The Federative Republic of Brazil is the largest country in South America. It borders Argentina, Suriname, Guyana, Venezuela, Paraguay, Bolivia, Peru and Columbia. Prior to the European discovery of Brazil in 1500, the country was populated by a wide variety of independent indigenous tribes. Brazil was a Portuguese colony until 1822, when it became a monarchy known as the Empire of Brazil. This lasted until a military coup in 1889 established a federal republic. Brazil has, with the exception of short periods of dictatorships, been a democracy since the dawn of the republic. Brazil has the world’s 9th largest economy and is the 5th most populous country. Brazil is a member of Mercosur and The Union of South American Nations.

Inhabitants: 190.000.000
Area: 8,500,000 km2
Capital: Brasilia (2,400,000 inhabitants, largest city is Sao Paolo with 11,000,000 inhabitants)
Languages: Portuguese
Religion: Roman Catholics (74%), Protestants (15%), others (11%)
GDP (PPP) per capita: $9,100
Government: Presidential Federal Republic
Climate: Tropical and subtropical climate.