Capital: Brasilia.
Official Language: Portuguese.
Form of Government: Federal republic; 26 states, 1 federal district.
Head of state--President (4-year term).
Official Name: Republica Federativa do Brasil (Federative Republic of
Brazil).
Area: 3,286,502 sq. mi. (8,511,999 sq. km). Greatest
distances--north-south, 2,684 mi. (4,319 km); east-west, 2,689 mi.
(4,328 km). Coastline--4,600 mi. (7,400 km).
Elevation: Highest--Pico da Neblina, 9,888 ft. (3,014 m) above sea
level. Lowest--sea level.
Population: Estimated 1996 population--163,577,000; density, 50
persons per sq. mi. (19 per sq. km); distribution, 74 percent
urban, 26 percent rural. 1991 census--146,154,502. Estimated 2001
population--174,885,000.
Chief Products: Agriculture--bananas, cacao beans, cattle, coffee,
corn, oranges, rice, soybeans, sugar cane. Manufacturing and
processing--automobiles, cement, chemicals, electrical equipment,
food products, machinery, paper, rubber, steel, textiles, trucks.
Mining--bauxite, beryllium, chrome, diamonds, gold, iron ore,
magnesite, manganese, mica, petroleum, quartz crystals, tin,
titanium. Forest products--Brazil nuts, carnauba wax, latex,
timber.
National Holiday: Independence Day, September 7.
Money: Basic unit--real. For the value of the real in U.S. dollars,
see MONEY (Table: Exchange Rates).
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