While Brazil bursts with over 203 million vibrant inhabitants, its vast lands hold far fewer people per square kilometer than you might imagine.
Key Takeaways
- Brazil's population reached 203,062,512 inhabitants according to the 2022 census conducted by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE)
- As of July 2023, Brazil's median age is 33.2 years, with 23.2% of the population under 15 years old
- Brazil has a population density of 25 people per square kilometer, making it one of the least densely populated countries despite its size
- Brazil's GDP nominal reached $2.131 trillion USD in 2023, making it the 9th largest economy globally
- GDP per capita in Brazil was $10,412 USD in 2023
- Brazil's GDP growth rate was 2.9% in 2023
- Brazil's area spans 8,515,767 square kilometers, the 5th largest country by land area
- The Amazon rainforest covers 5.5 million square km in Brazil, 60% of total Amazon basin
- Brazil's coastline stretches 7,491 km along the Atlantic Ocean
- Brazil is a federal presidential republic with 26 states and federal district
- President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was inaugurated for third term on January 1, 2023
- Brazil's National Congress has 513 deputies in Chamber of Deputies and 81 senators
- Life expectancy at birth in Brazil is 76.0 years overall in 2023
- Infant mortality rate fell to 12.4 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2022
- Brazil has 2.4 hospital beds per 1,000 people in 2023
Brazil is a vast, diverse nation with a young urban population and a large emerging economy.
Demographics
1Brazil's population reached 203,062,512 inhabitants according to the 2022 census conducted by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE)
Verified2As of July 2023, Brazil's median age is 33.2 years, with 23.2% of the population under 15 years old
Verified3Brazil has a population density of 25 people per square kilometer, making it one of the least densely populated countries despite its size
Verified4Urban population in Brazil accounts for 87.1% of the total population as of 2023
Directional5Brazil's fertility rate stands at 1.63 children born per woman in 2023, below the replacement level of 2.1
Single source6Life expectancy at birth in Brazil is 75.9 years for males and 80.6 years for females as of 2023
Verified7Brazil's largest city, São Paulo, has a metropolitan population of 22.6 million people in 2023
Verified8The state of São Paulo holds 21.9% of Brazil's total population, approximately 44.4 million residents in 2022
Verified9Brazil's youth population (ages 15-24) constitutes 15.3% of the total population in 2023
Directional10Immigrants make up 0.8% of Brazil's population, with over 1.6 million foreign-born residents as of 2022
Single source11Brazil's population growth rate was 0.52% annually between 2020-2023
Verified12There are 92.1 million women aged 15 and over in Brazil, representing 51.03% of the total population in 2022
Verified13Brazil's elderly population (65+) is projected to reach 33.1 million by 2030
Verified14The Amazon region accounts for 12% of Brazil's population despite covering 43% of its land area in 2022
Directional15Brazil has 5,570 municipalities, with an average population of 36,400 per municipality in 2022
Single source16Indigenous population in Brazil is 1.3 million, or 0.64% of total, according to 2022 census
Verified17Brazil's black population (pretos and pardos) comprises 56.1% of the total in 2022
Verified18White Brazilians make up 43.1% of the population per 2022 IBGE census data
Verified19Asian descent population in Brazil is 1%, around 2 million people in 2022
Directional20Brazil's net migration rate is -0.06 migrants per 1,000 population in 2023
Single source21Households in Brazil average 2.8 persons per household in 2022 census
Verified22Brazil's working-age population (15-64) is 139.5 million, 68.6% of total in 2023
Verified23Rio de Janeiro metropolitan area has 13.3 million inhabitants in 2023
Verified24Northeast Brazil region has 57 million people, 28% of national total in 2022
Directional25Brazil's infant population (0-4 years) is 10.2% or 20.7 million in 2022
Single source26Single-person households in Brazil rose to 18.1% of total households in 2022
Verified27Brazil's population is projected to peak at 231 million in 2042 before declining
Verified28Religious affiliation: 65% Catholic, 22% Evangelical in Brazil 2022 census
Verified29Brazil has 11.2 million people with disabilities, 5.5% of population in 2022
DirectionalDemographics Interpretation
Brazil is a nation of youthful, urban-dwelling contrasts where a vast young population packs into coastal cities leaving an enormous interior sparsely inhabited, all while quietly transitioning toward an older, slower-growing future that will challenge its current energetic character.
