For hundreds of years, Brazil has symbolized the great escape into a primordial, tropical paradise, igniting the Western imagination like no other South American country.

From the mad passion of Carnaval to the immensity of the dark Amazon, Brazil is a country of mythic proportions. All the while, the people of Brazil delight visitors with their energy, fantasy and joy.

Full name : República Federativa do Brasil
Capital : Brasília
Area : 8,514,215 sq km (3,286,487 sq mi)
Population : 188 million
People : 55% European descent, 38% mulatto, 6% African descent (according to the 1980 census). In reality, these figures are skewed by whiteness being equated with social stature in Brazil.
Language : Portuguese
Religion : 70% Roman Catholic; also a significant proportion who either belong to various cults or practice Indian animism
Government : Federal republic
President : Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva

GDP : US$1,536 billion
GDP per head : US$8300
Growth rate : 2.3%
Inflation rate : 6.9%
Major industries : Textiles, shoes, chemicals, lumber, iron ore, tin, steel, motor vehicles and parts, arms, soya beans, orange juice, beef, chicken, coffee, sugar
Trading partners : EU, Central and South America, Asia, USA