Brazil is known for its Carnival, Street parties, the Amazon forest, and beaches. But there is more to this country that will leave you astounded. Whether you are visiting Christ the Redeemer or beaches in Rio de Janeiro, there are certain things you ought to know about Brazil. Here are 25 interesting facts about Brazil that leave you wanting more from this country.
1 – Did someone say coffee
According to the records, Brazil is the largest coffee producer in the world. The rich soil and tropical climate of Brazil are favorable to coffee plantations. Although many Central American, South American, African, and Asian countries produce coffee, no one is near the volume that Brazil produces. It produced an estimated 66.4 million 60 kg bags of coffee from July 2023 to June 2024.
2 – Largest producer of sugarcane
What else do you need, apart from coffee, to make a great cup? Sugar, it is, and we are not kidding, but Brazil is also the largest producer of sugarcane. The good news is that Brazil is consistently increasing its production of coffee alongside sugarcane. Between April 2023 and March 2024, it’s estimated that Brazil produced 42.7 million metric tonnes of sugarcane.
3 – Touches with every South American Country
Brazil is the largest country in South America, which gives it an unfair geographical advantage. Brazil’s border touches every South American country with the exception of two. Ecuador in the North and Chile in the south are the only two untouched countries. This gives Brazil an advantage in Politics, Trade and commerce.
4 – Japanese expats are in plenty
The largest Japanese population outside of Japan is in Brazil. The families of Japanese emigrants are known by the name of Nikkei. They are almost 2 million in number, and the majority of them are settled in São Paulo. It is quite a share of the total 3.8 million Japanese emigrants living worldwide. If on your next trip to Brazil you bump into a Japanese, don’t be surprised.
5 – Amazon rainforest exceeds other LATAM countries
Nearly 60% of the Amazon rainforest is in Brazil. More than half of the 6.7 million square kilometres of rainforest is within the borders of Brazil. It is estimated that roughly 40% of Brazil’s land is Amazon Rainforest. But unfortunately, a large portion of the Amazon rainforest is disappearing due to deforestation. It’s a crisis that affects the entire world since the Amazon is the lungs of the world.
6 – Portuguese is the second most popular language in South America
Portuguese is the official language of Brazil. Spanish is the most popular language of South America, followed by Portuguese. However, there is a slight variation and difference between Brazilian and European Portuguese. Portuguese is actually the sixth most widely spoken language in the world.
7 – More than 4,000 airports
Did you ever imagine that Brazil would have close to 5000 airports within its borders? We do not expect you to fly into all of them, but you need to know it. However, only a few hundred are public airports, and the rest are private airports or airfields. The number of airports in Brazil makes it second largest, only next to United States that has 16000 of them.
8 – Soccer mania of Brazil
Just so you know, the National football team of Brazil has won the FIFA World Cup 5 times. Brazil has won the 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, and 2002 FIFA World Cups, and three of them were with Pelé playing on the team. Here comes the interesting part: Brazil is the only country that has competed in every World Cup. Another fun fact is that Norway is the only country they have never beaten.
9 – Christ the Redeemer is shorter than another Brazilian statue
Christ the Redeemer, situated in Rio de Janeiro, is one of the most iconic spots of Brazil. It is 30 meters tall and is the fifth-largest Christ statue in the world. Everyone who visits the city goes here to witness the grandeur of Christ. But interestingly, there is another Christ statue in Brazil that is taller than Christ the Redeemer. Encantado’s Christ the Protector statue is six metres taller.
10 – Prisoners and books
Prisoners in Brazil have a unique way to waive their sentences by reading a book. In 1980’s the government pushed hard to make inmates ready for transition into the society. They could waive their sentences by working a job through the prison. In 2012, the Ministry of Justice introduced a law that prisoners could also waive their sentences by reading books.
11 – Brazil fought the Second World War against the Axis Powers
The Vargas regime of Brazil was initially on friendly terms with both Italy and Germany before the Second World War. But with the bombing of Pearl Harbor, they became concerned about the shifting geopolitics. Soon, Brazil joined the war against the Axis Powers after they sank 5 Brazilian ships off the coast of Brazil. It was the only country in South America to send troops to Europe to fight against the Axis Powers.
12 – The largest Carnival celebration on the planet
Mardi Gras might have made a name for itself in New Orleans, but the carnival of Rio de Janeiro beats it by far. The city is known to have the biggest and the best carnival. It’s a multi-day celebration that brings people to the streets in flamboyant colors. Dancing, drinking, and partying are the soul of Rio Carnival. Everyone in Rio heads to the Sambodromo, which is the samba hub of Rio. Close to 100,000 people pack the stadium for the Samba parade.
