Country Guide

El Salvador Facts

Geography People and Society Government Economy Communications Transportation Military Transnational Issues

Geography

Location:
Central America, bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between Guatemala and Honduras


Geographic coordinates:
13 50 N, 88 55 W


Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean


Area:
total:21,041 sq kmcountry comparison to the world: 153
land:20,721 sq km
water:320 sq km


Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Massachusetts


Land boundaries:
total:590 km
border countries:Guatemala 199 km, Honduras 391 km


Coastline:
307 km


Maritime claims:
territorial sea:12 nm
contiguous zone:24 nm
exclusive economic zone:200 nm


Climate:
tropical; rainy season (May to October); dry season (November to April); tropical on coast; temperate in uplands


Terrain:
mostly mountains with narrow coastal belt and central plateau


    Elevation extremes:
lowest point:Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point:Cerro El Pital 2,730 m


Natural resources:
hydropower, geothermal power, petroleum, arable land


Land use:
arable land:31.61%
permanent crops:10.93%
other:57.46% (2011)


Irrigated land:
449.9 sq km (2003)


Total renewable water resources:
25.23 cu km (2011)


Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
25.23 cu km (2011)

Natural hazards:
known as the Land of Volcanoes; frequent and sometimes destructive earthquakes and volcanic activity; extremely susceptible to hurricanes


Environment - current issues:
deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution; contamination of soils from disposal of toxic wastes


Environment - international agreements:
party to:Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified:Law of the Sea


Geography - note:
smallest Central American country and only one without a coastline on Caribbean Sea

People and Society

Nationality:
noun: Salvadoran(s)
adjective:Salvadoran


Ethnic groups:
mestizo 86.3%, white 12.7%, Amerindian 1% (2007 census)


Languages:
Spanish (official), Nahua (among some Amerindians)


Religions:
Roman Catholic 57.1%, Protestant 21.2%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.9%, Mormon 0.7%, other religions 2.3%, none 16.8% (2003 est.)


Demographic profile:
El Salvador is the smallest and most densely populated country in Central America. It is well into its demographic transition, experiencing slower population growth, a decline in its number of youths, and the gradual aging of its population. The increased use of family planning has substantially lowered El Salvador's fertility rate, from approximately 6 children per woman in the 1970s to replacement level today. A 2008 national family planning survey showed that female sterilization remained the most common contraception method in El Salvador - its sterilization rate is among the highest in Latin America and the Caribbean - but that the use of injectable contraceptives is growing. Fertility differences between rich and poor and urban and rural women are narrowing.


Population:
6,125,512 (July 2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 109


Age structure:
0-14 years:28.1% (male 882,185/female 837,646)
15-24 years:20.8% (male 640,322/female 635,409)
25-54 years:37.5% (male 1,056,779/female 1,243,220)
55-64 years:6.6% (male 182,937/female 224,019)
65 years and over:6.7% (male 187,664/female 235,331) (2014 est.)


Dependency ratios:
total dependency ratio:57.6 %
youth dependency ratio:46.2 %
elderly dependency ratio:11.4 %
potential support ratio:8.8 (2014 est.)


Median age:
total:25.6 years
male:24.1 years
female:27.1 years (2014 est.)


Population growth rate:
0.27% (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 174


Birth rate:
16.79 births/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 115


Death rate:
5.67 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 173


Net migration rate:
-8.44 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 208


Urbanization:
urban population:64.8% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization:1.35% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)


Major urban areas - population:
SAN SALVADOR (capital) 1.605 million (2011)


Sex ratio:
at birth:1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years:1.05 male(s)/female
15-24 years:1.01 male(s)/female
25-54 years:0.85 male(s)/female
55-64 years:0.93 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.8 male(s)/female
total population:0.93 male(s)/female (2014 est.)


Mother's mean age at first birth:
20.8


Maternal mortality rate:
81 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)


Infant mortality rate:
total:18.44 deaths/1,000 live birthscountry comparison to the world: 97
male:20.52 deaths/1,000 live births
female:16.27 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)


    Life expectancy at birth:
total population:74.18 yearscountry comparison to the world: 114
male:70.9 years
female:77.62 years (2014 est.)


Total fertility rate:
1.95 children born/woman (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 134


Contraceptive prevalence rate:
72.5%


Health expenditures:
6.8% of GDP (2011)


Physicians density:
1.6 physicians/1,000 population (2008)


Hospital bed density:
1 beds/1,000 population (2011)


Drinking water source:
improved:
urban: 95% of population
rural: 81% of population
total: 90.1% of population
unimproved:
urban: 5.8% of population
rural: 19% of population
total: 9.9% of population (2012 est.)


Sanitation facility access:
improved:
urban: 79.5% of population
rural: 53.4% of population
total: 70.5% of population
unimproved:
urban: 20.5% of population
rural: 46.6% of population
total: 29.5% of population (2012 est.)


HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.6% (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 66


HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
24,900 (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 77


HIV/AIDS - deaths:
1,000 (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 80


Major infectious diseases:


Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
25.8% (2008)country comparison to the world: 51


Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
6.6% (2008)country comparison to the world: 78


Education expenditures:
3.4% of GDP (2011)country comparison to the world: 129

Literacy:
definition:age 15 and over can read and write
total population:84.5%
male:87.1%
female:82.3% (2010 est.)


