Following three centuries under
the rule of Portugal, Brazil became an independent nation in 1822 and a
republic in 1889. By far the largest and most populous country in South
America, Brazil overcame more than half a century of military intervention
in the governance of the country when in 1985 the military regime
peacefully ceded power to civilian rulers. Brazil continues to pursue
industrial and agricultural growth and development of its interior.
Exploiting vast natural resources and a large labor pool, it is today
South America`s leading economic power and a regional leader. Highly
unequal income distribution and crime remain pressing problems.
Government
Country name:
conventional long form:
Federative Republic of Brazil conventional short form: Brazil
local long form: Republica Federativa do Brasil local
short form: Brasil
Government type:
federal republic
Capital:
name: Brasilia
geographic coordinates: 15 47 S, 47 55 W time
difference: UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard
Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins third Sunday in
October, ends third Sunday in February note: Brazil is divided
into four time zones, including one for the Fernando de Noronha Islands
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
Independence:
7 September 1822 (from
Portugal)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 7 September
(1822)
Constitution:
5 October 1988
Legal system:
based on Roman codes, has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
voluntary between 16 and 18
years of age and over 70, compulsory over 18 and under 70 years of age,
note - military conscripts do not vote
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 government head of government:
President Luiz Inacio LULA DA SILVA (since 1 January 2003), Vice President
Jose ALENCAR (since 1 January 2003) cabinet: Cabinet appointed
by the president elections: president and vice president
elected on the same ticket by popular vote for a single four-year term,
election last held 1 October 2006 with runoff 29 October 2006 (next to be
held 3 October 2010 and, if necessary, 31 October 2010) election
results: Luiz Inacio LULA DA SILVA (PT) reelected president - 60.83%,
Geraldo ALCKMIN (PSDB) 39.17%
Legislative branch:
bicameral National Congress or
Congresso Nacional consists of the Federal Senate or Senado Federal (81
seats, 3 members from each state and federal district elected according to
the principle of majority to serve eight-year terms, one-third and
two-thirds elected every four years, alternately) and the Chamber of
Deputies or Camara dos Deputados (513 seats, members are elected by
proportional representation to serve four-year terms)
elections: Federal Senate - last held 1 October 2006 for
one-third of the Senate (next to be held in October 2010 for two-thirds of
the Senate), Chamber of Deputies - last held 1 October 2006 (next to be
held in October 2010) election results: Federal Senate -
percent of vote by party - NA, seats by party - PFL 6, PSDB 5, PMDB 4, PTB
3, PT 2, PDT 1, PSB 1, PL 1, PPS 1, PRTB 1, PP 1, PCdoB 1, Chamber of
Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA, seats by party - PMDB 89, PT 83,
PFL 65, PSDB 65, PP 42, PSB 27, PDT 24, PL 23, PTB 22, PPS 21, PCdoB 13,
PV 13, PSC 9, other 17, note - as of 1 January 2008: Federal Senate -
seats by party - PMDB 20, DEM (formerly PFL) 14, PSDB 13, PT 12, PTB 6,
PDT 5, PR 4, PRB 2, PSB 2, PCdoB 1, PP 1, PSOL 1, Chamber of Deputies -
seats by party - PMDB 90, PT 83, PSDB 64, DEM (formerly PFL) 62, PP 41, PR
34, PSB 28, PDT 23, PTB 21, PPS 17, PV 13, PCdoB 13, PSC 7, PAN 4, PSOL 3,
PMN 3, PTC 3, PHS 2, PTdoB 1, PRB 1
Judicial branch:
Supreme Federal Tribunal or STF
(11 ministers are appointed for life by the president and confirmed by the
Senate), Higher Tribunal of Justice, Regional Federal Tribunals (judges
are appointed for life), note - though appointed "for life," judges, like
all federal employees, have a mandatory retirement age of 70
Political parties and leaders:
Brazilian Democratic Movement
Party or PMDB [Federal Deputy Michel TEMER], Brazilian Labor Party or PTB
[Roberto JEFFERSON], Brazilian Renewal Labor Party or PRTB [Jose Levy
