Join us, gang, as we set out on a South American adventure to this colourful, cultural country in our Brazil facts!

Brazil Facts - Rio
                      Rio de Janeiro is the second largest city in Brazil

Brazil facts

OFFICIAL NAME: Federal Republic of Brazil
FORM OF GOVERNMENT: Democratic federal republic
CAPITAL: Brasilia
POPULATION: 183,888,841
OFFICIAL LANGUAGE: Portuguese
MONEY: Real
AREA: 3,286,470 square miles (8,511,965 square kilometers)
MAJOR MOUNTAIN RANGES: Serra do Mar, Serra do Espinhaço
MAJOR RIVERS: Amazon, São Francisco, Paraná, Tocantin
FLAG:

Brazil facts

Brazil’s geography

Brazil Facts

Brazil is the largest country in South America and the fifth largest nation in the world. It forms an enormous triangle on the eastern side of the continent with a 7,400km coastline along the Atlantic Ocean. It has borders with every South American country except Chile and Ecuador.

The Brazilian landscape is very varied. It is most well known for its dense forests, including the Amazon, the world’s largest rainforest, in the north. But there are also dry grasslands (called pampas), rugged hills, pine forests, sprawling wetlands, immense plateaus (areas of level high ground) and a long coastal plain.

Brazil Facts
                 Around 20 million people live in the Amazon basin

Northern Brazil is dominated by the Amazon River and the jungles that surround it. The Amazon is not one river but a network of many hundreds of waterways. Its total length stretches 6,840km. Thousands of species live in the river, including the infamous piranha and the boto, or pink river dolphin.

Southeastern Brazil was once completely covered with dense forest. Now it is the country’s industrial capital, home to Brazil’s biggest cities: São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. It covers only 11 percent of the country but 43 percent of the country’s population lives there.

Brazil Facts
        The Amazon River is home more than 2,500 species of fish!

Did you know that we have FREE downloadable primary resources about Brazil’s Awa tribe and Guarani tribe? Great for teachers, homeschoolers and parents alike!


Brazilian people & culture

Most Brazilians are descended from three ethnic groups: Amerindians, European settlers (mainly from Portugal) and Africans. Starting in the 19th century, waves of immigrants from Europe, the Middle East, and even Japan added to this mix. This diversity of people has created a rich religious, musical and culinary culture.

Brazil Facts
     The sandy beaches of Rio de Janeiro are a hot spot for football!

Brazilians are football crazy, and their country has produced some of the most popular players in the world! Brazil has won the FIFA World Cup finals five times, more than any other nation.

Brazil is also home to the world’s largest carnival – Rio Carnival! Each year, in the days leading up to Lent, around 2 million people take to the streets of Rio de Janeiro to enjoy music, dancing, elaborate costumes and parades.

Brazil factsCarnival is one seriously cool, colourful celebration!

Brazil’s wildlife & nature

Brazil has the greatest variety of animals of any country in the world. It is home to 600 mammal species, 1,500 fish species, 1,600 bird species and an amazing 100,000 different types of insects. Brazil’s jungles are home to most of its animal life, but many unique species also live in the pampas and semidesert regions.

In the central-western part of Brazil sits a flat, swampy area called the Pantanal. This patchwork of flooded lagoons and small islands is the world’s largest wetland. Here live giant anacondas, huge guinea pig relatives called capybaras, and fierce South American alligators called caimans.

Brazil facts
    Incredible caimans live on the banks of Brazil’s lagoons and rivers

For thousands of years, people have been exploiting the jungles of Brazil. But since Europeans arrived about five centuries ago, forest destruction has become a major problem. Most of Brazil’s Atlantic rainforest is now gone, and huge tracts of the Amazon are disappearing every year. The government has established many national parks and refuges, but theses only cover around seven percent of the country.

Brazil factsSadly,  deforestation means lots of Brazil’s amazing animals are losing their tree-top homes 

Brazilian government & economy

Brazil is a federal republic with a president, a National Congress, and a legal system. From 1888 until recently, the country struggled with democracy (where a government is decided by the population as a whole). But in 1985, the military government was peacefully removed, and by 1995, Brazil’s politics and economy had become fairly stable.

Brazil has many different soils and climates, so it can produce a great variety of crops. Its agricultural exports include sugarcane, latex, coffee, cocoa beans, cotton, soybeans, rice, and tropical fruits.

