Brazil facts: 214 million people, 26 states, 4 time zones

Brazil facts start with scale: it is the largest country in South America, the world’s fifth-largest country by area, and home to over 214 million people. It is also the only Portuguese-speaking country in the Americas, which makes it stand out immediately on the map and in the language of the continent.

How big is Brazil?

Brazil is the largest country in South America and the world’s fifth-largest country by area. It is also the seventh-most-populous country in the world, with over 214 million people.

That size is visible in more than one way. Brazil has a coastline of 7,491 kilometers, among the longest in the world, and it spans four time zones. It is the largest country in the world that has the equator and the Tropic of Capricorn running through it.

Brazil borders every other country and territory in South America except Ecuador and Chile. That makes it one of the continent’s defining geographic giants, with land connections across most of the region.

What are Brazil’s regions and states?

Brazil is a federation composed of 26 states and a Federal District, which hosts Brasília. Its five major regions are the North, Northeast, Southeast, South, and Center-West.

The North is Brazil’s largest region, covering 45.3% of the national territory. São Paulo is Brazil’s most populous city, followed by Rio de Janeiro.

Those names matter because they anchor the country’s population and administration. The Federal District houses Brasília, while the states and regions divide a territory that is large enough to stretch across multiple climates, coastlines, and river systems.

Why is the Amazon so important to Brazil?

Brazil contains most of the Amazon basin, including the world’s largest river system and most extensive virgin tropical forest. The Amazon is the largest river in Brazil and the second longest in the world.

Brazil ranks first among 17 megadiverse countries. That ranking sits alongside its forests, rivers, and immense territory, and it helps explain why the country appears so often in conversations about biodiversity.

The Paraná River also crosses into the story of Brazil’s geography. It forms the border of Paraguay and Argentina before reaching the Atlantic Ocean.

Which landmarks and borders define Brazil?

Brazil’s highest point is Pico da Neblina, which rises to 2,994 meters. Alongside that peak, the Amazon and the Paraná River show how central water and elevation are to the country’s map.

Brazil borders almost the whole continent, except Ecuador and Chile, and its 7,491-kilometer coastline gives it a huge Atlantic edge. On land and at sea, the country’s outline is one of the most recognizable in the Americas.

Its place in South America is matched by its size in the wider world. With more than 214 million people, four time zones, and a territory that includes most of the Amazon basin, Brazil stands out as a country where geography alone tells a major part of the story.

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