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 About Brazil |
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Famous for its tropical beaches, serpentine Amazon River, dense rainforest, rich coffee, and flamboyant Carnival, Brazil is perhaps best-known for the vitality of its people. The country has emerged as South America's leading economic power and a regional leader.
The Portuguese navigator Pedro Alvares Cabral arrived in South America in 1500, and claimed the land for Portugal. Three centuries later, in 1822, Brazil declared its independence, and a republic was established in 1889. Brasília has been the capital since 1960. |
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Location |
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Brazil is the largest country in South America, covering nearly half the continent. With the Atlantic Ocean on its eastern side, Brazil shares a border with every South American country except Chile and Ecuador. |
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Population |
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With approximately 184,000,000 people, Brazil has the largest population in South America and is the fifth most populous country in the world. The people are diverse in origin, with 55% of European descent, 38% of mixed white and black heritage, 6% of African descent, and 1% of other groups such as Japanese or Arab. Most of the estimated 150,000 indigenous peoples, mainly Tupí or Guarani linguistic groups, are found in the rain forests of the Amazon River basin. Roughly 80% of the population is nominally Roman Catholic. |
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Language |
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Portuguese is the official and nearly universal language of Brazil, with exceptions spoken by Indian tribes living in remote areas. English is widely taught as a second language.
The Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries (CPLP in Portuguese), established in 1996, aims to foster cultural co-operation among member countries, reach agreements regarding standard Portuguese, and raise the profile of the language around the world. |
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Education |
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The Brazilian educational system includes both public and private institutions, ranging from pre-school, elementary, and secondary levels to university and post-graduate levels. Education is compulsory for ages seven through 14. Public education is free at all levels. Non-profit private schools may also receive public funding.
There is a tremendous gap between rural and urban schools, and between private and public schools in Brazil. Absence and malnutrition plague the rural school system. Children from large, poor families start working from the age of 10, despite the law of compulsory education. A lack of sufficient school places and a high examination failure rate also contribute to school non-attendance.
Foreign communities of Americans, Germans, French, British, and Italian have their own schools in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. Protestant and Catholic schools are also available.
The Ministry of Education controls higher education, and there is at least one Federal university in each state. There are over 90 universities in the country. |
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Weather |
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Brazil’s climate is predominantly tropical, with 92% of the country located between the Equator and the Tropic of Capricorn. The remaining 8% of the country is equatorial and subtropical. The average annual temperature is approximately 82.4 F (28C) in the north, and 68 F (20C) in the south. Extreme temperatures, while rare, may occur. In the winter some cities in the south experience frost and snow. In the peak of summer Rio de Janeiro’s temperature may rise to 104 F (40C).
The seasons are the opposite of Europe and the United States, except for the northern regions of the country. |
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Money and Cost of Living |
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Comparatively, Brazil is inexpensive. In the more developed southern states, like Sao Paulo, prices are higher than in the poorer northern states. This is especially true for private education and private health care.
Goods and services which rely primarily on Brazilian raw materials and work force tend to be particularly cheap. If international factors enter the picture, then prices rise accordingly. Electricity rates are comparable to those in developed countries. |
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Currency |
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The currency used in Brazil is the Real, R$. Notes are in denominations of R$100, 50, 10, 5 and 1. Coins are in denominations of R$1, and 50, 25, 10, 5 and 1 centavos.
The Brazilian currency has remained reasonably stable. |
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Health |
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There is no reciprocal health agreement between Brazil and the UK or USA. Medical fees in Brazil are high, and comprehensive health insurance is recommended. English-speaking medical personnel are found mainly in the large cities. The main hospital in Sao Paulo is the Hospital das Clinicas.
Cholera cases are still reported in Brazil, especially in the northeast. Medical opinion on the effectiveness of the cholera vaccine differ, up-to-date advice should be considered on this subject. Immunization against typhoid is recommended. Malaria risk exists throughout the year in many regions. Yellow fever exists and vaccination is strongly recommended for those who live or visit in rural areas.
Bilharzia (schistosomiasis) is present. Snakes and leeches pose risks, and swimming and rowing in fresh water is unadvisable. Other infectious diseases prevalent in Brazil include trypanosomiasis (Chagas disease) and mucocutaneous leishmaniasis. Dengue fever is on the increase, especially after rain in densely populated areas. Visceral leishmaniasis is endemic (especially in the northeast). Onchocerciasis (especially northern Brazil) and Bancroftian filariasis are also present. Hepatitis A, B and D, Brazilian purpuric fever, amoebiasis, shigella infection, leptospirosis icterohaemorrhagica and brucellosis all occur. There are epidemics of meningococcal meningitis in and around the Rio area. Air pollution, especially in Sao Paulo, may aggravate respiratory conditions. Rabies is present.
All water should be regarded as potentially contaminated. Water used for drinking, brushing teeth or making ice should be boiled or otherwise sterilized. In more remote areas, even filtered water should be avoided, and bottled mineral water used instead. Pasteurized milk and cheese is available in towns and is generally considered safe. Outside of urban areas, milk is not pasteurized and should be boiled. Powdered or canned milk reconstituted with pure water is recommended for use in rural areas. Any dairy product likely to have been made from unboiled milk should be avoided. Only well-cooked meat and fish, preferably freshly prepared and hot, should be consumed. Be wary of pork, salad, and mayonnaise. Vegetables should be cooked and fruit peeled. |
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Weights and Measures |
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Brazil uses the metric system, with units in grams and kilograms, milliliters, and liters. |
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Electricity |
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Brazil uses 110/220V and 60Hz electricity. However, other voltages are also in use in some places, such as Bahia, Rio de Janeiro, and Minas Gerais. Outlets are often a combination of type A (flat blade attachment plug) and C (round pin attachment plug), and can accept either type plug. Type C plugs can also be used with E and F, and some L receptacles. This type of plug is very common in most "universal" adaptor sets. |
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