Brazil Guide and Resources

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Location
Eastern South America, bordering the Atlantic Ocean

Size Comparison To U.S-located Area
slightly smaller than the US

Geographic Coordinates
10 00 S, 55 00 W

Capital
Brasilia

Nationality
Brazilian(s)

Currency
real (BRL)

Languages Spoken
Portuguese (official), Spanish, English, French

Population
176,029,560 (July 2002 est.)

Total Population Ratio Based On Gender
0.97 male(s)/female (2002 est.)

Migrant Ratio
-0.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Ethnic Groups
white (includes Portuguese, German, Italian, Spanish, Polish) 55%, mixed white and black 38%, black 6%, other (includes Japanese, Arab, Amerindian) 1%

Religion Demographics
Roman Catholic (nominal) 80%

Geographic Areas
Total :: 8,511,965 sq km
Land :: 8,456,510 sq km
Water :: 55,455 sq km
Coastline :: 7,491 km

Bordered By
Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, French Guiana, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, Venezuela

Argentina Climate
mostly tropical, but temperate in south

Terrain
mostly flat to rolling lowlands in north; some plains, hills, mountains, and narrow coastal belt

Natural Resources
bauxite, gold, iron ore, manganese, nickel, phosphates, platinum, tin, uranium, petroleum, hydropower, timber

Natural Hazards
recurring droughts in northeast; floods and occasional frost in south

Brief Geography Notes
largest country in South America; shares common boundaries with every South American country except Chile and Ecuador.

Government
federative republic

Administrative Districts
26 states (estados, singular - estado) and 1 federal district (distrito federal)