Mirim Lagoon is labeled near the southern border of Brazil, close to Uruguay. An inset map shows the location of this region within Brazil, shaded in pink. Major cities, rivers, and geographic features are labeled throughout the main map.

Mirim Lagoon

Mirim Lagoon.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Smoke over South America on March 27, 1998.In South America fires burned out of control in the state of Roraima, Brazil, as well as in Colombia and Venezuela.

Smoke over South America on March 27, 1998.In...

Goddard Space Flight Center/NASA

Map of Brazil displaying the country's major biomes with color-coded regions: Amazon Rainforest in green, Cerrado savanna in yellow, Caatinga thorny forest in pink, Pantanal wetlands in purple, Mata Atlantica coastal forest in blue, and Pampas plains in orange. Illustrations of characteristic animals and plants are shown within each biome.

Major biomes of Brazil

Brazil is home to six major terrestrial biomes—Amazonia, Cerrado, Caatinga, Pantanal,...

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Physical map of Brazil highlighting major geographic features such as the Amazon Basin, Brazilian Highlands, major rivers including the Amazon and Sao Francisco, and notable peaks like Neblina Peak and Agulhas Negras. Neighboring countries, surrounding oceans, and key islands off the coast are also labeled. An inset locator map shows Brazil's position within South America.

Physical features of Brazil

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Map of Brazil showing population density by region, with darker shades of orange and red indicating higher densities concentrated along the eastern and southeastern coasts. Major cities such as Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte, Salvador, and Porto Alegre are marked, with the sparsely populated Amazon region in the north and west shown in light colors.

Population density of Brazil

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Salvador, Brazil

Salvador, Brazil

Salvador, Brazil, designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1985.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Brazil

Brazil

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Audio

National anthem of Brazil

The instrumental version of the national anthem of Brazil.

Interactives

Population density of Brazil

Population density of Brazil

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Brazil: Urban-rural

Brazil: Urban-rural

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Brazil: Foreign-born immigrants

Brazil: Foreign-born immigrants

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Brazil: Religious affiliation

Brazil: Religious affiliation

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Brazil: Age breakdown

Brazil: Age breakdown

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Brazil: Renewable energy by source

Brazil: Renewable energy by source

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Brazil: Major import sources

Brazil: Major import sources

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Brazil: Major export destinations

Brazil: Major export destinations

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Brazil: Racial composition

Brazil: Racial composition

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

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