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Brazil

Rank #7 by populationSouth America

Officially Federative Republic of Brazil

Population 2025
212,812,405
2.56% of world population
World Bank, 2025
Annual Growth
+0.38%
+815,072 people a year
World Bank, 2025
Density
25/km²
8,358,140 km² land area
World Bank, 2023
Median Age
34.8 years
Life expectancy 76.0 years
Our World in Data, 2025

About Brazil

Brazil is the largest country in South America and the fifth-largest in the world by area and population. With over 216 million people, Brazil is home to one of the world's most diverse populations and cultures. The country possesses the world's largest rainforest (Amazon), largest wetland (Pantanal), and significant oil, mineral, and agricultural resources. Brazil has the largest economy in Latin America and is a major emerging market.

Country Facts

Capital
Brasília
Continent
South America
ISO codes
BR · BRA
Demonym
Brazilian
Currency
Brazilian real (BRL R$)
Government
Federal republic, Presidential system, Representative democracy
State inception
1822
Time zone
UTC−04:00
Driving side
Right
Calling code
+55
Internet TLD
.br
Land neighbours
10

Languages

  • Portuguese

Religions

  • Christianity (Catholic 50%, Protestant 31%)
  • None (10%)
  • Spiritism (3%)
  • Other (6%)

Demographics

Urban Population45th of 240
88.2%
World Bank, 2025
Fertility Rate149th of 240
1.61 births per woman
World Bank, 2024
Birth Rate117th of 213
12.1 per 1,000
World Bank, 2024
Death Rate111th of 213
7.1 per 1,000
World Bank, 2024

Brazil's population is highly diverse, with significant European, African, Indigenous, Asian, and mixed heritage. About 43% identify as mixed race (pardo), 47% as white, and 8% as Black. About 87% live in urban areas. The median age of 33.5 years reflects a relatively young population, though aging is accelerating. Brazil is home to the world's largest Japanese diaspora outside Japan and significant Lebanese, Italian, and German communities.

Economy

GDP per Capita120th of 240
$10,713
World Bank, 2025
GDP Growth134th of 210
+2.3%
World Bank, 2025
Unemployment Rate78th of 186
6.0%
World Bank, 2025
Inflation Rate48th of 191
5.0%
World Bank, 2025
Poverty Rate152nd of 164
6.4%
Archive estimate
Gini Index8th of 170
50.3
World Bank, 2024

Brazil has Latin America's largest economy, driven by agriculture (world's largest coffee, sugar, and orange juice producer), mining (major iron ore exporter), manufacturing, and services. The country possesses large offshore oil reserves (pre-salt). Economic inequality remains high despite poverty reduction in the 2000s. Brazil is a member of BRICS and the G20. The economy has experienced boom-bust cycles.

Major exports

  • Soybeans
  • Iron ore
  • Crude petroleum
  • Beef
  • Sugar
  • Coffee
  • Corn
  • Poultry
  • Orange juice
  • Pulp

Major imports

  • Refined petroleum
  • Machinery
  • Electronics
  • Chemicals
  • Vehicles
  • Pharmaceuticals
  • Fertilizers

Health

Infant Mortality98th of 194
12.3 per 1,000 live births
World Bank, 2024
Health Spending31st of 192
9.7% of GDP
World Bank, 2023
Physicians78th of 206
2.36 per 1,000
World Bank, 2023
Hospital Beds90th of 199
2.52 per 1,000
World Bank, 2021
Maternal Mortality79th of 193
67 per 100,000 live births
World Bank, 2023
Obesity Rate60th of 198
30.9%
Our World in Data, 2024

Education

Literacy Rate84th of 175
94.7%
World Bank, 2024
Education Spending35th of 202
5.6% of GDP
World Bank, 2022
School Enrollment46th of 207
104.1% gross, secondary
World Bank, 2024
Mean Years of Schooling104th of 148
8.0 years
Our World in Data, 2020

Environment

Renewable Energy53rd of 211
46.5% of final consumption
World Bank, 2021
Forest Coverage29th of 211
59.0% of land area
World Bank, 2023
Protected Areas36th of 211
30.6% of land area
World Bank, 2025
CO₂ Emissions125th of 212
2.28 tonnes per capita
Our World in Data, 2024

Infrastructure

Internet Penetration88th of 211
84.5%
World Bank, 2024
Mobile Subscriptions135th of 212
101.9 per 100 people
World Bank, 2024

Quality of Life

Human Development Index83rd of 192
0.786
Our World in Data, 2023
Happiness Index32nd of 164
6.63/ 10
Our World in Data, 2025

Geography

Land Area5th of 240
8,358,140 km²
World Bank, 2023

Brazil spans almost half of South America, from the Amazon Basin in the north to the temperate south. The Amazon Rainforest covers about 60% of the country. Other biomes include the Cerrado savanna, Atlantic Forest, Pantanal wetland, and Caatinga scrubland. The Brazilian Highlands dominate the interior. The Amazon River carries more water than any other river and has over 1,000 tributaries.

Natural resources

  • Bauxite
  • Gold
  • Iron ore
  • Manganese
  • Nickel
  • Phosphates
  • Platinum
  • Tin
  • Uranium
  • Petroleum
  • Hydropower
  • Timber

Climate

  • Tropical to temperate; equatorial Amazon, semi-arid northeast

Military

Military Spending124th of 163
0.97% of GDP
World Bank, 2024

Age & Gender Distribution

Population by five-year age band, UN World Population Prospects 2024.

