Brazil
Welcome to Brazil… the largest country in South America and home to 60% of the Amazon Rainforest and river basin!
This section provides additional distinctive details about Brazil that define its ecological uniqueness. Just choose any tab for the area you would like to explore.
- Created by: Ecology Prime™ Data Resources
- Strategic Partner: Foundation for Ecology
- Total Population: 216.64 Million (2022) | Projected by 2030 – 223.85 Million
- World Rank: #6
- Projected: 229,604,528 peak in 2045 (decreasing to 180,682,756 in 2100)
Source: UNDESA-Population - Growth Rate: 0.63% in 2022, decreasing an average of 0.027% per year to its peak population in 2045, then continuing to decrease 0.02 per year thereafter through 2100.
- 48.1% Male; 50.9% Female (2022)
- Media Age: 35.6 years
- Birth Rate: 13.96 per 1,000 people (2022)
- Death Rate: 6.81 per 1,000 people (2022)
- Migration rate: 0.043 people per 1,000 population (down 25.86% from 2021)
- Indigenous People: 896,917 people; 305 tribes.
- Ethnicities: Brancos – White Brazilians (European descent, mainly Portuguese) – 47.73%; Pardo (mixed native, European and African Ancestry) – 43.13%; Pretos (African Brazilians) – 7.61%; Indigena (Indigenous Brazilians) – 0.43%; Other (mainly Black – African; East Asians; Germans, Italians, Jewish, Arab, Spanish).
Note: Over 87% of Brazilians live in urban areas concentrated in the eastern and southern regions of the country
- 3.11 global hectares (gha) | 7.68 acres per person.
- Brazil ranks #79 worldwide based on the size of its global footprint.
- Brazil’s biocapacity is 9.08 gha | 22.43 acres per person, significantly higher than the global biocapacity 1.6 gha | 2.96 acres.
Sources: Global Footprint Network and United Nations Environment Programme.
- Agriculture – 32.9%
- Pastures & Grazing: 23.5%
- Permanent Crops: 0.93%
- Arable Land: 8.6%
- Forests – 61.9%
The Amazon rainforest covers 40% of the South American continent, 60% of which is in Brazil
- Land without vegetation: 3.7%
- Other: 2.5% (Includes non-rainforest wetlands & water bodies – 0.04%, Artificial/Human development – 0.43%; unproductive land and other – 2.03%)
- Other (Artificial space/human development): 12.52
Sources: Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics, United Nations FAO, The World Factbook. Figures were tabulated to reflect current data.
Primary Food and Non-Food Products
- Top Food Crops: Sugarcane, soybeans, coffee, orange juice, corn, rice.
- Top Non-crop Food Commodities: Beef, poultry.
- Top Non-Food Products: Tobacco, ethanol, iron ore.
Raw materials – like sugarcane, coffee and iron ore – account for about 45% of Brazil’s exports, demonstrating its vital role in sustaining both domestic and overseas demands.Reference: United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, Observatory of Economic Complexity.
- Average Annual Surface Temperature: 27.74°C | 81.82°F
- Climate: Brazil maintains both a tropical and subtropical climate year-round, encompassing area from the equator to south of the Tropic of Capricorn. Brazil’s climate follows the pattern of weather in the summer hemisphere.
- Seasons: Brazil’s weather is generally characterized by heat and humidity year-round, separated slightly moderated seasons from tropical to subtropical.
- Winter: June – August. Inland temperatures ranges from 11°C – 26°C | 52°F – 79°F.
- Spring: September – November. 16°C – 28°C | 60.8°F – 82.4°F.
- Summer: December – February. 17°C – 27°C | 62.68°F – 82.6°F.
- Autumn: March – May. 13°C – 27°C | 55.4°F – 80.6°F.
- Amazon Weather: The Amazon in Brazil, which covers about 60% of the country, is encased in an equatorial-tropical climate with high humidity, warm weather and a lot rain throughout the year, especially from November to May. The temperate is fairly consistent, averaging 25°C | 77°F.
Sources:Climate and Weather in Brazil, Seasons of the Year – Brazil.
- Total Water volume: 645.6 billion cubic meters | 170.55 trillion gallons.
- Potable Water Supply per Person: 42,894.2 m3| 11.3 million gallons.
- Average Precipitation: 1,778.9 mm | 70.03 inches.
- The Amazon river Basin holds 75% of Brazil’s freshwater resources, but 96% of the country’s population resides much further away to the south and east.
- Water Usage: Domestic (human use) – 12%; Agriculture – 80%; Industry – 8%.
Reference: Americas Quarterly, UN Food & Agriculture Organization – AQUASTAT.
- Total Energy Used: 11.91 quadrillion BTU | 300.09 MTOE | 3.49 trillion kW
- Global Rank in Energy Consumption: #8
- Primary fuel sources used: Oil 36.74% | Coal –5.88% | Natural Gas – 11.99% | Renewables – 42.65% | Nuclear – 1.10% | Other – 1.64. (BP Statistical Review of World Energy).
- Almost 83% of Brazil’s electricity needs comes from renewable energy.
