Brazil, a vast South American country, stretches from the Amazon Basin in the north to vineyards and massive Iguaçu Falls in the south. Rio de Janeiro, symbolized by its 38m Christ the Redeemer statue atop Mount Corcovado, is famed for its busy Copacabana and Ipanema beaches as well as its enormous, raucous Carnaval festival, featuring parade floats, flamboyant costumes, and samba music and dance.
Languages: The official language of Brazil is Portuguese, which is spoken by the majority of the population. Portuguese is used in government, education, and the media, and it is the language of instruction in schools. In addition to Portuguese, there are also a number of indigenous languages spoken in Brazil, including Tupi, Guarani, and Nheengatu, among others. These languages are spoken by the various indigenous groups that make up the population of Brazil, and they are often used in regional and local government, as well as in the media. Finally, English is also spoken by some people in Brazil, particularly in business and tourism.
Ethnic Groups: White 55%, mixed white and black 38%, black 5%, and Japanese, Arab, and Amerindian groups 1%
Belief Systems:Roman Catholic (official) 74%, Protestant 20%, and Mormonism, Jehovah’s Witness and Eastern Orthodoxy together account for 1.8%
Demographics:
Population: 202 million people (World Rank: 5th) (2014 estimate)
Population Density: 61.8 people/mi^2 (People per Square Mile) (World Rank: 192nd) (2014 estimate)
Population Growth: 0.852 %/yr (World Rank: 141st) (2013 estimate)
Life Expectancy: 73.9 years (World Rank: 116th) (2013 estimate)
Median Age: 29 years (World Rank: 82nd) (2010 estimate)
Sites for More Information:
Map of Brazil
Worldatlas.com
Country Profile for Brazil
United Nations
Brazil
Wikipedia.org
Brazil - Country Profile
U.S. Library of Congress
Brazil - General Information
Encyclopedia.com
Culture and Tourism:
Tourism Brazil
All about Brazil as a travel destination
Carnival Brazil
Annual cultural festival marking the beginning of Lent
Christ the Redeemer
Statue of Jesus Christ serving as a symbol for Brazilian Christianity
Chapada Diamantina
Reigion in northeast brazil housing beautiful national park and scenery
Portuguese Language Resources:
Learn Portugese
Free online resource for Portuguese
Study in Brazil
Learn Portuguese by studying in Brazil through AIFS
Government Related:
Brazilian Embassy
in Washington Los Angeles
Brazilian Government Websites
by Gunnar Anzinger