School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total:12 years
male:12 years
female:12 years (2012)


Child labor - children ages 5-14:



Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
total:12.4%country comparison to the world: 97
male:12.8%
female:11.7% (2012)

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of El Salvador
conventional short form:El Salvador
local long form:Republica de El Salvador
local short form:El Salvador


Government type:
republic


Capital:
name:San Salvador
geographic coordinates:13 42 N, 89 12 W
time difference:UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
daylight saving time:none scheduled for 2014


Administrative divisions:
14 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Ahuachapan, Cabanas, Chalatenango, Cuscatlan, La Libertad, La Paz, La Union, Morazan, San Miguel, San Salvador, San Vicente, Santa Ana, Sonsonate, Usulutan


Independence:
15 September 1821 (from Spain)


National holiday:
Independence Day, 15 September (1821)


Constitution:
many previous; latest drafted 16 December 1983, enacted 23 December 1983; amended many times, last in 2009 (2012)


Legal system:
civil law system with minor common law influence; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court


International law organization participation:
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt


Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal


Executive branch:
chief of state:President Salvador SANCHEZ CEREN (since 1 June 2014); Vice President Salvador Oscar ORTIZ (since 1 June 2014); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government:President Salvador SANCHEZ CEREN (since 1 June 2014); Vice President Salvador Oscar ORTIZ (since 1 June 2014)
cabinet:Council of Ministers selected by the president
elections:president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for a single five-year term; election last held on 2 February 2014, with a runoff on 9 March 2014 (next to be held in February 2019)
election results:percent of vote - Salvador SANCHEZ CEREN elected president; first-round results - Salvador SANCHEZ CEREN 48.9%, Norman QUIJANO 39%, Antonio SACA 11.4%; second-round results - Salvador SANCHEZ CEREN 50.11%, Norman QUIJANO 49.89%


Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislative Assembly or Asamblea Legislativa (84 seats; members elected by direct, popular vote to serve three-year terms)
elections:last held on 11 March 2012 (next to be held in March 2015)
election results:percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - ARENA 33, FMLN 31, GANA 11, CN 7, PES 1, PCD 1; note - changes in party affiliation now reflect the following seat distribution: as of 28 March 2014 - FMLN 31, ARENA 28, GANA 11, CN 7, Unidos por El Salvador 5, CD 1, PDC 1


Judicial branch:
highest court(s):Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (consists of 15 judges assigned to constitutional, civil, penal, and administrative conflict divisions)
judge selection and term of office:judges elected by the Legislative Assembly on the recommendation of the National Council of the Judicature, an independent body elected by the Legislative Assembly; judges elected for single, 9-year terms with renewal of one-third of judges every 3 years.
subordinate courts:Chambers of Second Instance; Courts of First Instance; Courts of Peace


Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Change (Cambio Democratico) or CD [Douglas AVILES] (formerly United Democratic Center or CDU)
Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front or FMLN [Medardo GONZALEZ]
Great Alliance for National Unity or GANA [Jose Andres ROVIRA Caneles]
National Coalition (Concertation Nacional) or CN [Manuel RODRIGUEZ] (formerly the National Conciliation Party or PCN)
Nationalist Republican Alliance or ARENA [Jorge VELADO]
Party of Hope or PES [Rodolfo Antonio PARKER Soto] (formerly the Christian Democratic Party or PCD)
Unidos por El Salvador [Manuel Rigoberto SOTO Lazo]


    Political pressure groups and leaders:
Democratic Change (Cambio Democratico) or CD [Douglas AVILES] (formerly United Democratic Center or CDU)
Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front or FMLN [Medardo GONZALEZ]
Great Alliance for National Unity or GANA [Jose Andres ROVIRA Caneles]
National Coalition (Concertation Nacional) or CN [Manuel RODRIGUEZ] (formerly the National Conciliation Party or PCN)
Nationalist Republican Alliance or ARENA [Jorge VELADO]
Party of Hope or PES [Rodolfo Antonio PARKER Soto] (formerly the Christian Democratic Party or PCD)
Unidos por El Salvador [Manuel Rigoberto SOTO Lazo]



International organization participation:
BCIE, CACM, CD, CELAC, FAO, G-11, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, MINURSO, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, Pacific Alliance (observer), PCA, SICA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, Union Latina, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO


Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission:Ambassador Ruben Ignacio ZAMORA Rivas (since 12 April 2013)
chancery:Suite 100, 1400 16th Street, Washington, DC 20036
telephone:[1] (202) 595-7500
FAX:[1] (202) 232-3763
consulate(s) general:Brentwood (NY), Chicago, Coral Gables (FL), Dallas, Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Santa Ana (CA), Seattle, Tucson, Woodbridge (VA), Woodstock (GA)
consulate(s):Elizabeth (NJ)


Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission:Ambassador Mari Carmen APONTE (since 22 September 2010)
embassy:Final Boulevard Santa Elena Sur, Antiguo Cuscatlan, La Libertad, San Salvador
mailing address:Unit 3450, APO AA 34023; 3450 San Salvador Place, Washington, DC 20521-3450
telephone:[503] 2501-2999
FAX:[503] 2501-2150


Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and blue with the national coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms features a round emblem encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL; the banner is based on the former blue-white-blue flag of the Federal Republic of Central America; the blue bands symbolize the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, while the white band represents the land between the two bodies of water, as well as peace and prosperity


National symbol(s):
turquoise-browed motmot (bird)


National anthem:
name:'Himno Nacional de El Salvador' (National Anthem of El Salvador)

lyrics/music:Juan Jose CANAS/Juan ABERLE
note:officially adopted 1953, in use since 1879; the anthem of El Salvador is one of the world's longest

Economy

Economy - overview:
The smallest country in Central America geographically, El Salvador has the fourth largest economy in the region. With the global recession, real GDP contracted in 2009 and economic growth has since remained low, averaging less than 2% from 2010 to 2013. Remittances accounted for 16% of GDP in 2013 and were received by about a third of all households. In 2006, El Salvador was the first country to ratify the Dominican Republic-Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR), which has bolstered the export of processed foods, sugar, and ethanol, and supported investment in the apparel sector amid increased Asian competition. The Salvadoran Government maintained fiscal discipline during post-war reconstruction and reconstruction following earthquakes in 2001 and hurricanes in 1998 and 2005, but El Salvador's external debt has been growing over the last several years, amounting to some 57% of GDP in 2013. In September 2013, El Salvador was awarded a $277 million second compact with the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) - a United States Government agency aimed at stimulating economic growth and reducing poverty - to improve El Salvador's competitiveness and productivity in international markets.


