Brazil is located in the western hemisphere, between the meridians 34º 47’ 30’’ and 73º 59’ 32’’, west of Greenwich, and at north latitude 5º 16’ 20’’ and south latitude 33º 44’ 42’’. It is split to the north by the Equator and to the south by the tropic of Capricorn, being 90% of its territory located in the south hemisphere.

This Latin American country is situated in the eastern region of South America and borders every South American country, except for Equator, Chile, Trinidad and Tobago.

It has an area of 8 547 403, 5 sq km and it is the fifth largest country in the world, the third in the American continent and the first in South America, occupying 47% of south American land area.

Officially Brazil is a Federative Republic, which consists of 26 states and one federal district, where the capital of the country is located – Brasilia, seat of the government and the of the executive, legislative and judicial powers.

Brazil is politically and geographically divided into 5 distinctive regions, with physical, human, economic and cultural similarities: north, northeast, southeast and centre-west.

According to a 2000 census, organized by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (FIBGE), Brazil’s population was of 169 799 170 inhabitants, being 70 million economically active.

In 2000 the country’s GDP/head was USD$3, 5 thousand a year, and its total GDP 700 billion, which means that Brazil has the strongest economy in Latin America and the eighth in the world.

In 1991 Brazil’s population density was 17, 18 inhabitants/sq km and the rate of urbanization 75, 59%. Rio de Janeiro, the Federal District and S. Paulo are the three most populous areas in the country (93% of São Paulo’s territory is urbanized). On the other hand, the less populous states are the ones located on the north and centre-west regions.

In 2000 both Brazilian industry and agriculture represented 20% of the national production, and the services 60%.

The most populous cities are S. Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte and Porto Alegre.

Brazil’s inhabitants are of mixed ancestry: Indians, Africans and Europeans (mainly Portuguese), and, in S. Paulo, Asians (Arabs and Japanese).

Brazil’s main religion is Roman Catholic, however many of the country’s religious manifestations are related to African religions (macumba and umbanda).

Independence Day is celebrated on September 7 (1822).

Brazil’s currency is the real: 1 euro corresponds to 3.10 reais.