- Renewable Energy Sources: Sources (% of renewable energy): Wind – 13.15% | Solar – 3.07% | Hydro – 66.03 % | Biofuels – 17.75%.
(Sources: BP Statistical Review of World Energy, Empresa de Pesquisa Energética – EPE) - Brazil plans to reduce its total greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030, and to become carbon neutral by 2050. The country also plans to for 45% of its total energy consumption to be supplied by renewable energy sources by 2050.
- Total Estimated Species: ~1.8 million flora and fauna.
- Total Identified Living Species: 169,179.
- 115,569 identified fauna.
- 53,610 identified flora and fungi.
- Total Identified Threatened Species 2,040 (IUCN 2022)
- 714 animals.
- 1,326 plants.
- Animal species in most critical danger: Golden Lion Tamarin, Jaguar, Amazon River Dolphin, Giant Otters, Uakari Monkey, South American Tapir, Poison Dart Frogs, Hyacinth Macaw among others.
- Plant species most endangered: Brazil wood (tree and flower, where Brazil received its name), Araucaria tree (of Brazil’s Atlantic forest), Jaborandi (endemic flower used in medicine), Gravata, Rosewood . Of note: widespread deforestation and wildfires are wiping out many of Brazil’s ancient tree species.
- Leading causes of extinctions or threats: indiscriminate hunting, progressive environmental deterioration, forest fires, uncontrolled tourism, rampant deforestation. (Reference: World Atlas)
- Brazil is home to about 20% of the world’s biodiversity (Source: Brasil A Gosto Instituto).ng causes of extinctions or threats: indiscriminate hunting, progressive environmental deterioration, forest fires, uncontrolled tourism, rampant deforestation.
- (Reference: World Atlas)
Five of the of the fascinating and intriguing Natural Wonders of Brazil… among many:
- The Amazon: The river itself is the life spring of Earth; it is larger than the planet’s next eight largest rivers combined. Brazil contains 60% of the Amazon River basin and rainforests, covering 3.17 million km2 (1.22 million mi2) in the country alone. There are so many avenues of ecological dynamics in the Amazon from ancient trees, extensive wildlife, dolphins swimming amongst the trees sunken into the water, to pure natural tropical environmental existences that it truly stands as perhaps Earth’s greatest truly ecological frontier.
- The Harbor at Rio de Janeiro (also called Guanabara Bay): Listed as one of the world’s seven natural wonders, The Harbor at Rio de Janeiro is located on the southeastern coastline of Brazil in Rio de Janeiro. It is the largest natural bay in the world, resembling a river more than a bay. It is surrounded by uniquely formed mountains and various other natural structures, lined by about 80 km (50 miles) of spectacular white-sand beaches surround crystal waters.
- The Chapada Diamantina and Poco Azul: The Chapada Diamantina (or the Diamond Highlands) is located in northeast Brazil in the state of Bahia, is part of the Espinhaço Mountain Range and a true hiking trekker’s paradise. It is the home of the Poco Azul, or Blue Pool, located inside a cave with absolute blue flowing waters. It also is the largest submerged paleontological site in Brazil where fossils were found at 500 feet deep including a skeleton of ground sloth that lived in both Americas up until about 11,000 years ago.
- Rocas Atoll: Belonging to the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Norte, Rocas Atoll is the only atoll in the South Atlantic Ocean. Sometimes referred to as the Forgotten Atoll, it was created from volcanic activity and coralline formations. It is home to the largest concentration of tropical seabirds in the Western Atlantic with incredible dolphin population and tidal pools teeming with fish. At low tide, its shores sport an extraordinary seascape of lagoons and tidal pools with copious fish populations. In 2001, Rocas Atoll was designated as a wildlife sanctuary by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site because of its importance as a feeding ground for marine life.
- Iguaçu Falls: The largest waterfall system in the world, Iguaçu Falls is located along Brazil’s border with Argentina in the southwestern part of the country. While most of the Iguaçu River runs through Brazil, most of the falls are on the Argentinian side. Although the falls are extraordinarily fascination by themselves, the entire Iguaçu Falls area is home to many species of animals and flora connected to all of Latin America
This is just the beginning of the Brazilian natural experience! There is seemingly no end to the ecological substance, beauty and fascination of Brazil, from its eastern coastlines to its internal mountains and Amazon Rainforest. Much of the land is protected, but worth the opportunity to see under responsible terms.