Brazil is also South America’s most industrial nation, producing chemicals, steel, aircraft, and cars.

Brazil is also famous for its ‘favelas’ – slum settlements like this on the outskirts of cities


Brazilian history

Until recently, scientists thought Brazil was first settled by Asians about 10,000 years ago. But new evidence shows there were people living there at least 32,000 years ago. Some experts think they may have arrived from islands in the Pacific Ocean.

Brazil was added to the map of the world during the great European explorations in the late 15th century led by Portugal and Spain. When Europeans first reached the coast of Brazil, the country was home to about 30 million indigenous people, or Amerindians. Today, only about 300,000 remain, living primarily in Brazil’s remotest places.

Portugal established its first colony in Brazil in 1530. Colonists created sugarcane plantations along the coast and sent diamonds and gold back to Europe. Soon, people from West Africa were brought to Brazil to work as slaves. The discovery of large inland gold reserves brought thousands of people from the coasts and abroad to the interior of the country.

Brazil factsLots of slaves were brought from Africa to work on Brazil’s sugarcane plantations and in sugar mills

In 1789, Brazilians tried to kick out their Portuguese rulers. The rebellion was soon put down, but it started a movement toward independence, which was successfully gained in 1822. Kings of Portuguese blood ruled until 1888, when military leaders and landowners expelled the king. This was also the year that slavery was abolished in Brazil.

Photos an illustrations: Bay in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: Hans Magelssen, Dreamstime. Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: Steve Allen, Dreamstime. F in Brazil: Paura, Dreamstime. Amazon River: Jaysi, Dreamstime. Children crossing a footbridge: Carlos Mora, Dreamstime. People playing soccer on a beach: Lazyllama, Dreamstime. All other images Getty Images UK.
Words from kids.nationalgeographic.com.
Figures accurate at time of publication, January 2015.

What do you think of our Brazil facts? Let us know by leaving us a comment!

Likes

LEAVE A COMMENT

THANK YOU

Your comment will be checked and approved shortly.

WELL DONE,
YOUR COMMENT
HAS BEEN ADDED!

COMMENTS

  • Elodie

    Hi ng kids I love the facts

  • cool

  • Cool

  • Hello

    It is very good

  • AL38

    This was very useful for school research project this was a very useful website

  • Thing

    It’s good for facts

  • MidnightBlackDorito

    This is really good info!!!

  • Good info for projects

  • Hi

  • Nathalia.B

  • Nathalia.B

  • There is no things about landmarks on there

  • ISABEL SVARTMAN

    I'm not seing my topic but it is great

  • cool

  • klingus

    i like it

  • JK

    this website is great!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • noface

    bad

  • pubg

    cool

  • noface

    its bad

  • cool

  • Ang

    cool

  • David

    wow awesome facts

  • This is ok

  • mario

    I'm from Brazil!!!

  • Fellimaster

    Cool wow I learnt a lot

  • mar

    cool

  • Lush

    WOWkktdf

  • Doodles

    Yo yo

  • banana786

    cool soooooooooooooooooooooooooo helpful

  • hi111111111111

    best thing ever

  • aje

    Lollol

  • obi127a

    it really helps for my project

  • bob

    i really like this helpful info i bet i will come back soon

  • Ami2015

    Fab!

  • stupidguy

    lovelovelovelovelovelovelovelovelovelovelovelovleovelovelovelovelove lovelovelovelovelovelovelovelovelovelovelovelovelovelove

  • Moona

    helps in doing homework thx

  • bob123#

    hey

  • meqan

    helped with my homework thanks

  • hamda

    nice

  • Crunchy

    Amazing just a ausome!

  • Lehar

    COOL

  • Hi

    Awesome

  • lol578626763

    lol

  • Bob123657

    Hi

  • michaelss

    michael strachan ########################################################################################################################################################################

  • Juy

    No way

  • michaels

    cool

  • cam

    very good but it can be better

  • cam

    epic

  • hugo

    gosh

  • HASAN

  • yyyyyyyyyyygtl

    uieuygtjjhguhgbvghirguhghgtuhggurbrghbughbth

  • Ladybird.sunji

    Nice

  • Ladybird.sunji

    Nice

  • 34GG girrafe

    Love Brazil

  • kloi

    uujjhu

  • kookooaracka

    nothing interesting

  • Cookiemonster123

    cool

  • 6gt7bvtdrf

    YOLO

  • carson

    i love brazilllllll

  • carson

    briazl is cool

  • Little-Fish

    Thanks really helped with homework!