FIDELIX da Cruz], Brazilian Republican Party or PRB [Vitor Paulo Araujo
DOS SANTOS], Brazilian Social Democracy Party or PSDB [Senator Sergio
GUERRA], Brazilian Socialist Party or PSB [Governor Eduardo Henrique
Accioly CAMPOS], Christian Labor Party or PTC [Daniel TOURINHO], Communist
Party of Brazil or PCdoB [Jose Renato RABELO], Democratic Labor Party or
PDT [Carlos Roberto LUPI], the Democrats or DEM (formerly Liberal Front
Party or PFL) [Federal Deputy Rodrigo MAIA], Freedom and Socialism Party
or PSOL [Heloisa HELENA], Green Party or PV [Jose Luiz de Franca PENNA],
Humanist Party of Solidarity or PHS [Paulo Roberto MATOS], Labor Party of
Brazil or PTdoB [Luis Henrique de Oliveira RESENDE], Liberal Front Party
or PFL (now known as the Democrats or DEM), National Mobilization Party or
PMN [Oscar Noronha FILHO], Party of the Republic or PR [Sergio TAMER],
Popular Socialist Party or PPS [Federal Deputy Fernando CORUJA],
Progressive Party or PP [Francisco DORNELLES], Social Christian Party or
PSC [Vitor Jorge Abdala NOSSEIS], Workers` Party or PT [Ricardo Jose
Ribeiro BERZOINI]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Landless Workers` Movement or
MST, labor unions and federations, large farmers` associations, religious
groups including evangelical Christian churches and the Catholic Church
chief of mission:
Ambassador Antonio de Aguiar PATRIOTA chancery: 3006
Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1]
(202) 238-2700 FAX: [1] (202) 238-2827 consulate(s)
general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San
Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Clifford M. SOBEL embassy: Avenida das Nacoes,
Quadra 801, Lote 3, Distrito Federal Cep 70403-900, Brasilia
mailing address: Unit 3500, APO AA 34030 telephone:
[55] (61) 3312-7000 FAX: [55] (61) 3225-9136
consulate(s) general: Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo
consulate(s): Recife
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
Economy - overview:
Characterized by 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. Having weathered 2001-03
financial turmoil, capital inflows are regaining strength and the currency
has resumed appreciating. The appreciation has slowed export volume
growth, but since 2004, Brazil`s growth has yielded increases in
employment and real wages. The resilience in the economy stems from
commodity-driven current account surpluses, and sound macroeconomic
policies that have bolstered international reserves to historically high
levels, reduced public debt, and allowed a significant decline in real
interest rates. A floating exchange rate, an inflation-targeting regime,
and a tight fiscal policy are the three pillars of the economic program.
From 2003 to 2007, Brazil ran record trade surpluses and recorded its
first current account surpluses since 1992. Productivity gains coupled
with high commodity prices contributed to the surge in exports. Brazil
improved its debt profile in 2006 by shifting its debt burden toward real
denominated and domestically held instruments. LULA DA SILVA restated his
commitment to fiscal responsibility by maintaining the country`s primary
surplus during the 2006 election. Following his second inauguration, LULA
DA SILVA announced a package of further economic reforms to reduce taxes
and increase investment in infrastructure. The government`s goal of
achieving strong growth while reducing the debt burden is likely to create
inflationary pressures.
39.2 billion kWh, note -
supplied by Paraguay (2005)
Oil - production:
1.59 million bbl/day (2006
est.)
Oil - consumption:
2.1 million bbl/day (2006 est.)
Oil - exports:
278,400 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - imports:
674,500 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - proved reserves:
11.24 billion bbl (1 January
2006 est.)
Natural gas - production:
9.37 billion cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
17.85 billion cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
8.478 billion cu m (2005)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
312.7 billion cu m (1 January
2006 est.)
Current account balance:
$10.2 billion (2007 est.)
Exports:
$159.2 billion f.o.b. (2007
est.)