GDP (purchasing power parity):
$47.47 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99
$46.72 billion (2012 est.)
$45.84 billion (2011 est.)
note:data are in 2013 US dollars


GDP (official exchange rate):
$24.67 billion (2013 est.)


GDP - real growth rate:
1.6% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158
1.9% (2012 est.)
2.2% (2011 est.)


GDP - per capita (PPP):
$7,500 (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
$7,400 (2012 est.)
$7,300 (2011 est.)
note:data are in 2013 US dollars


Gross national saving:
9% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141
8.9% of GDP (2012 est.)
9.3% of GDP (2011 est.)


GDP - composition, by end use:
household consumption:93.9%
government consumption:11.1%
investment in fixed capital:14.5%
investment in inventories:0%
exports of goods and services:29%
imports of goods and services:-48.5%
(2013 est.)


GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture:10.3%
industry:29.5%
services:60.1% (2013 est.)


Agriculture - products:
coffee, sugar, corn, rice, beans, oilseed, cotton, sorghum; beef, dairy products


Industries:
food processing, beverages, petroleum, chemicals, fertilizer, textiles, furniture, light metals


Industrial production growth rate:
2.1% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123

Labor force:
2.738 million (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107


Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture:21%
industry:20%
services:58% (2011 est.)


Unemployment rate:
6.3% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
6.1% (2012 est.)
note:data are official rates; but underemployment is high


Population below poverty line:
36.5% (2010 est.)


Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%:1%
highest 10%:37% (2009 est.)


    Distribution of family income - Gini index:
46.9 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 30
52.5 (2001)


Budget:
revenues:$4.683 billion
expenditures:$5.666 billion (2013 est.)


Taxes and other revenues:
19% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
-4% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147


Public debt:
62% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
59.2% of GDP (2012 est.)
note:El Salvador's total public debt includes non-financial public sector debt, financial public sector debt, and central bank debt


Fiscal year:
calendar year


Inflation rate (consumer prices):
0.9% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
1.8% (2012 est.)


Commercial bank prime lending rate:
$NA (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
5.6% (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of narrow money:
$2.914 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
$2.796 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of broad money:
$10.12 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105
$9.847 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of domestic credit:
$11.16 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
$10.51 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Market value of publicly traded shares:
$10.74 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Current account balance:
-$1.331 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
-$1.257 billion (2012 est.)


Exports:
$5.112 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
$5.447 billion (2012 est.)


Exports - commodities:
offshore assembly exports, coffee, sugar, textiles and apparel, gold, ethanol, chemicals, electricity, iron and steel manufactures


Exports - partners:
US 47.3%, Guatemala 13.8%, Honduras 9.6%, Nicaragua 5.4% (2012)


Imports:
$10.03 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102
$9.912 billion (2012 est.)


Imports - commodities:
raw materials, consumer goods, capital goods, fuels, foodstuffs, petroleum, electricity


Imports - partners:
US 35.4%, Guatemala 12.7%, Mexico 7%, China 5.6%, Germany 4.2% (2012)


Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$2.855 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
$3.176 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Debt - external:
$14.44 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
$13.56 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$8.879 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
$8.635 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$5.7 million (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
$5.7 million (31 December 2012 est.)


Exchange rates:

Energy

Electricity - production:
5.728 billion kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115


Electricity - consumption:
5.756 billion kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109


Electricity - exports:
101.6 million kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76


Electricity - imports:
251 million kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84


Electricity - installed generating capacity:
1.491 million kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118


Electricity - from fossil fuels:
52.6% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149


Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85


Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
31.6% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73


Electricity - from other renewable sources:
15.7% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14


Crude oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168


Crude oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108


Crude oil - imports:
16,160 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70


    Crude oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129


Refined petroleum products - production:
16,620 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97


Refined petroleum products - consumption:
44,040 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103


Refined petroleum products - exports:
2,425 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100


Refined petroleum products - imports:
29,020 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92


Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127


Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142


Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96


Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189


Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135


Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
6.713 million Mt (2011 est.)

Communications

Telephones - main lines in use:
1.06 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 74


Telephones - mobile cellular:
8.65 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 88


Telephone system:
general assessment:multiple mobile-cellular providers are expanding services rapidly and in 2011 teledensity exceeded 135 per 100 persons; growth in fixed-line services has slowed in the face of mobile-cellular competition
domestic:nationwide microwave radio relay system
international:country code - 503; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); connected to Central American Microwave System (2011)



    Broadcast media:
multiple privately owned national terrestrial TV networks, supplemented by cable TV networks that carry international channels; hundreds of commercial radio broadcast stations and 1 government-owned radio broadcast station (2007)


Internet country code:
.sv


Internet hosts:
24,070 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 113


Internet users:
746,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 107

Transportation

Airports
68 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 73


Airports - with paved runways
total:5
over 3,047 m:1
1,524 to 2,437 m:1
914 to 1,523 m:2
under 914 m:1 (2013)


Airports - with unpaved runways
total:63
1,524 to 2,437 m:1
914 to 1,523 m:11
under 914 m:
51 (2013)


