Brazil
Brazil
| Area | 8,514,877 sq km |
|---|---|
| Population | 190,010,647 |
| Capital | Brasilia |
| Language | Brazilian Portuguese |
| States | 26 and one federal district |
| GDP | $1.067 trillion (Nominal) $1.701 trillion (purchasing power parity) |
With over 3 million square miles of territory and 190 million people, Brazil is the fifth largest nation in the world by population and also is fifth in terms of area. It is the largest country in South America, bordering the Atlantic Ocean by 8,500 km. The neighbors are, the Guianas, Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay and Argentina.
It is the only Latin America country settled by Portugal, and the only one where the language is Portuguese.
Inside the Country its name is BRASIL with an "S" instead of the "Z" usually used internationally. The name is derived from a Wood (Pau Brasil), a red wood used to extract dyes for coloring, the first natural resource exploited by the Portuguese. They also exported sugar, gold and silver.
In 1808, the Portuguese Royal Family moved to Brazil, escaping Napoleon. The alliance with Britain made the escape possible.
Following three centuries under the rule of Portugal, Brazil became an independent nation in 1822 and a republic in 1889.
Brazil overcame more than twenty years 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 remains a pressing problem.
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.
Government
Levine (2003) shows Brazil is a nation beset with contradictions. For example the law requires all citizens over age 18 to vote, but in the 1998 presidential election, 30% of the ballots were invalidated or reported blank. Despite efforts by reformists, Brazilian politics continue to be dominated by a wealthy, privileged minority whose decisions maintain Brazil's status as one of the most unequal societies in the world.