  • saya

    Lol awesome

  • BetterThenYou

    this is so boring id rather po in my hand and clap, if you disagree then say bring it on! #HATERS#GUNNA#HATE #HATERS#BACK#OFF 8====D

  • xxxx

    TO GUST ME I SO AGREE!!

  • xxxx

    EPIC

  • Heskey

    JME

  • Falcon7

    Boring

  • Akinafemwa

    Oi rood boy shut up

  • Falcon7

    AWESOME!

  • Falcon7

    COOL, where is Christ the Redemmer?

  • AK78

    UMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

  • Just_Me

    OMG not only do I love Brazil but I also love this website. It tells us the interesting facts and everything is on. I had an exam and Brazil was one of the themes. I came here and surely all thanks to this web I passed ,woo. I definitely give this 11/10 and if any of you reading this that just went to the end I say read and find more about countries. KEEP UP THE GLORIOUS WORK PEEPS.

  • william

    i like this website.

  • SHAYDEN

    lol

  • Abdull

    i like brazil it is awsome my name is jeff

  • SHAYDEN

    RONALDO

  • babe

    Love Brazil

  • babe

    Love Brazil

  • manero porra

    porrrrrrra

  • DeezNutsGotHim

    that helped so much!

  • poopklolo

    lolololooololllolol

  • poopklolo

    swwaw

  • Bib

    jeff googd

  • Bib

    my name is jeff

  • poopklolo

    poooooooooop

  • LELU329

    LOVE IT

  • Sophiebarber03

    This really help with my reaserch for my Brazil project!!

  • C

    Geee, thanks a lot NG kids! I was doing a small project on Brazil, and this really helped me a lot. Thanksa huge lot! I dont think my projects would be just as good as they are without these awesome facts off of this website! thanks. lol

  • djjazzyjeff3663

    this country is so awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • jimmyBobToblob12345

    the website is amazing i love it

  • mcdonald2367890

    AMESOME

  • Jimmithy

    OMG thanks I learnt so much for my project

  • goodgirl

    cool

  • min

    awesome

  • Kat456789

    Thanks for the info! You really helped with my homework

  • graceblubellmonkeycraze

    great website

  • Annalouise

    Wow.Great Facts.So much help!!!

  • kaos1050

    OMG! thanks great facts so much iformation

  • holls

    OMG!! I just loved reading about this amazing country. The country doesnt sound too bad and i was amazed to see the popularity of it. COOL!!

  • Jeff 21

    thanks used it for homework

  • issie

    what about the weathert

  • Whistleblower

    Thanks! This really helped me with my homework!

  • Zara242424

    amazing!

  • Thato

    Really cool

  • jane k

    this really is cool

  • Zombiecop

    really helped with school work

  • car

    best website ever

  • ella1234

    this page is good

  • dimond

    This really helped me with my homework I got an a+ in it because it was so facinating

  • Grace

    Olaf is quiet contrary because hes an animal and he looks very happy and jolly well good but he even has very nice friends

  • ASY5555

    WOW! SOME AMAZING INFO.REALLY SICK.

  • olaf

    i love brazillllllll

  • Lionking

    Wow this helped me loads with a school project!!!

  • olaf

    thanks guys!

  • bloop

    really helped!!! But I would like some more facts on the history.

  • Break-free

    Thx

  • Rosiepetalflower

    Amazing!!I would like to visit the rainforest!

  • Elif

    Cool

  • bethany1234

    i love brazil so much guys lol ttyl guys !sim eu amo brazil lol im speaking portuguese

  • jenna_adams

    ohhh ahhhh

  • zoe

    fabulous!!!!

  • Ariana-Grande

    Cool! I love Brazil!!!!!!!!! lol xx

ADVERTISEMENT
ANZ subs takeover March 2020 MPU

More Like Countries

Countries

Germany Facts

Find out all about the cool country of Germany…
Countries

Kenya facts: discover this amazing African country!

Breathtaking views, spectacular wildlife and vibrant culture? Let’s go!
Countries

What’s it like to go to school in St Lucia?

Kick-off a new school term on the Caribbean Island of St Lucia…
Countries

Spain facts: discover the land of flamenco and fiesta!

Sunny beaches, fascinating culture and beautiful cities – learn all about one of the world’s coolest countries with our facts about Spain!