World Factbook
Brazil
República Federativa do Brasil
Last updated: 2026-03-28 (today)
Flag
description: green with a large yellow diamond in the center, showing a blue celestial globe with 27 five-pointed white stars; the globe has a white equatorial band with the motto ORDEM E PROGRESSO (Order and Progress) meaning: green stands for the country's forests, and yellow for its mineral wealth, with the diamond representing the country's shape; the blue globe and stars depict the sky over Rio de Janeiro on the morning of 15 November 1889, the day the Republic of Brazil was declared; the number of stars has risen with the creation of new states, from 21 to 27 (one for each state and the Federal District) history: the flag was inspired by the former Empire of Brazil's flag (1822-1889)
note: one of four national flags that reflect the shape of the country in the flag design; the others are Bosnia and Herzegovina, Eritrea, and Vanuatu
Capital
name
Brasília
etymology
the name is the Latinized form of the country name, bestowed on the new capital of Brazil in 1960; previous Brazilian capitals were Salvador (1549-1763) and Rio de Janeiro (1763 to 1960)
time zone note
Brazil has four time zones, including one for the Fernando de Noronha Islands
time difference
UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
geographic coordinates
15 47 S, 47 55 W
Suffrage
voluntary between 16 to 18 years of age, over 70, and if illiterate; compulsory between 18 to 70 years of age
note: military conscripts by law cannot vote
Citizenship
citizenship by birth
yes
citizenship by descent only
yes
dual citizenship recognized
yes
residency requirement for naturalization
4 years
Constitution
history
several previous; latest ratified 5 October 1988
amendment process
proposed by at least one third of either house of the National Congress, by the president of the republic, or by simple majority vote by more than half of the state legislative assemblies; passage requires at least three-fifths majority vote by both houses in each of two readings; constitutional provisions affecting the federal form of government, separation of powers, suffrage, or individual rights and guarantees cannot be amended
Country name
etymology
the country name derives from the brazil tree that used to grow plentifully along the coast of Brazil and that was used to produce a deep red dye
local long form
República Federativa do Brasil
local short form
Brasil
conventional long form
Federative Republic of Brazil
conventional short form
Brazil
Independence
7 September 1822 (from Portugal)
Legal system
civil law
note: a new civil-law code in 2002 replaced the 1916 code
Government type
federal presidential republic
Judicial branch
highest court(s)
Supreme Federal Court or Supremo Tribunal Federal (consists of 11 justices)
subordinate courts
Tribunal of the Union, Federal Appeals Court, Superior Court of Justice, Superior Electoral Court, regional federal courts; state court system
judge selection and term of office
justices appointed by the president and approved by absolute majority by the Federal Senate; justices appointed to serve until mandatory retirement at age 75
Executive branch
note
note: the president is both chief of state and head of government
cabinet
Cabinet appointed by the president
chief of state
President Luiz Inácio LULA da Silva (since 1 January 2023)
election results
2022: Luiz Inácio LULA da Silva elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Luiz Inácio LULA da Silva (PT) 48.4%, Jair BOLSONARO (PSL) 43.2%, Simone Nassar TEBET (MDB) 4.2%, Ciro GOMES (PDT) 3%, other 1.2%; percent of vote in second round - Luiz Inácio LULA da Silva (PT) 50.9%, Jair BOLSONARO (PSL) 49.1% 2018: Jair BOLSONARO elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Jair BOLSONARO (PSL) 46%, Fernando HADDAD (PT) 29.3%, Ciro GOMEZ (PDT) 12.5%, Geraldo ALCKMIN (PSDB) 4.8%, other 7.4%; percent of vote in second round - Jair BOLSONARO (PSL) 55.1%, Fernando HADDAD (PT) 44.9%
head of government
President Luiz Inácio LULA da Silva (since 1 January 2023)
most recent election date
2 October 2022, with runoff on 30 October 2022
election/appointment process
president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 4-year term (eligible for a single consecutive term and additional terms after at least one term has elapsed)
expected date of next election
4 October 2026
National holiday
Independence Day, 7 September (1822)
National color(s)
green, yellow, blue
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites
24 (15 cultural, 9 natural, 1 mixed)
selected World Heritage Site locales
Brasilia (c); Historic Salvador de Bahia (c); Historic Ouro Preto (c); Historic Center of the Town of Olinda (c); Iguaçu National Park (n); Jesuit Missions of the Guaranis (c); Rio de Janeiro: Carioca Landscapes (c); Central Amazon Conservation Complex (n); Atlantic Forest South-East Reserves (n); Historic Center of Salvador de Bahia (c); Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Congonhas (c ); Brasilia (c ); Serra da Capivara National Park (c ); Historic Center of Sao Luis( c); Discovery Coast Atlantic Forest Reserves (n); Historic Center of the Town of Diamantina (c ); Pantanal Conservation Area (n); Brazilian Atlantic Islands: Fernando de Noronha and Atol das Rocas Reserves (n); Cerrado Protected Areas: Chapada dos Veadeiros and Emas National Parks (n); Historic Centre of the Town of Goiás (c); São Francisco Square in the Town of São Cristóvão (c ); Rio de Janeiro: Carioca Landscapes between the Mountain and the Sea (c ); Pampulha Modern Ensemble (c ); Valongo Wharf Archaeological Site (c ); Paraty and Ilha Grande – Culture and Biodiversity (m); Sítio Roberto Burle Marx (c ); Lençóis Maranhenses National Park (n);Peruaçu River Canyon (n)