Heliports
2 (2013)


Railways
total:283 kmcountry comparison to the world: 121
narrow gauge:283 km 0.600-m gauge
note:railways have been inoperable since 2005 because of disuse and high costs that led to a lack of maintenance (2008)


    Roadways
total:6,918 kmcountry comparison to the world: 147
paved:3,247 km (includes 341 km of expressways)
unpaved:3,671 km (2010)


Waterways



Ports and terminals
major seaport(s):Puerto Cutuco
oil/gas terminal(s):Acajutla offshore terminal

Military

Military branches
Salvadoran Armed Forces (Fuerza Armada de El Salvador, FAES): Salvadoran Army (Ejercito de El Salvador, ES), Salvadoran Navy (Fuerza Naval de El Slavador, FNES), Salvadoran Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Salvadorena, FAS) (2013)


Military service age and obligation
18 years of age for selective compulsory military service; 16-22 years of age for voluntary male or female service; service obligation is 12 months, with 11 months for officers and NCOs (2012)


Manpower available for military service
males age 16-49:1,449,214
females age 16-49:1,611,248 (2010 est.)


Manpower fit for military service
males age 16-49:1,079,038
females age 16-49:1,373,368 (2010 est.)


    Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually
male:71,530
female:68,971 (2010 est.)


Military expenditures
0.99% of GDP (2012)
country comparison to the world: 102
1.11% of GDP (2011)
0.99% of GDP (2010)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international
International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled on the delimitation of 'bolsones' (disputed areas) along the El Salvador-Honduras boundary, in 1992, with final agreement by the parties in 2006 after an Organization of American States survey and a further ICJ ruling in 2003; the 1992 ICJ ruling advised a tripartite resolution to a maritime boundary in the Gulf of Fonseca advocating Honduran access to the Pacific; El Salvador continues to claim tiny Conejo Island, not identified in the ICJ decision, off Honduras in the Gulf of Fonseca


    Illicit drugs
transshipment point for cocaine; small amounts of marijuana produced for local consumption; significant use of cocaine
 Information/ Data by CIA - The World Factbook

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Geography People and Society Government Economy Communications Transportation Military Transnational Issues

Geography

Location:
Eastern South America, bordering the Atlantic Ocean


Geographic coordinates:
10 00 S, 55 00 W


Map references:
South America


Area:
total:8,514,877 sq kmcountry comparison to the world: 5
land:8,459,417 sq km
water:55,460 sq km
note:includes Arquipelago de Fernando de Noronha, Atol das Rocas, Ilha da Trindade, Ilhas Martin Vaz, and Penedos de Sao Pedro e Sao Paulo


Area - comparative:
Area comparison map: '>


Land boundaries:
total:16,145 km
border countries:Argentina 1,263 km, Bolivia 3,403 km, Colombia 1,790 km, French Guiana 649 km, Guyana 1,308 km, Paraguay 1,371 km, Peru 2,659 km, Suriname 515 km, Uruguay 1,050 km, Venezuela 2,137 km


Coastline:
7,491 km


Maritime claims:
territorial sea:12 nm
contiguous zone:24 nm
exclusive economic zone:200 nm
continental shelf:200 nm or to edge of the continental margin


Climate:
mostly tropical, but temperate in south


    Terrain:
mostly flat to rolling lowlands in north; some plains, hills, mountains, and narrow coastal belt


Elevation extremes:
lowest point:Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point:Pico da Neblina 2,994 m


Natural resources:
bauxite, gold, iron ore, manganese, nickel, phosphates, platinum, tin, rare earth elements, uranium, petroleum, hydropower, timber


Land use:
arable land:8.45%
permanent crops:0.83%
other:90.72% (2011)


Irrigated land:
54,000 sq km (2011)


Total renewable water resources:
8,233 cu km (2011)


Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
8,233 cu km (2011)

Natural hazards:
recurring droughts in northeast; floods and occasional frost in south


Environment - current issues:
deforestation in Amazon Basin destroys the habitat and endangers a multitude of plant and animal species indigenous to the area; there is a lucrative illegal wildlife trade; air and water pollution in Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, and several other large cities; land degradation and water pollution caused by improper mining activities; wetland degradation; severe oil spills


Environment - international agreements:
party to:Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified:none of the selected agreements


Geography - note:
largest country in South America and in the Southern Hemisphere; shares common boundaries with every South American country except Chile and Ecuador

People and Society

Nationality:
noun: Brazilian(s)
adjective:Brazilian


Ethnic groups:
white 47.7%, mulatto (mixed white and black) 43.1%, black 7.6%, Asian 1.1%, indigenous 0.4% (2010 est.)


Languages:
Portuguese (official and most widely spoken language)


Religions:
Roman Catholic 64.6%, other Catholic 0.4%, Protestant 22.2% (includes Adventist 6.5%, Assembly of God 2.0%, Christian Congregation of Brazil 1.2%, Universal Kingdom of God 1.0%, other Protestant 11.5%), other Christian 0.7%, Spiritist 2.2%, other 1.4%, none 8%, unspecified 0.4% (2010 est.)


Demographic profile:
Brazil's rapid fertility decline since the 1960s is the main factor behind the country's slowing population growth rate, aging population, and fast-paced demographic transition. Brasilia has not taken full advantage of its large working-age population to develop its human capital and strengthen its social and economic institutions but is funding a study abroad program to bring advanced skills back to the country. The current favorable age structure will begin to shift around 2025, with the labor force shrinking and the elderly starting to compose an increasing share of the total population. Well-funded public pensions have nearly wiped out poverty among the elderly, and Bolsa Familia and other social programs have lifted tens of millions out of poverty. More than half of Brazil's population is considered middle class, but poverty and income inequality levels remain high; the Northeast, North, and Center-West, women, and black, mixed race, and indigenous populations are disproportionately affected. Disparities in opportunities foster social exclusion and contribute to Brazil's high crime rate, particularly violent crime in cities and favelas.


