Brazil

Brazil is the largest country in South America by surface area and the fifth-largest in the world. It is a federal republic with 26 states and one federal district, and it borders every South American nation except Chile and Ecuador. The country’s official language is Portuguese, a legacy of its colonial history, and its cultural and economic influence extends across the continent and beyond.

Classification Facts

The following classification facts are stable and maintained by the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD) in its M49 standard. These codes are used for statistical coordination and do not constitute a political or territorial statement.

• UN M49 code: 076
• ISO alpha-2: BR
• ISO alpha-3: BRA
• UN region: Americas
• UN subregion: Latin America and the Caribbean
• UN member state: Yes
• World Bank capital field: Brasilia

You can verify these codes directly in the UN M49 overview at The World Bank also uses the ISO alpha-3 code BRA in its country API; you can check the entry by querying `

How to verify current population, languages, currency, government, economy, and travel requirements

The fastest way to misread Brazil is to treat one number as “the” number. Population, GDP, and inequality figures come from different institutions, different years, and different definitions. Before comparing Brazil with any other country, you must know which dataset each number came from and what year it refers to.

Population sources and reference years

The United Nations Population Division publishes estimates and projections between censuses. The IBGE (Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística) conducts Brazil’s official census and publishes the definitive national count. The most recent census was the 2022 Brazilian census. Because censuses occur roughly every ten years and are followed by projections, always check the reference year and whether the figure is a census count or an estimate. The UN’s World Population Prospects and the World Bank’s population data are both useful, but they may differ slightly because they use different projection methodologies and base years.

For a single comparable figure, the United Nations Population Division publishes annual estimates and projections for all member states, with the latest revision typically released every two years. The World Bank’s population series uses UN figures but may differ by a few months or a few hundred thousand people depending on the reference date. When comparing populations across countries, use the same source and the same reference year for both; mixing census counts with projections introduces error. The UN M49 overview provides the regional grouping used in most international statistics.

Use the World Bank API as the primary live source: The API returns a JSON object with the country name and region. For population figures, use the World Bank’s indicator SP.POP.TOTL with the most recent annual value and cite the year explicitly. The IBGE publishes census and projection data in Portuguese; the most recent census reference year is 2022. Estimates from different sources (UN, World Bank, IBGE) can differ by millions because of census timing, projection methodology, and treatment of undercounted communities. Always state which dataset you are using and its reference year.

Capital

The capital of Brazil is Brasilia. It is a planned city, inaugurated as the national seat of government in 1960, and is located in the Federal District in the central-west region. Brasilia was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987 for its modernist architecture and urban planning. The city’s design is attributed to Lúcio Costa and Oscar Niemeyer. The World Bank’s country API lists Brasilia as the capital in its standard country metadata.

Brasilia replaced Rio de Janeiro as the capital in 1960. It is a political and administrative seat; it is not the largest city by population. São Paulo is the largest municipality. Do not confuse the capital with the largest city unless the source explicitly says so. This distinction matters when comparing nations because “capital” does not always mean “largest city.”

Language

Portuguese is the official language of Brazil, and it is the only Portuguese-speaking country in the Americas. Brazilian Portuguese has distinctive pronunciation and vocabulary compared to European Portuguese. The 1988 Constitution recognizes Portuguese as the official language. Indigenous languages are recognized as part of the country’s cultural heritage, and the National Inventory of Linguistic Diversity maintained by IPHAN (Instituto do Patrimônio Histórico e Artístico Nacional) documents them, but the legal status varies by community. The National Indian Foundation (FUNAI) and the 1988 Constitution recognize Indigenous peoples’ rights, including language use. No single figure for the number of speakers or Indigenous languages should be cited without naming the source and survey year.

Libras (Brazilian Sign Language) is legally recognized as a means of communication, but not as an official national language in the same sense as Portuguese. English is not an official language; its use is concentrated in business and tourism sectors.

Currency

The official currency is the Brazilian real (BRL, symbol R$). Issued by the Central Bank of Brazil. Exchange rates are volatile and change daily; use a current currency converter or the Central Bank of Brazil for the reference rate. Do not use an outdated travel guide price list. For current exchange rates, check a major financial data provider or your bank.

Government and politics

• Form of government: Federal presidential republic (Federative Republic of Brazil). The president is both head of state and head of government.
• Head of government: President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (since 1 January 2023).
• Structure: Executive (president), bicameral National Congress (Federal Senate and Chamber of Deputies), independent judiciary. Federal system with 26 states, one federal district, and municipalities (IBGE, 2022 Census reference).
• Political system: multi-party democracy; mandatory voting for literate citizens aged 18-70.
• Current leadership and election results change; verify via official government or reputable news source.