Brasil Report

BRASIL: OVERVIEW

Brazil is a country greatly shaped by its diverse culture and geography. The largest country in South America in both population and area, Brazil has long been the source of important natural resources such as timber, sugar and coffee. The culture is a thriving fusion of Portuguese, African and indigenous Indian influences, all of which have left their mark on Brazilian society resulting in a rich, distinct culture. Brazilian culture is known for its hospitality, openness and colorful and rhythmic events such as Carnival. As Catholicism is the predominant religion in Brazil, many of these events have a strong Catholic influence. The diversity of Brazilian society is

further emphasized by the prevalent class differences which permeate almost every aspect of society.

BRAZIL AT A GLANCE……

* Official Name – Federative Republic of Brazil

* Population – 205,716,890*

* Official Language – Portuguese

* Currency – Brazilian real (BRL)

* Capital City – Brasilia

* GDP – purchasing power parity $2.3 trillion*

* GDP Per Capita – purchasing power parity $11,600*

Brazil-Social Structure:

Immigration from Europe and the African slave trade, which were the prime sources of population growth during much of Brazil's history, became demographically insignificant by the 1930s. Subsequently, there were massive transfers of internal migrants from the Northeast and Minas Gerais to the growing urban centers of S�o Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. Over time, there were successive waves of significant but less voluminous counterflows to frontier areas in Paran�, the Center-West, and finally the Amazon. The government's colonization plans, which included settlement along the Trans-Amazonian Highway, stimulated internal migration. However, the last cycle of frontier expansion came to a close, at least temporarily, in the late 1980s.

During the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, some 20 million people moved from rural to urban areas in Brazil. This...