Following three centuries under the rule of Portugal, Brazil became an independent nation in By far the largest and most populous country in South America, Brazil has overcome more than a half a century of military intervention in the government of the country to resources. Brazil became Latin America’s leading economic power by the 1970's.

Flag description: green with a large yellow diamond in the center bearing a blue celestial globe with 27 white five-pointed stars (one for each state and the Federal District) arranged in the same pattern as the night sky over Brazil; the globe has a white equatorial band with the motto ORDEM EPROGRESSO (Order and Progress)

174,468,575 note: Brazil took an intercensal count in August 1996 which reported a population of 157,079,573 that figure was about 5% lower than projections by the US Census Bureau.

Ethnic groups: white (includes Portuguese, German, Italian, Spanish, Polish) 55%, mixed white and black 38%, black 6%, other (includes Japanese, Arab, Amerindian) 1% Religions: Roman Catholic (nominal) 80% Languages: Portuguese (official), Spanish, English, French Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 83.3% male: 83.3% female: 83.2% (1995 est.)

The government of Brazil has been replaced many times. Nevertheless, the basic system for organizing the country has been retained. Brazil is a federal republic divided into 26 states and the federal district of Brasilia. There is an elected National Congress divided into a Senate, with three members from each state elected for eight-year terms, and a Chamber of Deputies, elected for four-year terms by a system of proportional representation.

Railways: total: 30,539 km (2,129 km electrified); note - excludes urban rail broad gauge: 5,679 km m gauge (1199 km electrified) standard gauge: 194 km m gauge narrow gauge: 24,666 km m gauge (930 km electrified) dual gauge: 336 km m and m gauges (three rails) (1999 est.) Highways: total: 1.98 million km paved: 184,140 km unpaved: 1,795,860 km (1996) Waterways: 50,000 km Airports:3,264 (2000 est.) Airports - with paved runways:total: 570 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 21 1,524 to 2,437 m: to 1,523 m: 370 under 914 m: 33 (2000 est.)

Concerns over the long-term stability of the real increased dramatically following the outbreak of a global economic crisis that first ravaged economies in East Asia during late In August of 1998, fears of a possible financial meltdown intensified after economic pressure forced the Russian government to devalue its currency, the ruble.

Until about 1960 the Brazilian education system was deficient at every level, from primary school through university. Higher education was available only to upper income level families. About one half of the population was illiterate. In 1964, although about three fourths of the city dwellers could read and write, only about one third of the rural population could do so.

The customs and practices of Portugal are clearly reflected in Brazil's architecture, language, and Roman Catholic religion. Modern Brazilian culture, however, developed from the contributions of many peoples. The Indians contributed foods, farming methods, and many words from their languages; the Africans added their music, cooking, and religious practices; the northern Europeans and Japanese brought their technical and commercial know-how, adding new cultural values in the process.

The two categories of the world's food supply are crop production and livestock and fish production. Within these categories the variety of the food supply components is enormous, encompassing the grains, potatoes, soybeans, coffee, tea, cacao, fruits and vegetables, cattle, sheep, pigs, poultry, dairy products, and every edible type of fish and seafood

Through translations, readers in many countries are becoming aware of the excellence of Brazilian literature, which is as varied as the origins and individuality of the people of the nation. The earliest writings, from the days of colonization, are mostly documentations of life in the new settlements.

Compton’s Encyclopedia