GeoFroggy

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Background

Following 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 Getulio VARGAS rose to power in 1930. By far the largest and most populous country in South America, Brazil underwent more than a half century of populist and military government until 1985, when the military regime peacefully ceded power to civilian rulers. 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 seen as one of the world's strongest emerging markets and a contributor to global growth. The awarding of the 2014 FIFA World Cup and 2016 Summer Olympic Games, the first ever to be held in South America, was seen as 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. Former President Dilma ROUSSEFF (2011-2016) was removed from office in 2016 by Congress for having committed impeachable acts against Brazil's budgetary laws, and her vice, Michel TEMER, will serve the remainder of her second term until 1 January 2019. On 28 October 2018, Jair BOLSONARO won the presidency with 55 percent of the vote and will take office on 1 January 2019.;

Location

Eastern South America, bordering the Atlantic Ocean

Area Comparative

Slightly smaller than the US; Area comparison map: The World Factbook Field Image Modal × South America :: Brazil Print Image Description slightly smaller than the US;

Maritime Claims

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Contiguous zone: 24 nm

Continental shelf: 200 nm or to edge of the continental margin

Climate

Mostly tropical, but temperate in south

Natural Hazards

Recurring droughts in northeast; floods and occasional frost in south

Environment Current Issues

Deforestation in Amazon Basin destroys the habitat and endangers a multitude of plant and animal species indigenous to the area; illegal wildlife trade; illegal poaching; 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, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling

Signed, but not ratified: None of the selected agreements

Geography Note

Largest country in South America and in the Southern Hemisphere; shares common boundaries with every South American country except Chile and Ecuador; most of the Pantanal, the world's largest tropical wetland, extends through the west central part of the country; shares Iguazu Falls, the world's largest waterfalls system, with Argentina

Year	2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000

Map Reference

South America

Irrigated Land

54,000 sq km

Area 2018

Total

8,515,770 sq km
Land

8,358,140 sq km
Water

157,630 sq km

Coastline

7,491 km;

Geographical Coordinates

10 00 S, 55 00 W

Land use 2018

Agricultural Land
32.9%
Arable Land
8.6%
Forest
61.9%
Other
5.2%

Terrain

Mostly flat to rolling lowlands in north; some plains
Hills
Mountains
And narrow coastal belt

Land Boundaries

Total
16,145 km
Argentina
1263 km
Bolivia
3403 km
Colombia
1790 km
French Guiana
649 km
Guyana
1308 km
Paraguay
1371 km
Peru
2659 km
Suriname
515 km
Uruguay
1050 km
Venezuela
2137 km

Natural Resources

Bauxite
Gold
Iron ore
Manganese
Nickel
Phosphates
Platinum

Tin
Rare earth elements
Uranium
Petroleum
Hydropower
Timber

Brazil