Political parties
Act (Agir) (formerly Christian Labor Party or PTC) Avante (formerly Labor Party of Brazil or PTdoB) Brazil Union (União Brasil); note - founded from a merger between the Democrats (DEM) and the Social Liberal Party (PSL) Brazilian Communist Party or PCB Brazilian Democratic Movement or MDB Brazilian Labor Party or PTB Brazilian Renewal Labor Party or PRTB Brazilian Labor Party or PTB Brazilian Social Democracy Party or PSDB Brazilian Socialist Party or PSB Christian Democracy or DC (formerly Christian Social Democratic Party) Cidadania (formerly Popular Socialist Party or PPS) Communist Party of Brazil or PCdoB Democratic Labor Party or PDT Democratic Party or PSDC Democrats or DEM (formerly Liberal Front Party or PFL); note - dissolved in February 2022 Green Party or PV Liberal Party or PL [Valdemar Costa Neto] (formerly Party of the Republic or PR) National Mobilization Party or PMN New Party or NOVO Patriota (formerly National Ecologic Party or PEN) Podemos (formerly National Labor Party or PTN) Progressive Party (Progressistas) or PP Republican Social Order Party or PROS Republicans (Republicanos) (formerly Brazilian Republican Party or PRB) Social Christian Party or PSC Social Democratic Party or PSD Social Liberal Party or PSL Socialism and Freedom Party or PSOL Solidarity or SD Sustainability Network or REDE United Socialist Workers' Party or PSTU Workers' Cause Party or PCO Workers' Party or PT
Legislative branch
legislature name
National Congress (Congresso nacional)
legislative structure
bicameral
National anthem(s)
title
"Hino Nacional Brasileiro" (Brazilian National Anthem)
history
music adopted 1890, lyrics adopted 1922; the anthem's music, composed in 1822, was used unofficially for many years
lyrics/music
Joaquim Osorio Duque ESTRADA/Francisco Manoel DA SILVA
National symbol(s)
Southern Cross constellation
Administrative divisions
26 states ( estados , singular - estado ) and 1 federal district* (distrito federal); Acre, Alagoas, Amapa, Amazonas, Bahia, Ceara, Distrito Federal*, Espirito Santo, Goias, Maranhao, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais, Para, Paraiba, Parana, Pernambuco, Piaui, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Norte, Rio Grande do Sul, Rondônia, Roraima, Santa Catarina, São Paulo, Sergipe, Tocantins
Legislative branch - lower chamber
chamber name
Chamber of Deputies (Cámara dos Deputados)
term in office
4 years
number of seats
513 (all directly elected)
electoral system
proportional representation
scope of elections
full renewal
most recent election date
10/2/2022
expected date of next election
October 2026
percentage of women in chamber
18.1%
parties elected and seats per party
Liberal Party (PL) (99); Workers' Party (PT) (69); Brazil Union (União) (59); Progressive Party (PP) (47); Brazilian Democratic Movement (MDB) (42); Social Democratic Party (PSD) (42); Republicans (Republicanos) (40); Other (106)
Legislative branch - upper chamber
chamber name
Federal Senate (Senado Federal)
term in office
8 years
number of seats
81 (all directly elected)
electoral system
plurality/majority
scope of elections
partial renewal
most recent election date
10/2/2022
expected date of next election
October 2026
percentage of women in chamber
19.8%
parties elected and seats per party
Liberal Party (PL) (8); Brazil Union (União) (5); Workers' Party (PT) (4); Progressive Party (PP) (3); Social Democratic Party (PSD) (2); Republicans (Republicanos) (2); Other (3)
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (202) 238-2827
chancery
3006 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone
[1] (202) 238-2700
chief of mission
Ambassador Maria Luiza Ribeiro VIOTTI (since 30 June 2023)
consulate(s) general
Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Hartford (CT), Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Orlando, San Francisco
email address and website
contact.washington@itamaraty.gov.br https://www.gov.br/mre/pt-br/embaixada-washington
Diplomatic representation from the US
FAX
[55] (61) 3225-9136
embassy
SES - Avenida das Nações, Quadra 801, Lote 03, 70403-900 - Brasília, DF
telephone
[55] (61) 3312-7000
mailing address
7500 Brasilia Place, Washington DC 20521-7500
branch office(s)
Belo Horizonte
chief of mission
Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Gabriel ESCOBAR (since 21 January 2025)
consulate(s) general
Recife, Porto Alegre, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo
email address and website
BrasilliaACS@state.gov https://br.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation
AfDB (nonregional member), BIS, BRICS, CAN (associate), CD, CELAC, CPLP, FAO, FATF, G-15, G-20, G-24, G-5, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, LAIA, LAS (observer), Mercosur, MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NAM (observer), NSG, OAS, OECD (enhanced engagement), OPANAL, OPCW, Paris Club (associate), PCA, PROSUR, SICA (observer), UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNIFIL, Union Latina, UNISFA, UNITAR, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNOOSA, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction