BRAZIL 

The Federative Republic of Brazil

Area: 8,547,403 sq km2
Population: 182.1 million (2006 estimate)
Capital City: Brasilia
Language: Portuguese
Religion: Roman Catholic (73.6%), Pentecostal (15.4%), animist (1.4%)

 

Basic Economic Facts:

Currency: Real

GDP: R$1939bn (2005) - approx. US$890bn
GDP per head: US$ 4,815 (2005)
Annual Growth: 2.3% (2005); 4.9% (2004); 0.5% (2003); 1.5% (2002); 1.5% (2001)
Inflation: 5.69% (2005)
Major Industries: Agriculture (soya meat, fruit, vegetables), iron ore and minerals, iron and steel, oil and derivatives, food processing, wood products, footwear and textiles, automotive, aerospace, petrochemicals, financial services, electronics
Major trading partners: United States, China, Argentina, Germany, Japan, Italy, France, United Kingdom.
Major political parties: Following the elections in 2002, the Worker's Party (PT) became the largest party in Congress. It has formed a coalition with some ten other parties giving it loose control of an overall majority in both chambers. The PT is a broad left party with close links to the trade union movement. The main opposition parties are the centre-left Social Democratic Party (PSDB), and the centre-right Liberal Front Party (PFL).
Government: Brazil is a Federal Republic consisting of 26 States and the Federal District. States have considerable autonomy, being responsible for such issues as security and education. The President is both Head of State and leader of the Government. Elections for President and Congress take place every four years. The next are due in 2006.
Legislature: The 1988 Constitution provides for an elective bicameral Congress consisting of a Federal Senate (81 seats) and a Chamber of Deputies (513 seats).
Head of State: President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva
Foreign Minister: Ambassador Celso Amorim
Membership of international groupings/organizations: United Nations, Organization of American States, Mercosul, World Trade Organization, G77, ALADI (Latin American Integration Association), Rio Group, ECLAC (UN Economic Commission for Latin America & the Caribbean), South American Community of Nations. 

DID YOU KNOW?

• Did you know that in 1959 Rio de Janeiro was the Capital of Brazil.

• Did you know that Brazil was officially separated from Portugal in 1822.
• Did you know that Brazil is the 5^th biggest country in the world (8,456, 510 Km2), and the largest in South America.
• Did you know that Brazil has the world's largest reserves of tropical forest, freshwater, and bio-diversity.

MEDIA AND COMMUNICATIONS:

• Jornal A Gazet

• El Estado

• Correio Web

• Imprensa Nacional

• Info Brasil

• Tribuna Do Brasil

• Agencia Brasil

• Agencia O Globo