Male Female
100+95-9990-9485-8980-8475-7970-7465-6960-6455-5950-5445-4940-4435-3930-3425-2920-2415-1910-145-90-48.38M8.38MAge
Age 0–14
19.7%
Age 15–64
69.3%
Age 65+
11.0%
Source: UN World Population Prospects 2024, medium variant.
Brazil population pyramid
Age bandMaleFemale
100+2,6294,986
95-9926,88652,956
90-94137,763266,273
85-89446,366745,742
80-841,017,6861,461,296
75-791,792,8542,392,456
70-742,877,2643,565,249
65-693,993,4854,640,221
60-645,084,8465,654,490
55-595,724,4436,194,348
50-546,366,8566,747,807
45-497,272,7487,582,166
40-448,156,5398,366,021
35-398,293,3658,382,280
30-348,048,0698,031,559
25-298,241,0748,130,717
20-247,970,2347,760,334
15-197,575,4327,301,316
10-147,342,9977,055,761
5-97,241,5386,953,922
0-46,682,0426,413,556

Population History & Projection (1950–2100)

Observed population to 2024, then the UN medium-variant projection.

050M100M150M200M1950197520002025205020752100projected →
Brazil's population was 53.4M in 1950 and is projected at 163.4M by 2100. Peak of 219.3M in 2042. Source: UN World Population Prospects 2024 (estimates to 2024, medium variant thereafter).
Brazil population, 1950 to 2100
YearPopulation
195053,408,551
196072,388,126
197095,375,651
1980121,207,461
1990149,143,223
2000174,018,282
2010193,701,929
2020208,660,842
2030216,074,411
2040219,237,084
2050217,489,299
2060211,038,801
2070200,893,056
2080188,598,788
2090175,780,972
2100163,364,064

History

Indigenous peoples inhabited Brazil for at least 12,000 years before Portuguese colonization began in 1500. Brazil became the center of the Portuguese Empire when the royal court fled there during the Napoleonic Wars. Independence came in 1822 as the Empire of Brazil. The republic was proclaimed in 1889. A military dictatorship ruled from 1964-1985. Democracy was restored with the 1988 constitution.

Culture

Brazilian culture blends Indigenous, African, and Portuguese influences. Carnival is the world's largest festival. Samba, bossa nova, and Brazilian funk are globally influential. Football (soccer) is a national passion—Brazil has won five World Cups. Capoeira, a martial art combining dance and acrobatics, originated in Brazil. The telenovela format has influenced global television.

Current Challenges

Brazil faces significant challenges including extreme income inequality, deforestation and environmental destruction, crime and violence, political polarization, corruption, and economic instability. The Amazon faces threats from illegal logging, mining, and agricultural expansion. Urban favelas lack adequate services. Climate change threatens agriculture and water resources.

Future Outlook

Brazil's future depends on balancing economic development with Amazon preservation—a global environmental concern. Population growth is slowing and will peak around 2050. Diversifying the economy beyond commodities, addressing inequality, and improving education are priorities. Brazil has potential to be a renewable energy superpower through hydropower, solar, and biofuels. Political stability and governance improvements are essential.

Highlights

What Brazil Is Known For

  • World's largest rainforest (Amazon)
  • Fifth-largest country by area and population
  • 23 UNESCO World Heritage Sites
  • World's largest producer of coffee, sugar, and orange juice
  • Five-time FIFA World Cup winner

Interesting Facts About Brazil

  • Brazil contains 20% of the world's freshwater
  • The Amazon Rainforest produces 20% of Earth's oxygen
  • Brazil shares a border with every South American country except Chile and Ecuador
  • Brazilians speak Portuguese, not Spanish—the only Portuguese-speaking country in the Americas
  • Brazil's coastline extends over 7,400 km
  • The Christ the Redeemer statue was named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World
  • Brazil has the world's largest Japanese population outside Japan

How Brazil Compares

Population against the ten most populous countries.

  1. India1.46B
  2. China1.41B
  3. United States341.8M
  4. Indonesia285.7M
  5. Pakistan255.2M
  6. Nigeria237.5M
  7. Brazil212.8M
  8. Bangladesh175.7M
  9. Russia143.5M
  10. Ethiopia135.5M
Sources as cited on each country page.
Brazil compared with the ten largest countries by population
NamePopulation
India1.46B
China1.41B
United States341.8M
Indonesia285.7M
Pakistan255.2M
Nigeria237.5M
Brazil212.8M
Bangladesh175.7M
Russia143.5M
Ethiopia135.5M

Major Cities in Brazil

4 metropolitan areas in our city dataset.

Countries Bordering Brazil

10 land borders.

Brazil Population FAQ

What is the population of Brazil in 2026?

Brazil has a population of 212,812,405 people (2025 estimate), which is 7th in the world and about 2.56% of the global total.

Is the population of Brazil growing or shrinking?

Brazil's population is growing at +0.38% per year, a change of roughly 815,072 people annually.

What is the capital of Brazil?

The capital of Brazil is Brasília.

What is the largest city in Brazil?

São Paulo is the largest metropolitan area in Brazil, with about 22.6M people.

How densely populated is Brazil?

Brazil has 25/km² across 8,358,140 km² of land area.

What is life expectancy in Brazil?

Life expectancy at birth in Brazil is 76.0 years (2024).

What is the median age in Brazil?

The median age in Brazil is 34.8 years, meaning half the population is younger than that and half older.

Which continent is Brazil in?

Brazil is in South America.

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