# Brazil - Source: Kiddle (kids.kiddle.co), CC BY-SA 3.0, Kiddle encyclopedia, adapted from Wikipedia - Reading level: Grade 5 - Subjects: Countries, Places - Topics: brazil, country, people, brazil's, government, include - Length: 1208 words, about 9 min - Published: 2026-03-11 - Original: - Page: - Open in Sprouts: **Brazil** (officially called **Federative Republic of Brazil**) is a large country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country by land area. Brazil has about 203 million people. The capital of Brazil is Brasília. ## Brazil's Past: A Journey Through Time The first people arrived in Brazil around 9,000 B.C. These groups were often called South American Indians. They likely came from North America. Some were hunters and gatherers, while others were farmers. ### European Arrival and Independence Pedro Álvares Cabral was the first European to reach Brazil in 1500. He was from Portugal, and the Portuguese government claimed Brazil. Soon, explorers mapped the coastline, and colonies were set up. In the late 1500s and early 1600s, the Dutch and French sometimes tried to take land. Brazilians began moving further inland than allowed by the Treaty of Tordesillas. This led to conflicts with Spanish settlers and native people. In 1822, Brazil declared itself an independent country, no longer part of Portugal. A civil war followed. Emperor Pedro II later improved the economy. In 1888, he freed all enslaved people. In 1889, a military coup forced Pedro II to leave the country. ### From Republic to Modern Democracy Brazil became a republic in 1889. It was not very democratic at first, as only landowners could vote. In the 1920s, some uprisings occurred. People felt the government unfairly favored coffee growers. Brazil later joined the Allies during World War II. In the 1960s, leader Castelo Branco made the government more like a dictatorship. Since then, Brazil has become more democratic. However, some people still believe there are major issues in health and education. In September 2016, then-president Dilma Rousseff was removed from office through impeachment. ## Languages Spoken in Brazil Most people in Brazil speak Portuguese. Brazil is the only country in Latin America where Portuguese is the main language. Some Brazilians speak German dialects. These came from German immigrants. About 0.8% of Brazilians speak German as their first language. Other languages spoken include indigenous Brazilian languages, Italian, Japanese, French, and Spanish. A small number of Brazilians speak Guaraní and Aymará. ## Brazil's Amazing Geography ![Brazil topo](https://sprout.rootsofreason.org/media/kiddle-brazil-2c9398efce.jpg) Topographic map of Brazil. Brazil covers a huge area along South America's eastern coast. It includes much of the continent's inner land. Brazil shares land borders with almost every South American country. Only Ecuador and Chile do not border Brazil. Brazil also includes several islands in the Atlantic Ocean. These include Fernando de Noronha and Trindade and Martin Vaz. Brazil is the fifth largest country in the world. It is the third largest in the Americas. Its total area is about 8,515,767 square kilometers. ### Climate Zones Across Brazil ![Koppen climate classification Brazil](https://sprout.rootsofreason.org/media/kiddle-brazil-2f35ce0924.jpg) Brazil map of Köppen climate classification. Brazil has many different weather conditions. Most of the country has a tropical climate. Brazil has six main climate types. These include desert, equatorial, tropical, semiarid, oceanic, and subtropical. These climates create diverse environments. You can find rainforests in the north. There are semiarid deserts in the northeast. Tropical savannas are in central Brazil. Northern Brazil has an equatorial climate. There is no true dry season. Temperatures average around 25°C. Daily temperature changes are greater than seasonal ones. Central Brazil has more seasonal rainfall. This is typical of a savanna climate. The interior northeast has even more extreme seasonal rain. This semiarid region gets less than 800 mm of rain. Most rain falls in three to five months. Long droughts can happen. A severe drought in 1877–78 caused many deaths. South of Bahia, near the coasts, rain falls all year. The south has subtropical conditions. Winters are cool, and average yearly temperatures are below 18°C. Frost and snowfall can occur in higher areas. ### Rich Biodiversity and Environment ![Amazon CIAT (5)](https://sprout.rootsofreason.org/media/kiddle-brazil-cccdd96322.jpg) The Amazon rainforest, the richest and most biodiverse