Brazil is the largest of the Latin American countries. Covering nearly half (47.3 percent) of the continent of South America, it occupies an area of 8,511,965 sq. km. It is the fifth largest country in the world after the Russian Federation, Canada, China, and the United States. Except for a small number of islands, Brazil consists of a single, unbroken landmass.

Brazil is a federative republic composed of 26 states and one federal district. It has a democratic political system and all the legislative and executive bodies at the federal, state and municipal levels are elected by a popular vote. The directly elected President of the Republic is both the chief of state and the head of the federal government, appointing the cabinet directly.

The population of Brazil is approximately 180 million people. São Paulo is South America’s largest city with over 17 million inhabitants. Rio de Janeiro has a population of 7 million. Brasília and the Federal District have in the region of 2 million inhabitants.

The official language is Portuguese.  Indigenous languages have been accorded official status in some municipalities in the amazonas.