Following three centuries under the rule of Portugal, Brazil became an
independent nation in 1822. By far the largest and most populous country
in South America, Brazil has overcome more than half a century of military
intervention in the governance of the country to pursue industrial and
agricultural growth and development of the interior. Exploiting vast natural
resources and a large labor pool, Brazil is today South America's leading
economic power and a regional leader. Highly unequal income distribution
remains a pressing problem.
2. Area
total: 8,511,965 sq km
land: 8,456,510 sq km
note: includes Arquipelago de Fernando de Noronha, Atol das Rocas,
Ilha da Trindade, Ilhas Martin Vaz, and Penedos de Sao Pedro e Sao Paulo
65 years and over: 5.6% (male 3,992,017; female 5,863,234) (2002
est.)
6. Ethnic groups
white (includes Portuguese, German, Italian, Spanish, Polish) 55%, mixed
white and black 38%, black 6%, other (includes Japanese, Arab, Amerindian)
1%
7. Language
Portuguese (official)
8. Capital
Brasilia
9. 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)
10. Economy overview
Possessing 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. Investor
confidence was strong at yearend 2001, in part because of the strong recovery
in the trade balance.
11. Exports
$57.8 billion f.o.b. (2001 est.)
12. Imports
$57.7 billion f.o.b. (2001)
13. Foreign trade
Brazil has been one of the leading developing countries in international
trade, investment and economic affairs. It is one of the founding members
of relevant international organizations in these areas, such as GATT,
its successor, WTO, IMF, Word Bank. Brazil is also a major player in regional
trading groups, like the Latin American Integration Association (LAIA)
and Mercosul. It has recently developed relations with the OECD, becoming
a member of some of its specialized committees.
Trade
Brazil has been one of the major players in international trade. Although
its share in world trade, varying around 1.5%, is much lower than those
of industrialized countries with comparable GDP, Brazil’s foreign
trade - both in exports and imports - is well spread among the different
economic and trading areas in the globe.
The European Union has traditionally been Brazil’s most significant
trade partner, accounting for about 29% of Brazil’s combined imports
and exports. The US and the NAFTA region follows the EU, with 25% of these
flows. Mercosul - taking today almost 15% of the Brazilian import and
export - and other South American countries are the areas which have recently
seen the most rapid trade expansion, at least in comparative and proportional
terms. Asia has been responsible for roughly 10% of Brazil’s foreign
trade