Economy
1Brazil's GDP nominal reached $2.131 trillion USD in 2023, making it the 9th largest economy globally
Verified2GDP per capita in Brazil was $10,412 USD in 2023
Verified3Brazil's GDP growth rate was 2.9% in 2023
Verified4Inflation rate (CPI) in Brazil averaged 4.6% in 2023
Directional5Unemployment rate in Brazil was 7.9% in 2023
Single source6Brazil's public debt-to-GDP ratio stood at 88.2% in 2023
Verified7Exports from Brazil totaled $334.5 billion USD in 2023, led by soybeans and iron ore
Verified8Imports to Brazil were $240.8 billion USD in 2023, mainly machinery and electronics
Verified9Brazil's current account balance showed a deficit of 2.0% of GDP in 2023
Directional10Foreign direct investment inflow to Brazil was $66.7 billion in 2023
Single source11Agriculture contributes 6.8% to Brazil's GDP, employing 9.4% of workforce in 2023
Verified12Industry sector accounts for 20.7% of GDP in Brazil 2023
Verified13Services sector dominates with 72.5% of Brazil's GDP in 2023
Verified14Brazil's stock market capitalization reached $1.05 trillion USD in 2023
Directional15Minimum wage in Brazil is 1,412 BRL per month as of 2024, equivalent to $264 USD
Single source16Brazil produced 4.68 million barrels of oil per day in 2023
Verified17Soybean production in Brazil hit 169 million metric tons in the 2023/24 harvest
Verified18Brazil's iron ore exports reached 381 million tons in 2023
Verified19Tourism generated $7.3 billion USD in revenue for Brazil in 2023
Directional20Brazil's Gini coefficient, measuring inequality, was 52.9 in 2022
Single source21Household saving rate in Brazil is 15.2% of disposable income in 2023
Verified22Corporate tax rate in Brazil is 34% effective rate in 2023
Verified23Brazil's labor force participation rate is 62.3% for ages 15+ in 2023
Verified24Remittances received by Brazil totaled $4.1 billion USD in 2023
Directional25Brazil's total reserves (excl. gold) were $355.7 billion USD in 2023
Single source26Ease of doing business rank for Brazil improved to 124th out of 190 in 2020 (latest)
VerifiedEconomy Interpretation
Brazil is a potent economic cocktail—a heavyweight champion in global agriculture and resources, served with a side of stubborn inequality and a sobering public debt chaser.
Geography and Climate
1Brazil's area spans 8,515,767 square kilometers, the 5th largest country by land area
Verified2The Amazon rainforest covers 5.5 million square km in Brazil, 60% of total Amazon basin
Verified3Brazil's coastline stretches 7,491 km along the Atlantic Ocean
Verified4Highest point in Brazil is Pico da Neblina at 2,995 meters in Amazonas state
Directional5Brazil has 12,591 km of navigable waterways, primarily Amazon and Paraná rivers
Single source6Pantanal wetlands cover 150,000 square km, the world's largest tropical wetland
Verified7Brazil borders 10 countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, etc., with 16,145 km land boundaries
Verified8Average annual temperature in Brazil is 25°C, varying from 20°C south to 28°C north
Verified9Brazil receives 1,799 mm average annual precipitation, highest in Amazon at 2,500 mm
Directional10Atlantic Forest biome originally covered 1.5 million sq km, now only 12% remains
Single source11Brazil has over 55,000 species of flowering plants, 30% endemic
Verified12Cerrado savanna spans 2 million sq km, 22% of Brazil's territory
Verified13Caatinga dry forest covers 850,000 sq km in Northeast Brazil
Verified14Brazil's exclusive economic zone is 3.66 million sq km in Atlantic
Directional15Iguaçu Falls has 275 drops, widest waterfall system at 2.7 km
Single source16Rio Negro is the world's widest river, up to 11 km at points
Verified17Brazil experiences tropical climate in 60% of territory
Verified18Annual deforestation rate in Brazilian Amazon was 9,000 sq km in 2023
Verified19Brazil has 1,200 bird species, 17% endemic to the country
Directional20Pampas grasslands cover 178,000 sq km in southern Brazil
Single source21Brazil's lowest point is sea level Atlantic coast
Verified22Serra do Mar mountain range extends 1,500 km along southeast coast
Verified23Brazil holds 12% of world's freshwater, mainly Amazon basin rivers
Verified24Hurricane season affects southern Brazil rarely, last major in 2024
Directional25Chapada Diamantina has 1,200 caves, key karst landscape
Single source26Brazil's latitudinal range 5°N to 33°S, longitudinal 35°W to 74°W
Verified27Araucaria moist forests cover 216,000 sq km in south
Verified28Brazil has 67 UNESCO biosphere reserves, most in world
Verified29Fernando de Noronha archipelago has 21 islands, 26 sq km area
DirectionalGeography and Climate Interpretation
Brazil is a continent-sized ecological treasure chest that, while frantically trying to guard its vast, wet, and wildly biodiverse contents from its own hand, still manages to be jaw-droppingly immense in every conceivable geographical dimension.