rainforest in the world. Brazil's large area has many different ecosystems. The Amazon rainforest has the most biological diversity in the world. The Atlantic Forest and Cerrado also have great biodiversity. In the south, Araucaria pine forests grow. Brazil's rich wildlife shows its varied natural habitats. Scientists think Brazil has up to four million plant and animal species. Most of these are invertebrates. Larger mammals include pumas, jaguars, and ocelots. There are also tapirs, anteaters, and armadillos. Many types of New World monkeys live in the northern rainforests. Environmental concerns have grown globally. Brazil's Amazon Basin has many fish species. This includes the red-bellied piranha. Despite its fierce reputation, it is usually a shy scavenger. Brazil's natural heritage faces threats. These include cattle ranching, logging, and mining. Dams and pollution also cause problems. Many areas are threatened by new developments. Highways open up remote areas. Dams flood valleys and animal homes. Mines scar and pollute the land. Over 70 dams are planned for the Amazon region. ## How Brazil is Governed ![Palácio Nereu Ramos - Brasília - 20150603172246](https://sprout.rootsofreason.org/media/kiddle-brazil-f25b8c08e4.jpg) National Congress, where laws are made. ![Palacio do Planalto (5348220087)](https://sprout.rootsofreason.org/media/kiddle-brazil-28b6767067.jpg) Palácio do Planalto, the President's official workplace. Brazil has a democratic federative republic. It uses a presidential system. The president leads both the country and the government. They are elected for a four-year term. They can be re-elected once. The president chooses the ministers who help run the government. Laws are mainly made by legislative bodies. The National Congress has two parts. These are the Chamber of Deputies and the Federal Senate. Courts handle legal duties. In 2021, Brazil was called a "flawed democracy". It was also seen as a free country. Brazil's government has different levels. These are the Union (federal), states, Federal District, and municipalities. These are the "spheres of government." The country is based on five main ideas. These are sovereignty, citizenship, human dignity, social value of work, and political pluralism. The government has three main branches: executive, legislative, and judicial. They work independently. The executive and legislative branches are elected. The judicial branch is at federal and state levels. Brazil has many political parties. Voting is required for literate people aged 18 to 70. It is optional for others. Brazil has over 40 active political parties. It is common for politicians to change parties. ## Brazil's Economy and Tourism ![](https://sprout.rootsofreason.org/media/kiddle-brazil-1b98ea560f.jpg) The B3 stock exchange in São Paulo. Brazil has the largest economy in Latin America. It is the world's ninth largest economy. Brazil has a mixed economy with many natural resources. The country is growing in international markets. It is part of the BRIC countries. Brazil has been the world's largest coffee producer for 150 years. It exports many products. These include soy, iron ore, pulp, maize, beef, and chicken. Other exports are sugar, coffee, tobacco, and airplanes. ### Exploring Brazil: Tourism ![](https://sprout.rootsofreason.org/media/kiddle-brazil-8aeeb70e2c.png) Sancho Bay, Fernando de Noronha, a beautiful beach. Tourism in Brazil is growing. It is important for many regions. In 2018, Brazil was the 48th most visited country. It welcomed 6.6 million tourists. Natural areas are very popular. People enjoy ecotourism, beaches, and adventure travel. Cultural tourism is also popular. Top destinations include the Amazon rainforest. Beaches and dunes in the Northeast are also popular. The Pantanal in the Center-West is another highlight. Rio de Janeiro and Santa Catarina have great beaches. Minas Gerais offers cultural sites. São Paulo is popular for business trips. ## Brazilian Culture: A Rich Mix ![Desfile Portela 2014 (906185)](https://sprout.rootsofreason.org/media/kiddle-brazil-3009c1c69c.jpg) A parade of the Portela samba school at the Rio Carnival, the world's largest carnival. ## Picture credits - The original uploader was Captain Blood at English Wikipedia ., CC BY-SA 3.0 () - Kiddle encyclopedia, adapted from Wikipedia, not established () - Neil Palmer/ CIAT, CC BY-SA 2.0 () - Donatas Dabravolskas, CC BY-SA 4.0 () - Eduardo Aigner from Brasilia, Brazil, CC BY 2.0 () - Rafael Matsunaga, CC BY 2.0 () - High source, CC BY-SA 4.0 () - Fernando Frazão/Agência Brasil, CC BY 3.0 br ()