Population:
202,656,788 (July 2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 6


Age structure:
0-14 years:23.8% (male 24,534,129/female 23,606,332)
15-24 years:16.5% (male 16,993,708/female 16,521,057)
25-54 years:43.7% (male 43,910,790/female 44,674,915)
55-64 years:8.4% (male 8,067,022/female 9,036,519)
65 years and over:7.6% (male 6,507,069/female 8,805,247) (2014 est.)


Dependency ratios:
total dependency ratio:45.8 %
youth dependency ratio:34.4 %
elderly dependency ratio:11.3 %
potential support ratio:8.8 (2014 est.)


Median age:
total:30.7 years
male:29.9 years
female:31.5 years (2014 est.)


Population growth rate:
0.8% (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 137


Birth rate:
14.72 births/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 134


Death rate:
6.54 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 148


Net migration rate:
-0.15 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 117


Urbanization:
urban population:84.6% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization:1.15% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)


Major urban areas - population:
Sao Paulo 19.924 million; Rio de Janeiro 11.96 million; Belo Horizonte 5.487 million; Porto Alegre 3.933 million; Recife 3.733 million; BRASILIA (capital) 3.813 million (2011)


Sex ratio:
at birth:1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years:1.04 male(s)/female
15-24 years:1.03 male(s)/female
25-54 years:0.98 male(s)/female
55-64 years:0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.74 male(s)/female
total population:0.98 male(s)/female (2014 est.)


    Maternal mortality rate:
56 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)


Infant mortality rate:
total:19.21 deaths/1,000 live birthscountry comparison to the world: 94
male:22.47 deaths/1,000 live births
female:15.78 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)


Life expectancy at birth:
total population:73.28 yearscountry comparison to the world: 126
male:69.73 years
female:77 years (2014 est.)


Total fertility rate:
1.79 children born/woman (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 155


Contraceptive prevalence rate:
80.3% (2006)


Health expenditures:
8.9% of GDP (2011)


Physicians density:
1.76 physicians/1,000 population (2008)


Hospital bed density:
2.3 beds/1,000 population (2011)


Drinking water source:
improved:
urban: 99.7% of population
rural: 85.3% of population
total: 97.5% of population
unimproved:
urban: 0.3% of population
rural: 14.7% of population
total: 2.5% of population (2012 est.)


Sanitation facility access:
improved:
urban: 87% of population
rural: 49.2% of population
total: 81.3% of population
unimproved:
urban: 13% of population
rural: 50.8% of population
total: 18.7% of population (2012 est.)


HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA


HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA


HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA


Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
18.8% (2008)country comparison to the world: 102


Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
2.2% (2007)country comparison to the world: 119


Education expenditures:
5.8% of GDP (2010)country comparison to the world: 49

Literacy:
definition:age 15 and over can read and write
total population:90.4%
male:90.1%
female:90.7% (2010 est.)


Child labor - children ages 5-14:



Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
total:15.4%country comparison to the world: 82
male:12.2%
female:19.8% (2011)

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Federative Republic of Brazil
conventional short form:Brazil
local long form:Republica Federativa do Brasil
local short form:Brasil


Government type:
federal republic


Capital:
name:Brasilia
geographic coordinates:15 47 S, 47 55 W
time difference:UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
daylight saving time:+1hr, begins third Sunday in October; ends third Sunday in February
note:Brazil has three time zones, including one for the Fernando de Noronha Islands


Administrative divisions:
26 states (estados, singular - estado) and 1 federal district* (distrito federal); Acre, Alagoas, Amapa, Amazonas, Bahia, Ceara, Distrito Federal*, Espirito Santo, Goias, Maranhao, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais, Para, Paraiba, Parana, Pernambuco, Piaui, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Norte, Rio Grande do Sul, Rondonia, Roraima, Santa Catarina, Sao Paulo, Sergipe, Tocantins


Independence:
7 September 1822 (from Portugal)


National holiday:
Independence Day, 7 September (1822)


Constitution:
several previous; latest ratified 5 October 1988; amended many times, last in 2012 (2012)


Legal system:
civil law; note - a new civil law code was enacted in 2002 replacing the 1916 code


International law organization participation:
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction


Suffrage:
voluntary between 16 to under 18 years of age and over 70; compulsory 18 to 70 years of age; note - military conscripts by law cannot vote


Executive branch:
chief of state:President Dilma ROUSSEFF (since 1 January 2011); Vice President Michel Miguel Elias TEMER Lulia (since 1 January 2011); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government:President Dilma ROUSSEFF (since 1 January 2011); Vice President Michel Miguel Elias TEMER Lulia (since 1 January 2011)
cabinet:Cabinet appointed by the president
elections:president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for a single four-year term; election last held on 3 October 2010 with runoff on 31 October 2010 (next to be held on 5 October 2014 and, if necessary, a runoff election on 26 October 2014)
election results:Dilma ROUSSEFF (PT) elected president in a runoff election; percent of vote - Dilma ROUSSEFF 56.01%, Jose SERRA (PSDB) 43.99%


