Federative Republic of Brazil · South America
View on the interactive map →| Capital | Brasília |
|---|---|
| Population | 209.5 million |
| Area | 8,515,767 km² (3,287,955 mi²) |
| Official language(s) | Portuguese |
| Currency | Brazilian real (R$) |
| Region | Americas |
| Subregion | South America |
| Continent | South America |
| Demonym | Brazilian |
| Calling code | +55 |
| Time zone | America/Sao_Paulo |
| Government type | Federal presidential republic |
|---|---|
| Major political parties | Workers' Party (PT), Liberal Party (PL), and many others |
| National motto | Ordem e Progresso (Order and Progress) |
| Major religions | Christianity (Catholic majority, growing Protestant), Spiritism, Unaffiliated |
| Important cities | São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Brasília, Salvador, Fortaleza |
Independence / founding: 7 September 1822 (from Portugal)
Colonised by Portugal from 1500, Brazil became the seat of the Portuguese court and then an independent empire in 1822. It abolished slavery in 1888 — the last in the Americas — and became a republic in 1889. Today it is South America's largest country and economy, home to most of the Amazon rainforest.
| National animal / bird | Rufous-bellied thrush (national bird); jaguar |
|---|---|
| National dish | Feijoada, pão de queijo |
| Music | Samba, bossa nova, forró |
| National sport | Football |