13 – Hundreds of Indigenous tribes
It is estimated that less than 1% of Brazil’s population is indigenous, but there are close to 300 tribes that live across Brazil. Their population is estimated at around 1.7 million, and they all live in the five-square-kilometer circle of the Legal Amazon.
14 – Brazil was once Portugal’s seat of government
Brazil was a Portuguese colony in the early 1800’s during Napoleon’s conquest of Europe. At the time, the French army invaded Portugal, and the Portuguese court left for Brazil. It was the only time that government court of a country was in its colony. When the emperor came to Brazil, they also brought a printing press, which eventually became a tool of independence for Brazilians. They published literature related to independence and eventually got freedom in 1822.
15 – Brazil has the largest number of animal species in the world
Brazil has always been a biodiversity hotspot. It is estimated that around 10 to 20 percent of the world’s species belong to Brazil, and it is currently at a number of 2 million, including both known and unknown. Thanks to the Amazon, Brazil is rich in flora and fauna. Of the known species, around 103,870 are attributed to animals, while 700 new species are discovered every year. That is Brazil for you, full of biodiversity surprises.
16 – Brazil has 70+ national parks
Nature lovers are in luck because Brazil exists. There are plenty of protected spaces in Brazil where nature lovers can go and explore nature’s bounty. The newest addition to the UNESCO World Heritage site from Brazil is Lençóis Maranhenses National Park. Travelers can indulge in trekking in Chapada Diamantina or explore the early human archaeological site Serra da Capivara, or go on wandering in the largest tropical wetland in the world, Pantanal Matogrossense National Park.
17 – Most dangerous islands in the world
Ilha da Queimada Grande is the most dangerous island in the world. It is also known by the name of Snake Island, and is 100 miles from Sao Paulo. You cannot set foot on this island without permission from the Brazilian Navy. This island is packed with Golden Lancehead snakes, and their population is so dense that there is a snake in every square meter of the island. The snakes here are loaded with super-potent venom that causes necrosis, organ failure, brain haemorrhage, and intestinal bleeding.
18 – Ten million litres of beer are consumed during Brazil’s Carnival
Brazil’s Carnival is super popular in the world, and it is estimated that around 2 million people take part in it. It is estimated that around 10 million litres of beer are consumed during the carnival. It is a time when the entire nation experiences the hangover. Once you drink that much of beer, it is obvious to pee. But do not worry, as around 25,000 portable toilets are installed across Rio de Janeiro during the carnival.
19 – Brazilians are not considered Hispanic
On most occasions, Hispanic and Latin Americans are used interchangeably by the English-speaking world. But that is incorrect. Hispanic refers to people from Spanish-speaking nations, and in Brazil, the official language is Portuguese. Hence, Brazilians are not Hispanic.
20 – Human settlement of Brazil began over 30,000 years ago
Scientists have found evidence of burnt wood and stone tools in Pedra Furada rock shelter, in Brazil’s Serra da Capivara National Park, that suggests that human settlements were present here before 50,000 years ago. In the same national park rock paintings have also been found dating 22000 to 36000 years ago.
21 – Election voting is mandatory in Brazil
Every Brazilian aged between 18 and 70 must vote in elections. Those who are aged between 16 to 17 or are over 70 years old have the option to opt out of voting. Illiterate people can also opt out of voting. To win the presidential elections in Brazil, a candidate must get more than 50% of the vote. If it doesn’t happen in the first round, a second round is conducted between the top two contestants from the first round.
22 – Brazil was the last in the Americas to abolish slavery in 1888
Slavery existed in Brazil for over 300 years, and it is estimated that around 4 to 12 million African slaves were imported into the country. This figure is 40% of the entire slave population imported to America. The massive number of slaves in Brazil also had an influence on its culture and traditions.
23 – World’s tallest vertical cemetery
Vertical cemeteries are uncommon in the world, but Memorial Necropole Ecumenica in Santos is the rare one and the tallest one. It is 108 meters in height, with 32 floors that can accommodate thousands of bodies. There are rooms inside meant for wakes and funerals. The largest one can accommodate 300 people in its white marble neo-Gothic walls.
24 – Brazil’s international soccer team was formed to compete against Exeter City
As per history, Exeter City Football Club was nominated by the Football Association to play soccer matches in South America in the year 1914. Rather than the Exeter football team competing against a single Brazilian team, the best players from Rio and São Paulo were brought together, which laid the foundation for Brazil’s international soccer team. Brazil’s team defeated Exeter by 2-0, and the rest is history.
25 – Brazil’s tallest mountain was not “discovered” until the 1950s
Pico da Neblina, or ‘Mist Peak ’, is at 2995 meters above sea level and, living up to its name, is constantly surrounded by clouds. This is why it was not discovered until the 1950s. It was climbed in 1965, 12 years after Everest was conquered.
A zeal like Brazil!