Legislative branch:
bicameral National Congress or Congresso Nacional consists of the Federal Senate or Senado Federal (81 seats; 3 members from each state and federal district elected according to the principle of majority to serve eight-year terms; one-third and two-thirds of members elected every four years, alternately) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camara dos Deputados (513 seats; members are elected by proportional representation to serve four-year terms)
elections:Federal Senate - last held on 3 October 2010 for two-thirds of the Senate (next to be held in October 2014 for one-third of the Senate); Chamber of Deputies - last held on 3 October 2010 (next to be held in October 2014)
election results:Federal Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PMDB 19, PT 15, PSDB 11, DEM (formerly PFL) 7, PTB 6, PP 4, PDT 4, PR 4, PSB 3, PCdoB 2, PSOL 2, other 4; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PT 88, PMDB 79, PSDB 53, DEM (formerly PFL) 43, PP 41, PR 41, PSB 34, PDT 28, PTB 21, PSC 17, PCdoB 15, PPS 12, PPS 12, PRB 8, PMN 4, PSOL 3, other 26


Judicial branch:
highest court(s):Supreme Federal Court (consists of 11 justices)
judge selection and term of office:justices appointed by the president and approved by the Federal Senate; justices appointed to serve until mandatory retirement at age 70
subordinate courts:Federal Appeals Court, Superior Court of Justice, Superior Electoral Court, regional federal courts; state court system


Political parties and leaders:
Brazilian Communist Party or PCB [Ivan Martins PINHEIRO]
Brazilian Democratic Movement Party or PMDB [Michel TEMER]
Brazilian Labor Party or PTB [Benito GAMA]
Brazilian Renewal Labor Party or PRTB [Jose Levy FIDELIX da Cruz]
Brazilian Republican Party or PRB [Marcos Antonio PEREIRA]
Brazilian Social Democracy Party or PSDB [Aecio NEVES]
Brazilian Socialist Party or PSB [Eduardo CAMPOS]
Christian Labor Party or PTC [Daniel TOURINHO]
Christian Social Democratic Party or PSDC [Jose Maria EYMAEL]
Communist Party of Brazil or PCdoB [Jose Renato RABELO]
Democratic Labor Party or PDT [Carlos Roberto LUPI]
the Democrats or DEM [Jose AGRIPINO] (formerly Liberal Front Party or PFL)
Free Homeland Party or PPL [Sergio RUBENS]
Green Party or PV [Jose Luiz PENNA]
Humanist Party of Solidarity or PHS [Eduardo MACHADO]
Labor Party of Brazil or PTdoB [Luis Henrique de Oliveira RESENDE]
National Ecologic Party or PEN [Adilson Barroso OLIVEIRA]
National Labor Party or PTN [Jose Masci de ABREU]
National Mobilization Party or PMN [Oscar Noronha FILHO]
Party of the Republic or PR [Alfredo NASCIMENTO]
Popular Socialist Party or PPS [Roberto Joao Pereira FREIRE]
Progressive Party or PP [Ciro NOGUEIRA]
Progressive Republican Party or PRP [Ovasco Roma Altimari RESENDE]
Social Christian Party or PSC [Vitor Jorge Abdala NOSSEIS]
Social Democratic Party or PSD [Gilberto KASSAB]
Social Liberal Party or PSL [Luciano Caldas BIVAR]
Socialism and Freedom Party or PSOL [Luiz ARAUJO]
United Socialist Workers' Party or PSTU [Jose Maria DE ALMEIDA]
Workers' Cause Party or PCO [Rui Costa PIMENTA]
Workers' Party or PT [Rui FALCAO]


    Political pressure groups and leaders:
Landless Workers' Movement or MST


International organization participation:
AfDB (nonregional member), BIS, BRICS, CAN (associate), CD, CELAC, CPLP, FAO, FATF, G-15, G-20, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, LAIA, LAS (observer), Mercosur, MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, NAM (observer), NSG, OAS, OECD (Enhanced Engagement, OPANAL, OPCW, Paris Club (associate), PCA, SICA (observer), UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, Union Latina, UNISFA, UNITAR, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNMIT, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO


Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission:Ambassador Mauro Luiz Iecker VIEIRA (since 11 January 2010)
chancery:3006 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:[1] (202) 238-2805
FAX:[1] (202) 238-2827
consulate(s) general:Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Hartford (CT), Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco


Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission:Ambassador Liliana AYALDE (since 1 August 2013)
embassy:Avenida das Nacoes, Quadra 801, Lote 3, Distrito Federal Cep 70403-900, Brasilia
mailing address:Unit 7500, DPO, AA 34030
telephone:[55] (61) 3312-7000
FAX:[55] (61) 3225-9136
consulate(s) general:Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo
consulate(s):Recife


Flag description:
green with a large yellow diamond in the center bearing a blue celestial globe with 27 white five-pointed stars; the globe has a white equatorial band with the motto ORDEM E PROGRESSO (Order and Progress); the current flag was inspired by the banner of the former Empire of Brazil (1822-1889); on the imperial flag, the green represented the House of Braganza of Pedro I, the first Emperor of Brazil, while the yellow stood for the Habsburg Family of his wife; on the modern flag the green represents the forests of the country and the yellow rhombus its mineral wealth; the blue circle and stars, which replaced the coat of arms of the original flag, depict the sky over Rio de Janeiro on the morning of 15 November 1889 - the day the Republic of Brazil was declared; the number of stars has changed with the creation of new states and has risen from an original 21 to the current 27 (one for each state and the Federal District)


National symbol(s):
Southern Cross constellation


National anthem:
name:'Hino Nacional Brasileiro' (Brazilian National Anthem)

lyrics/music:Joaquim Osorio Duque ESTRADA/Francisco Manoel DA SILVA
note:music adopted 1890, lyrics adopted 1922; the anthem's music, composed in 1822, was used unofficially for many years before it was adopted