Exports - commodities:
transport equipment, iron ore,
soybeans, footwear, coffee, autos
Exports - partners:
US 17.8%, Argentina 8.5%, China
6.1%, Netherlands 4.2%, Germany 4.1% (2006)
Imports:
$115.6 billion f.o.b. (2007
est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery, electrical and
transport equipment, chemical products, oil, automotive parts, electronics
Imports - partners:
US 16.2%, Argentina 8.8%, China
8.7%, Germany 7.1%, Nigeria 4.3%, Japan 4.2% (2006)
Economic aid - recipient:
$191.9 million (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$178 billion (24 December 2007)
Debt - external:
$230.3 billion (30 June 2007)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$214.3 billion (2006 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$99.99 billion (2006 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$711.1 billion (2006)
Currency (code):
real (BRL)
Currency code:
BRL
Exchange rates:
reals per US dollar - 1.85
(2007 est.), 2.1761 (2006), 2.4344 (2005), 2.9251 (2004), 3.0771 (2003)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications
Telephones - main lines in use:
38.8 million (2006)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
99.919 million (2006)
Telephone system:
general assessment: good
working system, fixed-line connections have remained relatively stable in
recent years and stand at about 20 per 100 persons, mobile-cellular
telephone density has risen to nearly 55 per 100 persons
domestic: extensive microwave radio relay system and a domestic
satellite system with 64 earth stations, mobile-cellular usage has more
than tripled in the past 5 years international: country code -
55, landing point for a number of submarine cables that provide direct
links to South and Central America, the Caribbean, the US, Africa, and
Europe, 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 (2007)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1,365, FM 296, shortwave 161
(of which 91 are collocated with AM stations) (1999)
Radios:
71 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
138 (1997)
Televisions:
36.5 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.br
Internet hosts:
8.265 million (2007)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
50 (2000)
Internet users:
42.6 million (2006)
Transportation
Airports:
4,263 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 718 over
3,047 m: 7 2,438 to 3,047 m: 25 1,524 to 2,437
m: 167 914 to 1,523 m: 467 under 914 m: 52
(2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 3,545
1,524 to 2,437 m: 83 914 to 1,523 m: 1,555
under 914 m: 1,907 (2007)
Heliports:
16 (2007)
Pipelines:
condensate/gas 244 km, gas
12,070 km, liquid petroleum gas 351 km, oil 5,214 km, refined products
4,410 km (2007)
Railways:
total: 29,295 km
broad gauge: 4,932 km 1.600-m gauge (939 km electrified)
standard gauge: 194 km 1.440-m gauge narrow gauge:
23,773 km 1.000-m gauge (581 km electrified) dual gauge: 396 km
1.000 m and 1.600-m gauges (three rails) (78 km electrified) (2006)
Roadways:
total: 1,751,868 km
paved: 96,353 km unpaved: 1,655,515 km (2004)
Waterways:
50,000 km (most in areas remote
from industry and population) (2007)
Merchant marine:
total: 135 ships (1000
GRT or over) 2,020,182 GRT/3,039,015 DWT by type: bulk carrier
20, cargo 21, carrier 1, chemical tanker 6, container 9, liquefied gas 12,
passenger/cargo 12, petroleum tanker 47, roll on/roll off 7
foreign-owned: 16 (Chile 1, Denmark 2, Germany 7, Mexico 1,
Norway 1, Spain 4) registered in other countries: 5 (Bahamas 1,
Ghana 1, Liberia 3) (2007)
Ports and terminals:
Guaiba, Ilha Grande, Paranagua,
Rio Grande, Santos, Sao Sebastiao, Tubarao
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international:
unruly region at convergence of
Argentina-Brazil-Paraguay borders is locus of money laundering, smuggling,
arms and illegal narcotics trafficking, and fundraising for extremist
organizations, uncontested dispute with Uruguay over certain islands in
the Quarai/Cuareim and Invernada boundary streams and the resulting
tripoint with Argentina
Illicit drugs:
illicit producer of cannabis,
trace amounts of coca cultivation in the Amazon region, used for domestic
consumption, government has a large-scale eradication program to control
cannabis, important transshipment country for Bolivian, Colombian, and
Peruvian cocaine headed for 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
Disclaimer| Last updated date - Monday, September 06, 2010 | Best Resolution - 1024X768
