República Federativa do Brasil Federative Republic of Brazil
Flag Coat of arms Motto: "Ordem e Progresso" (Portuguese) "Order and Progress" Anthem: Hino Nacional Brasileiro (Portuguese) "National Anthem of Brazil"   National seal Selo Nacional do Brasil (Portuguese) "National Seal of Brazil"
Capital Brasília 15°45′S 47°57′W / -15.75, -47.95 Largest city São Paulo Official languages Portuguese Demonym Brazilian Government Presidential Federal republic  -  President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva  -  Vice-President José Alencar  -  President of the Chamber of Deputies Arlindo Chinaglia  -  President of the Senate Garibaldi Alves Filho  -  Chief Justice Gilmar Mendes Independence from Portugal   -  Declared September 7, 1822   -  Recognized August 29, 1825   -  Republic November 15, 1889  Area  -  Total 8,514,877 km² (5th) 3,287,597 sq mi   -  Water (%) 0.65	Population  -  2008 estimate 186,757,608 (5th)  -  2007 census 183,987,291   -  Density 22/km² (182nd) 57/sq mi GDP (PPP) 2007 estimate  -  Total USD 1,804 trillion (9th)  -  Per capita USD 11,873 (65) GDP (nominal) 2007 estimate  -  Total USD 1,313 trillion (10th)  -  Per capita USD 6,842 (61st) Gini (2008) ▼ 50.5 (high)  HDI (2005) ▲ 0.800 (high) (70th) Currency Real (R$) (BRL) Time zone BRT N1 (UTC-2 to -5)  -  Summer (DST) BRST N2 (UTC-2 to -5) Internet TLD .br Calling code +55

Brazil (Portuguese: Brasil), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: República Federativa do Brasil) listen (help·info), is a country in South America.[1] It is the fifth largest country by geographical area, the fifth most populous country, and the fourth most populous democracy in the world.[1][2] Bounded by the Atlantic Ocean on the east, Brazil has a coastline of over 7,491 kilometers (4,655 mi).[1] It is bordered on the north by Venezuela, Suriname, Guyana and the overseas department of French Guiana; on the northwest by Colombia; on the west by Bolivia and Peru; on the southwest by Argentina and Paraguay and on the south by Uruguay. Numerous archipelagos are part of the Brazilian territory, such as Fernando de Noronha, Rocas Atoll, Saint Peter and Paul Rocks, and Trindade and Martim Vaz.[1]

Brazil was a colony of Portugal from the landing of Pedro Álvares Cabral in 1500 until its independence in 1822.[3] Initially independent as the Brazilian Empire, the country has been a republic since 1889, even though its bicameral legislature (now called Congress) dates back to 1824, when the first constitution was ratified.[3] Its current Constitution defines Brazil as a Federal Republic.[4] The Federation is formed by the union of the Federal District, the 26 States, and the 5,564 Municipalities.[4][5]

Brazil is the world's tenth largest economy at market exchange rates and the ninth largest in purchasing power.[6] Economic reforms have given the country new international projection.[7] It is a founding member of the United Nations and of the Union of South American Nations. A predominantly Roman Catholic, Portuguese-speaking and multiethnic society,[2] Brazil is also home to a diversity of wildlife, natural environments, and extensive natural resources in a variety of protected habitats.[1]