Brazil Country Profile
General Information
Official Name: Federative Republic of Brazil
Capital: Brasília
Population: Approximately 212 million (2025)
Official Language: Portuguese
Currency: Brazilian Real (BRL)
Geographic Location: Largest country in South America, bordered by every South American nation except Chile and Ecuador; features a vast Atlantic coastline and the Amazon rainforest.
Total Area: 8,51 million square kilometres
Major Cities: São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Brasília, Salvador, Fortaleza
Political Context
Government Type: Federal presidential constitutional republic
Legal System: Civil law system influenced by Roman and Napoleonic law
President's Role: Holds executive power, appoints ministers, directs foreign policy, commands the armed forces
Recent Developments: Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva began his third term as President in January 2023. In March 2025, former President Jair Bolsonaro was ordered to stand trial for allegedly plotting a coup in 2022 to prevent Lula from assuming office.
Political Parties
Workers' Party (PT): Center-left, currently in power under President Lula
Liberal Party (PL): Right-wing, associated with former President Jair Bolsonaro
Brazilian Democratic Movement (MDB): Centrist, historically influential
Social Democratic Party (PSDB): Center-right, significant in past administrations [1]
Political coalitions are common, and legislative fragmentation often necessitates negotiation to pass laws.
Parliamentary Structure
Chamber of Deputies: 513 members elected via proportional representation; serve four-year terms.
Federal Senate: 81 members (three per state), elected by majority vote; serve eight-year terms, with staggered elections every four years.
The National Congress holds significant legislative authority, including passing laws, amending the constitution, and overseeing the executive.
Hierarchy in the State
President: Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (since January 2023)
Vice President: Geraldo Alckmin
President of the Chamber of Deputies: Arthur Lira [2]
President of the Senate: Rodrigo Pacheco
Table of Elections
Election Type Last Held Next Scheduled Details
General Elections 2022 2026 Elects President, Congress, Governors, State MPs.
Municipal Elections 2020 2024 Elects mayors and city councillors.
Voting System: Mandatory for literate citizens aged 18-70; optional for 16-17 and those over 70.
Method: Electronic voting machines; proportional representation for legislative elections and majority vote for executive offices. Economic Context
GDP: $2.331 trillion (2024) [1]
GDP Per Capita: $11,178 (2024) [1]
Economic Model: Mixed economy with significant agriculture, mining, manufacturing, and service sectors; leading exporter of soybeans, beef, iron ore, and oil.
Recent Performance: Brazil's economy grew 3.4% in 2024, the strongest since the post-pandemic rebound, but momentum slowed more than expected in the fourth quarter as restrictive monetary policy weighed on activity, fueling bets of an earlier end to the rate hike cycle. [2]
Challenges: High public debt (76.1% of GDP in December 2024), inflationary pressures from rising commodity prices, and income inequality. [1]
International Political Context
Regional Influence: Largest economy in Latin America; founding member of MERCOSUR; plays a leadership role in regional diplomacy.
Global Role: Member of BRICS, G20, and the UN; foreign policy emphasizes South-South cooperation, multilateralism, and environmental diplomacy.
Relations with the U.S.: Major trading partner; relations stable with cooperation in climate and trade.
Relations with China: Largest trading partner, especially in commodities; strong economic ties.
Environmental Diplomacy: Committed to zero illegal deforestation by 2030 and launched an Ecological Transformation Plan to promote sustainable development and combat climate change. [3]
Digital Landscape
Internet Penetration: Approximately 86.6% of the population (187.9 million users) as of January 2024.
Social Media Usage: 144 million active users (66.3% of the population) engaging with platforms like WhatsApp, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and TikTok.
Mobile Connectivity: 210.3 million active cellular connections (96.9% of the population) as of January 2024.
E-Government: Robust services through platforms like "gov.br," enabling online access to public services.
Digital Economy: Thriving e-commerce and fintech sectors; a regional leader in digital banking and mobile payments.
Cybersecurity and Regulation: Enforcement of the General Data Protection Law (LGPD); initiatives to combat misinformation and cybercrime, particularly during elections.