Welcome from Brazil!

Brazil is the world’s sixth most populous country, covering the fifth largest land area that is also home to the most biologically diverse population of native plant and animal species on Earth. Occupying close to half (47.7%) of South America, Brazil is the only country large enough to span both the equator and the Southern Tropic, also known as the Tropic of Capricorn.
Brazil is divided into five different regions which vary considerably in climate, terrain, vegetation, water availability, agriculture and living species. Because Brazil has many different soils and climates, it can produce a great variety of crops. Its primary agricultural products used around the world include sugarcane, latex, coffee, cocoa beans, cotton, soybeans, rice and tropical fruits (it’s the world’s leading provider of oranges!). Though mostly tropical, the southern parts of Brazil are more temperate.
The people of Brazil are very welcoming and embrace visitors with great respect. Friendship, hospitality, family values and social interactions are highly valued among Brazilian people which makes the country one of the most kind and hospitable places on the planet.
Home to well over half of the world’s largest rainforest – the Amazon Rainforest – where one out of ten of Earth’s identified living species lives, Brazil takes up 40% of the country’s total land area. The vast majority of its population lives along its Atlantic coast to the southeast, far away from the Amazon Rainforest. Accordingly, Brazil has created a network of protected areas covering about 25% of its national territory, including equal protections for conservation and indigenous lands.
Welcome to Brazil’s ecological and cultural hub on Ecology Prime™! This is where the ecology, people and living species of Brazil come together as an extremely diverse habitat and geologically rich system in Earth’s hub of life. This is Brazil….

Official Language: Portuguese
- Brazil is the most populous Portuguese-speaking country in the world, spoken by 98% of its residents.
- Approximately 218 languages are spoken by the Brazilian population: 201 – Indigenous, 17 – non-indigenous.
- The most significant minority languages spoken are: English – 7%, Spanish – 4%, Hunsrik (Germanic) – 1.5%. Many of these also speak Portuguese.
Unique Brazil Facts: Did You Know…?
- Brazil is the only country in the Americas colonized by Portugal. It is the largest country in the southern hemisphere – larger than the continent-country of Australia and home to about one-third of Latin America’s human population.
- Brazil is the only country named after a tree. Its name comes from its longer given name, Terra do Brasil (“Land of Brazil”), the reference to a valuable tree discovered in 1500 when Portuguese explorers first landed in present-day Brazil. The Brazilwood tree, or pau-brasil, was extremely abundant and quickly became valued for its virtual indestructible lumber. The national tree of Brazil, it is faced with extinction due to its over-exploitation.
- Brazil holds 60% of the Lungs of the World, the reference given to the Amazon Rainforest, which comprises more than half of the world’s rainforest area. The primary Amazon Rainforest covers 3.17 million square kilometers (1.22 million square miles) of Brazil’s surface area.
- The climate range in Brazil makes it a year-round destination, with its winters from June to August and winters from December to February when the most rain is seen. The average temperature in the winter is ~15.5°C (~59.9°F) and the average temperature in the summer is ~35.0°C (~95.0°F).