Economy

Economy - overview:
Characterized by large and well-developed agricultural, mining, manufacturing, and service sectors, and a rapidly expanding middle class, Brazil's economy outweighs that of all other South American countries, and Brazil is expanding its presence in world markets. Since 2003, Brazil has steadily improved its macroeconomic stability, building up foreign reserves, and reducing its debt profile by shifting its debt burden toward real denominated and domestically held instruments. In 2008, Brazil became a net external creditor and two ratings agencies awarded investment grade status to its debt. After strong growth in 2007 and 2008, the onset of the global financial crisis hit Brazil in 2008. Brazil experienced two quarters of recession, as global demand for Brazil's commodity-based exports dwindled and external credit dried up. However, Brazil was one of the first emerging markets to begin a recovery. In 2010, consumer and investor confidence revived and GDP growth reached 7.5%, the highest growth rate in the past 25 years. Rising inflation led the authorities to take measures to cool the economy; these actions and the deteriorating international economic situation slowed growth in 2011-13. Unemployment is at historic lows and Brazil's traditionally high level of income inequality has declined for each of the last 14 years. Brazil's historically high interest rates have made it an attractive destination for foreign investors. Large capital inflows over the past several years have contributed to the appreciation of the currency, hurting the competitiveness of Brazilian manufacturing and leading the government to intervene in foreign exchange markets and raise taxes on some foreign capital inflows. President Dilma ROUSSEFF has retained the previous administration's commitment to inflation targeting by the central bank, a floating exchange rate, and fiscal restraint.


GDP (purchasing power parity):
$2.416 trillion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8
$2.362 trillion (2012 est.)
$2.342 trillion (2011 est.)
note:data are in 2013 US dollars


GDP (official exchange rate):
$2.19 trillion (2013 est.)


GDP - real growth rate:
2.3% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
0.9% (2012 est.)
2.7% (2011 est.)


GDP - per capita (PPP):
$12,100 (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105
$11,900 (2012 est.)
$11,900 (2011 est.)
note:data are in 2013 US dollars


Gross national saving:
14.8% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
15.2% of GDP (2012 est.)
17.6% of GDP (2011 est.)


GDP - composition, by end use:
household consumption:62.5%
government consumption:21.7%
investment in fixed capital:18.3%
investment in inventories:0%
exports of goods and services:12.4%
imports of goods and services:-14.9%
(2013 est.)


GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture:5.5%
industry:26.4%
services:68.1%
(2013 est.)


Agriculture - products:
coffee, soybeans, wheat, rice, corn, sugarcane, cocoa, citrus; beef


Industries:
textiles, shoes, chemicals, cement, lumber, iron ore, tin, steel, aircraft, motor vehicles and parts, other machinery and equipment


Industrial production growth rate:
3% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99

Labor force:
107.3 million (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6


Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture:15.7%
industry:13.3%
services:71%
(2011 est.)


Unemployment rate:
5.7% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
5.5% (2012 est.)


Population below poverty line:
21.4%


    Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%:0.8%
highest 10%:42.9% (2009 est.)


Distribution of family income - Gini index:
51.9 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 16
55.3 (2001)


Budget:
revenues:$851.1 billion
expenditures:$815.6 billion (2013 est.)


Taxes and other revenues:
38.9% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
1.6% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21


Public debt:
59.2% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
58.8% of GDP (2012 est.)


Fiscal year:
calendar year


Inflation rate (consumer prices):
6.2% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180
5.4% (2012 est.)


Central bank discount rate:
10% (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
11% (31 December 2011 est.)


Commercial bank prime lending rate:
26.9% (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2
36.64% (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of narrow money:
$157.6 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
$159.1 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of broad money:
$870.8 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
$863.5 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of domestic credit:
$2.435 trillion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11
$2.381 trillion (31 December 2012 est.)


Market value of publicly traded shares:
$1.23 trillion (31 December 2012 est.)


Current account balance:
-$77.63 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191
-$54.23 billion (2012 est.)


Exports:
$244.8 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
$242.6 billion (2012 est.)


Exports - commodities:
transport equipment, iron ore, soybeans, footwear, coffee, autos


Exports - partners:
China 17%, US 11.1%, Argentina 7.4%, Netherlands 6.2% (2012)


Imports:
$241.4 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
$223.2 billion (2012 est.)


Imports - commodities:
machinery, electrical and transport equipment, chemical products, oil, automotive parts, electronics


Imports - partners:
China 15.3%, US 14.6%, Argentina 7.4%, Germany 6.4%, South Korea 4.1% (2012)


Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$378.3 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8
$373.1 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Debt - external:
$475.9 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27
$438.9 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$663.3 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
$604.5 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$179.6 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
$177.1 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Exchange rates:
reals (BRL) per US dollar -
2.153 (2013 est.)
1.9546 (2012 est.)
1.7592 (2010 est.)
2 (2009)
1.8644 (2008)

Energy

Electricity - production:
530.7 billion kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9


Electricity - consumption:
455.8 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10


Electricity - exports:
2.544 billion kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40


Electricity - imports:
38.43 billion kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4


Electricity - installed generating capacity:
113.7 million kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11


Electricity - from fossil fuels:
19.6% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 193


Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
1.8% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28


Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
71% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21


Electricity - from other renewable sources:
7.7% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32


Crude oil - production:
2.652 million bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11


Crude oil - exports:
619,100 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21


Crude oil - imports:
343,600 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24


    Crude oil - proved reserves:
13.15 billion bbl (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15


Refined petroleum products - production:
2.108 million bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9


Refined petroleum products - consumption:
2.594 million bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8


Refined petroleum products - exports:
158,400 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35


Refined petroleum products - imports:
457,400 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14


Natural gas - production:
17.03 billion cu m (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35


Natural gas - consumption:
25.2 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31


Natural gas - exports:
400 million cu m (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46


Natural gas - imports:
13.3 billion cu m (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25


Natural gas - proved reserves:
395.5 billion cu m (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34


Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
475.4 million Mt (2011 est.)

