Intresting Fun Facts About Brazil

Brazil is a colossal country that occupies almost half of the South American continent. Since the discovery of the New World this country has enthralled, amused, and captivated explorers, traders, and scientists alike, with its seemingly endless and umpteen reservoir of diversity in natural world, geography, and human race. This tropical paradise has some of the most beautiful white sandy beaches, stunningly pristine islands, and lush forests. Facing the vast Atlantic Ocean, the country has more than 7500 kilometers of coastline. While in the country you experience a world of vibrant culture, colonial town, fun-filled music, red canyons, and unspoiled rivers, all forming just a tiny morsel of the whole Brazilian fiesta. With an economy that is primarily based on agriculture, manufacturing, and mining, the Brazilian international trade and commerce is forging ahead with a roar! Brazil is an assortment of cultural melting pot. Many old cities have the architecture and culture that is reminiscent of the colonial legacy left by the Portuguese. This predominantly catholic country is gigantic both in size and range. Read on to know more interesting facts about this amazing and beautiful country.

Fast Facts

Capital: Brasília

Largest City: Sao Paulo

Official Language: Portuguese

National Language: Portuguese

Demonym: Brazilian

Religion: Roman Catholic, Protestant, Spiritist

Legislature: National Congress

Independence:Declared: September 7, 1822

Recognized: August 29, 1825

Republic: November 15, 1889

Area: 8,514,877 sq. km

Population (2011 estimate): 192,376,496

Currency: Real (R$) (BRL)

National Bird: Sabiá-laranjeira

National Animal: Jaguar

Interesting And Fun Facts About Brazil

• Brazil’s name is derived from the pau-brasil tree which is also known as the brazilwood.
• Earlier, Brazil was also known as Ilha de Vera Cruz (Island of Real Cross), Terra de Santa Cruz (Land of Holy Cross), and Terra di Papaga (Land of Parrots).
• Brazil is the largest country in South America, which occupies almost half of the continent.
• Brazil is the only Portuguese speaking nation in South America. It is also the largest Portuguese speaking country in the world.
• Brazil is the fifth largest country in the world, by area as well as population.
• Around the world, Brazil’s economy is the eighth largest by purchasing power parity and seventh largest by nominal GDP.
• Brazil boasts of second highest number of airports in the world, after the US.
• It has the third largest road network and 10th largest railroad network on earth.
• One of the fastest growing economies, Brazil has an average annual GDP growth of 5%.
• Brazil is among the few countries in the developing world to have made a genuine effort for equitable distribution of wealth among its people. This has led to a substantial decrease in the economic inequality of the country.
• Brazil is one of the top most global producers of hydroelectric power and stands at third position. It became 100% energy independent country in 2006.
• Brazil has the 9th highest number of billionaires in the world.
• Brazil is the world’s largest exporter of iron ore and soya.
• Recently discovered oil reserves prove that it is likely to become the major oil exporter in the future.
• The country has the greatest biodiversity on earth with the most number of flora and fauna, including freshwater fish and mammals.
• Brazil ranks third in the world when it comes to number of bird species while in case of reptiles it stands at the fifth position. With 77 species of primates, Brazil ranks first in the world for numbers of species of primates.
• The Brazilian rainforest constitutes of almost 60% of the entire Amazon rainforest implying that it contains 25% of world’s rainforest that covers 2.5 million square miles.
• Equatorial, tropical, semiarid, highland tropical, temperate, and subtropical are the five major climatic subtypes found in Brazil
• The Brazilian women attained the right to vote in 1931 before women in Switzerland, France, and Italy.
• Most Brazilians do not marry until their late twenties.
• Brazil is a five time undisputed world champion of soccer world cup, more than any other nation in the world. They won in 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, and 2002.
• Brazil has grabbed the opportunity to again host the FIFA World Cup in 2014. It is the only country to host the FIFA World Cup twice.
• The 130 feet tall statue of Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Jeneiro is among the new 7 wonders of the world.
• Brazil is the founding member of the United Nations and G20.
• Lierbada (Liberty) in Sao Paulo, Brazil is the largest Japanese city existing outside Japan.
• Brazilian soap operas are very popular in Portuguese speaking African countries.
• The official name of the country is Brasil or Republica Federtiva do Brasil.
• The capital of Brazil is Brazilia which was designed by one of the best architects of that time, Oscar Niemeyer.
• Brazil has the second highest Christian population in the world.
• Brazilian coffee is the world’s best variety of coffee.
• Joaquim Osório Duque Estrada, a renowned scholar and social personality of Brazil, has composed the Brazilian anthem. The anthem is hard to be understood by even the Brazilian nationals as some of the words are very rare and there are several complex syntactic constructions in the anthem.
• Brazil’s area is larger than the combined area of South Africa, Spain, Japan, Portugal, Italy, and Indonesia.
• In Brazil, greeting or taking leave takes place in the form of kisses on both the cheeks of women while men greet each other by shaking hands like the greeting customs in European countries.
• There are 26 states in Brazil.
• Brazil declared independence from Portugal on September 7, 1822.
• The largest city in Brazil is Sao Paulo.
• About 88% of the Brazilian population is literate.
• The country is largest Catholic nation in the world.
• Voting in elections is compulsory for the age between 18 and 65.
• Brazil produces one of the world’s super foods, the acai berry. The fruit has become very popular over the years for its nutritional properties and it is readily available in the health food stores. For the last 300 years, Brazilians have used this berry to improve their health and to stay young. The acai is also good as a dietary food.
• Brazil has many transsexuals that have posed a problem for the government and the public at large. In an effort to solve the problem, separate washrooms with the letter ‘T’ have been allocated for them.
• One of the leading countries in gas and emission reductions, Brazil has almost 4 million cars that run on gasohol, instead of petrol. Gasohol is made from the combination of alcohol and ethanol extracted from sugarcane.
• The Brazilian currency has both horizontal and vertical pictures.
• Brazil has the 10th highest number of vehicle owners in the world.