The Harbor of Rio de Janeiro
The Harbor of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, also known as Guanabara Bay, is one of the world’s seven natural wonders. It is the largest natural bay in the world based on sheer water volume. Watched over by one of the seven wonders of mankind – Christ, The Redeemer, the harbor was so huge that it was mistaken as a river by early Portuguese explorers. In fact, Rio de Janeiro, which literally translates as River of January, received its name by the Portuguese explorers who discovered the bay on January 1, 1502, believing they had discovered a large river. Today, despite the hub of human activity in the city, the bay remains an astoundingly beautiful attraction that defines Rio de Janeiro.
- About 70 indigenous Amazon tribes have never been in contact with the outside world. These groups have chosen to remain in isolation, and the Brazilian government protects them from contact with outsiders.
- Although Brazil does not have an official national animal, the jaguar, or Brazilian panther, is proudly presented by the people of the country as its iconic representative. Like the Brazilian people, the jaguar is independent and has great pride in and respect for its territory and resources.
- Brazil’s Queimada Grande Island, also known as Snake Island, is considered one of the most dangerous islands in the world due its very high population of snakes, estimated at upwards of five per square meter. The island is protected, and civilians are not allowed to visit it.
- Of the world’s 17 megadiverse countries, Brazil tops the list as the list as the most biologically rich and diverse country on the planet. The country contains over 12% of the world’s freshwater resources, almost 170,000 thousand identified living plant and animal species, and upwards of 1.8 million estimated species yet to be identified.
- Brazil’s Atlantic coast is 4,655 miles (7,491 km) long, the 16th longest national coastline in the world.
- The national flag of Brazil represents the rich natural qualities of the country: green for the vast forests of Brazil, the yellow rhombus for its mineral wealth, and the blue circle and stars for the sky over Rio de Janeiro when Brazil declared itself a republic in 1889.
- Over six million tourists visit Brazil each year on average. It borders every nation in South America except Chile and Ecuador.

Population
Total Population: 216.64 Million (2022) | Projected by 2030 – 223.85 Million
- Population Density: 25.4 people per km2 | 65.9 people per mi2.
- World Rank: #6, 2.7% of the world’s total population.
- Brazil is home to 896,917 indigenous people representing 305 tribes.
- Most Populous City (2022): São Paulo| 22,429,800.
- Least Populous Village (municipality): Borá | 838
- 80% of Brazil’s population is concentrated in its major cities along its east coast, like São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.
- Brazil has 12% of the world’s fresh surface water, but its cities, where 80 percent of its population resides, are located far away from the country’s most abundant water supply – The Amazon basin.

Surface Area
Total Surface Area: 8,515,770 km2 | 3,287,954 mi2
- World Rank: #5
- 98.15 % is Land Surface Area: 8,358,140 km2 (3,227,092.8 mi2) – 1.64% of the world’s total land area.
- 59.42% of Brazil’s land area is forest area. (Trading Economics 2022 – Brazil)
- 0.8% is Water Surface Area: 157,630 km2 (60,861.2 mi2) – 0.04% of the world’s water surface.
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Temperature
Average Annual Temperature (1991-2022): 27.74°C | 81.82°F
- Average High – 31.67°C |89.01°F), Average Low – 23.80°C | 74.84°F.
- (Temperatures vary notably between Brazil’s northern tropical and southern temperate climates.)
- Hottest Month (average high): September | 27.20°C (80.96°F).
- Coldest Month (average low): July | 22.70°C (72.86°F).
- Coldest temperature on record: −14 °C (7 °F) in Caçador, Santa Catarina, on June 11, 1952.
- Hottest temperature on record: 44.8 °C (112.6 °F) in Nova Maringá, Mato Grosso, on November 4-5, 2020.
- In Brazil’s Amazon region, temperatures average between 28-30°C (82-86°F) year-round.