Communications

Telephones - main lines in use:
44.3 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 5


Telephones - mobile cellular:
248.324 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 6


Telephone system:
general assessment:good working system including an extensive microwave radio relay system and a domestic satellite system with 64 earth stations
domestic:fixed-line connections have remained relatively stable in recent years and stand at about 20 per 100 persons; less expensive mobile-cellular technology has been a major driver in expanding telephone service to the lower-income segments of the population with mobile-cellular teledensity roughly 120 per 100 persons
international:country code - 55; landing point for a number of submarine cables, including Americas-1, Americas-2, Atlantis-2, GlobeNet, South America-1, South American Crossing/Latin American Nautilus, and UNISUR that provide direct connectivity to South and Central America, the Caribbean, the US, Africa, and Europe; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean region east), connected by microwave relay system to Mercosur Brazilsat B3 satellite earth station (2011)



    Broadcast media:
state-run Radiobras operates a radio and a TV network; more than 1,000 radio stations and more than 100 TV channels operating - mostly privately owned; private media ownership highly concentrated (2007)


Internet country code:
.br


Internet hosts:
26.577 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 3


Internet users:
75.982 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 4

Transportation

Airports
4,093 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 2


Airports - with paved runways
total:698
over 3,047 m:7
2,438 to 3,047 m:27
1,524 to 2,437 m:179
914 to 1,523 m:436
under 914 m:49 (2013)


Airports - with unpaved runways
total:3,395
1,524 to 2,437 m:92
914 to 1,523 m:1,619
under 914 m:
1,684 (2013)


Heliports
13 (2013)


Pipelines
condensate/gas 251 km; gas 17,312 km; liquid petroleum gas 352 km; oil 4,831 km; refined products 4,722 km (2013)


Railways
total:28,538 kmcountry comparison to the world: 10
broad gauge:5,627 km 1.600-m gauge (467 km electrified)
standard gauge:194 km 1.440-m gauge
narrow gauge:22,717 km 1.000-m gauge (2008)


Roadways
total:1,580,964 kmcountry comparison to the world: 4
paved:212,798 km
unpaved:1,368,166 km
note:does not include urban roads (2010)


    Waterways
50,000 km (most in areas remote from industry and population) (2012)
country comparison to the world: 3


Merchant marine
total:109country comparison to the world: 48
by type:bulk carrier 18, cargo 16, chemical tanker 7, container 13, liquefied gas 11, petroleum tanker 39, roll on/roll off 5
foreign-owned:27 (Chile 1, Denmark 3, Germany 6, Greece 1, Norway 3, Spain 12, Turkey 1)
registered in other countries:36 (Argentina 1, Bahamas 1, Ghana 1, Liberia 20, Marshall Islands 1, Panama 3, Singapore 9) (2010)



Ports and terminals
major seaport(s):Belem, Paranagua, Rio Grande, Rio de Janeiro, Santos, Sao Sebastiao, Tubarao
river port(s):Manaus (Amazon)
dry bulk cargo port(s):Sepetiba ore terminal
container ports (TEUs):Santos (2,985,922), Itajai (983,985)(2011)
oil/gas terminal(s):DTSE/Gegua oil terminal, Ilha Grande (Gebig), Guaiba Island terminal, Guamare oil terminal
LNG terminal(s) (import):Pecem, Rio de Janiero

Military

Military branches
Brazilian Army (Exercito Brasileiro, EB), Brazilian Navy (Marinha do Brasil (MB), includes Naval Air and Marine Corps (Corpo de Fuzileiros Navais)), Brazilian Air Force (Forca Aerea Brasileira, FAB) (2011)


Military service age and obligation
18-45 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation is 9-12 months; 17-45 years of age for voluntary service; an increasing percentage of the ranks are 'long-service' volunteer professionals; women were allowed to serve in the armed forces beginning in early 1980s when the Brazilian Army became the first army in South America to accept women into career ranks; women serve in Navy and Air Force only in Women's Reserve Corps (2012)


Manpower available for military service
males age 16-49:53,350,703
females age 16-49:53,433,918 (2010 est.)


    Manpower fit for military service
males age 16-49:38,993,989
females age 16-49:44,841,661 (2010 est.)


Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually
male:1,733,168
female:1,672,477 (2010 est.)


Military expenditures
1.47% of GDP (2012)
country comparison to the world: 64
1.49% of GDP (2011)
1.47% of GDP (2010)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international
uncontested boundary dispute between Brazil and Uruguay over Braziliera/Brasiliera Island in the Quarai/Cuareim River leaves the tripoint with Argentina in question; smuggling of firearms and narcotics continues to be an issue along the Uruguay-Brazil border; Colombian-organized illegal narcotics and paramilitary activities penetrate Brazil's border region with Venezuela


    Illicit drugs
second-largest consumer of cocaine in the world; illicit producer of cannabis; trace amounts of coca cultivation in the Amazon region, used for domestic consumption; government has a large-scale eradication program to control cannabis; important transshipment country for Bolivian, Colombian, and Peruvian cocaine headed for Europe; also used by traffickers as a way station for narcotics air transshipments between Peru and Colombia; upsurge in drug-related violence and weapons smuggling; important market for Colombian, Bolivian, and Peruvian cocaine; illicit narcotics proceeds are often laundered through the financial system; significant illicit financial activity in the Tri-Border Area (2008)
 Information/ Data by CIA - The World Factbook