Health and Society
1Life expectancy at birth in Brazil is 76.0 years overall in 2023
Verified2Infant mortality rate fell to 12.4 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2022
Verified3Brazil has 2.4 hospital beds per 1,000 people in 2023
Verified4Physicians density is 2.3 per 1,000 population in Brazil 2023
Directional5Obesity rate among adults in Brazil is 22.4% in 2022
Single source6HIV prevalence is 0.5% among adults 15-49 in 2022
Verified7Vaccination coverage for DTP3 in children 12-23 months is 91% in 2022
Verified8Maternal mortality ratio is 59 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020
Verified9Suicide rate is 6.2 per 100,000 population in 2019 (latest)
Directional10Literacy rate for adults 15+ is 94.7% in 2022 census
Single source11Mean years of schooling in Brazil is 8.1 years in 2022
Verified12Secondary school enrollment net rate is 81.2% for relevant age group 2022
Verified13PISA 2022 score average for Brazil: 398 in math, 410 reading, 403 science
Verified14Homicide victimization rate 21.6 per 100,000 in 2022
Directional15Internet users penetration 81.9% of population in 2023
Single source16Mobile cellular subscriptions 132 per 100 people in 2023
Verified17Electricity access 100% of population in 2023
Verified18Improved sanitation facilities access 81% rural, 96% urban in 2022
Verified19Undernourishment prevalence 2.8% of population 2019-2021
Directional20Diabetes prevalence among adults 9.1% in 2022
Single source21Tuberculosis incidence 29.1 cases per 100,000 in 2022
Verified22Higher education gross enrollment ratio 52.6% in 2021
Verified23Youth not in employment, education or training (NEET) rate 23.6% ages 15-24 in 2022
Verified24Child labor rate 5.6% for ages 5-17 prohibited work in 2022
Directional25Gender parity index in primary education 0.99 in 2022
Single source26Adolescent birth rate 52.5 per 1,000 women 15-19 in 2022
Verified27At-risk-of-poverty rate 25.3% in 2022 IBGE data
VerifiedHealth and Society Interpretation
Brazil is a nation of resilient hearts and systemic paradoxes, where a child is far more likely to learn to read than to get a hospital bed, and the battle for a long life is fought more against chronic disease and inequality than against infant mortality.
Politics and Government
1Brazil is a federal presidential republic with 26 states and federal district
Verified2President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was inaugurated for third term on January 1, 2023
Verified3Brazil's National Congress has 513 deputies in Chamber of Deputies and 81 senators
Verified4Voting is compulsory for ages 18-70, with 156 million registered voters in 2022
Directional5Last general election turnout was 79.4% in 2022 presidential race
Single source6Supreme Federal Court has 11 justices, appointed for life
Verified7Brazil ranks 96th in Corruption Perceptions Index 2023 with score 36/100
Verified8Military personnel active: 360,000 army, 80,000 navy, 80,000 air force in 2023
Verified9Defense budget was 1.3% of GDP or $23.6 billion USD in 2023
Directional10Brazil has diplomatic relations with 199 countries, member of UN, BRICS, G20
Single source11Homicide rate dropped to 20.7 per 100,000 in 2023
Verified12Press Freedom Index rank for Brazil is 83rd out of 180 in 2024
Verified13Women hold 18% of seats in Chamber of Deputies post-2022 election
Verified14Indigenous representation: 3 federal deputies elected in 2022
Directional15Brazil's constitution dates to 1988, with 250 amendments by 2023
Single source16Federal budget for 2024 is 5.75 trillion BRL
Verified17Local governments: 5,570 mayors elected in 2020 municipal elections
Verified18Brazil abolished monarchy on November 15, 1889, becoming republic
Verified19Political parties: 29 registered, but 7 major in 2022 elections
Directional20Human Development Index rank 89th globally in 2022 with 0.760 score
Single source21Brazil hosted G20 summit in 2024 in Rio de Janeiro
Verified22Electoral quota for women parties must allocate 30% female candidates
Verified23Supreme Electoral Court fined parties BRL 478 million for irregularities in 2022
Verified24Brazil's federal police force has 14,000 agents in 2023
Directional25Presidential term limit: two consecutive 4-year terms max
Single source26Congress approval rating was 9% in Datafolha poll December 2023
Verified27Brazil ratified Paris Agreement in 2016, submitting NDC updates in 2023
VerifiedPolitics and Government Interpretation
With robust democratic machinery—complete with compulsory voting, a Congress less popular than a root canal, and a constitution amended more often than a cheap suit—Brazil presents the world with a vibrant, if perpetually under-construction, federal republic grappling earnestly with its immense potential and persistent contradictions.
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