Water
Total Water Volume: 9,292.6 billion cubic meters (bcm) – or about 2.45 quadrillion gallons.
- Total water volume includes surface water (8,647 bcm or 2.28 quadrillion gallons) and ground water (645.6 bcm or 170.55 trillion gallons).
- Annual Precipitation (average): 1,778.9 mm | 70.03 inches. (World Bank Group-Climate Change Knowledge Portal)
- Renewable water supply per resident: 42,894.2 cubic meters (11.3 million gallons).
- Despite having the world’s greatest supply of renewable (potable) water resources, its cities have serious fresh water supply problems due to water management, distribution and sanitation issues.
- The Amazon River basin provides about 75% of Brazil’s freshwater, but it holds only about 4% of the country’s population.
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Energy
Annual Total Energy Usage (est. for 2022): 11.91 quadrillion BTU | 300.09 MTOE – megatonnes of oil equivalent | 3.49 trillion kWh
- Global ranking in energy consumption: #8. (EIA – Brazil)
- Percentage of Total Global Energy Consumption: 2.01%.
- Per capita Energy Use: 54.9 million Btu | 16,090 kWh – #110 worldwide.
- Energy Sources (2021-2022): Oil 36.74% | Coal –5.88% | Natural Gas – 11.99% | Renewables – 42.65% | Nuclear – 1.10% | Other – 1.64. (BP Statistical Review of World Energy)
- Renewable Energy Sources (% of renewable energy): Wind – 13.15% | Solar – 3.07% | Hydro – 66.03 % | Biofuels – 17.75%.
- Electricity Sources: Hydro – 64.9% | Biomass – 8.4% | Wind – 8.6% | Solar – 1.0% | Natural Gas – 9.3% | Oil – 2.0% | Coal – 3.3% |Nuclear – 2.5%. Virtually every resident has access to electricity. (Empresa de Pesquisa Energética – EPE)

Air Quality
Air Quality Index – AQI: 53 – Moderate ( 2021 Average)
- Current Average AQI: 40 — Good
- Global ranking -2021: #75 of 118 monitored.
- (Based on 2021 AQI of 23.)
- Most polluted city – 2021: Porto Velho , Rondônia | AQI = 72 = Moderate.
- Least polluted city – 2021: Forta Leza, Ceara | AQI = 8 – Very Good.
- Leading pollutants and sources: Particulate matter and gases from both human-made and biological sources including wood and charcoal burning for cooking (indoor and outdoor pollution industry, mining, cement production, steel and petrochemicals, agricultural burning, and vehicles and equipment
- About 12% of Brazil’s population burns wood and charcoal for everyday cooking, a significant source of the country’s air pollution including drifting ash, tar, soot and char.
View Brazil’s Current Air Quality here.
Destinations: Ireland
Republic of Ireland

Flora
Identified Flora/Fungi: 53,610 species
- Identified Flora/Fungi: 53,610 species
- Conifers (gymnosperms): 30
- Flowering Plants (angiosperms): 33,696
- Ferns and Fern Allies (lycophytes): 1,380
- Mosses & Liverworts: 1,584
- Mushrooms: 5,718
- Fungi & Lichens: 6,230
- Algae: 4,972
Total Number of Endangered/Threatened Plant and Animal Species: 2,040
(IUCN Red List and Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics )
Threatened species are considered vulnerable, endangered or critically endangered.
- 65% (1,326) are plant species.
- 35% (714) are animal species.
- The leading cause of wildlife extinction in Brazil is invasive species such as dogs, rats, pigs, lizards, snakes and humans (yes, humans!), accounting for about 39% of the devastation. Two other main reasons are habitat destruction (36%) and hunting (25%).
Fast Fact: Brazil has the greatest number of plant species in the world with nearly 50,000 different species identified and tens of thousands are estimated to yet be discovered..

Fauna
115,569 species – about 1.33% of the world’s ~8.7 million animal species
Invertebrates – 105,565
- Invertebrates – 105,565
-
- 83,716 insects
- 6,844 arachnids
- 2,885 crustaceans
- 3,164 mollusks
- 8,956 others (includes worms, coral, aquatic organisms, and others)
- Vertebrates – 10,004
- 4,802 fishes
- 1,924 birds
- 720 mammals
- 764 reptiles
- 1,024 amphibians
- 770 others
-
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Brazil: Sources and Research
We’d like to credit this diverse list of organizations for providing source materials to create this platform.
- AgênciaBrasil
- AgenciaBrasil – Endemic Flora
- AQICN – Brazil
- Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE)
- Brazilian Technical Cooperation (ABC)
- Biodiversity International
- BP Statistical Review of World Energy – Brazil (PDF)
- Chico Mendes Institute of the Ministry of the Environment
- Climate Change Knowledge Portal – Brazil
- Elements – Worldwide Energy Consumption
- Empresa de Pesquisa Energética – EPE
- International Energy Agency (IEA) – Brazil
- Green Facts – Water in Brazil
- Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística
- International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs – Brazil
- IQAir – Brazil
- IUCN Red List
- Live Science
- Lonely Planet – Brazil
- Mongabay – Brazil’s Forests
- Nature and Culture International
- Our World in Data – Brazil
- Our World in Data – Energy per Capita
- ResearchGate
- Society for Conservation Biology
- The Global Historical Weather and Climate Data
- The Nature Conservancy – Brazil
- The Travel Doctor Network (TDN) – Brazil Health
- United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) – Megadiverse Brazil
- We Are Water Foundation
- Weather and Climate – Brazil
- World Atlas – Brazil
- WorldData.info – Brazil
- World Population Review – Cities of Brazil
- World Weather and Climate – Brazil

Notable environmental organizations and platforms in Brazil.
These organizations focus on ecology and environmental issues in India.
- Aliagnça da Terra
- Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources | Instituto Brasileiro do Meio Ambiente e dos Recursos Natugrais Regnováveis (IBAMA)*
- Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation
- Conservation International
- Conservation International Brasil*
- Environmental Conservation and Development in Brazil (ETIV)
- Friends of the Earth
- Friends of the Earth – Brasil*
- Global Giving – Forests4Water Brazil
- Green Cross Brazil | Associação Green Cross do Brasil
- Greenpeace Brasil*
- Imazon
- Iracambi – Atlantic Rainforest Brazil
- Mater Natura*
- Movimento dos Atingidos por Barragens | Movement of People Affected by Dams*
- Sociedade Brasileira de Economia Ecológica | Brazilian Society for Ecological Economics (ECOECO)*
- The Nature Conservancy – Brazil
- The Sustainability Network | Rede Sustentabilidade*
- Worldwide Fund for Nature – International (WWF)
- WWF Brasil*

Notable Brazil Universities and Colleges for Environmental Studies
- Campinas Institute of Biology & Environmental Studies and Research
- University of Brasilia (International)
- Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP)
- Universidade Federal da Bahia
- Universidade Federal de Goias | Federal University of Goiás
- Universidade Federal de Lavras | Federal University of Lavras
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais | Federal University of Minas Gerais
- Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro | Federal University of Rio de Janeiro
- Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte | Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte
- Universidade Federal do Santa Catarina | Federal University of Santa Catarina
- Universidade Federal de Viçosa | Federal University of Viçosa
- Universidade de São Paulo (USP)
Research & Development Credits:
iConsult Collaborative
College of Professional Studies | Syracuse University

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