Brazil Overview

The overall risk rating for Brazil is Moderate due to a Moderate security risk rating and a Moderate health risk rating. Petty crime levels are high, especially in cities. Favelas (shanty-towns) in urban areas have increased rates of violent crime. Protests are common and occasionally turn violent. Landslides and flash floods may occur during the rainy season. Travel to the rainforests of the Amazonian interior is associated with a number of health risks. Medical facilities in major cities meet international standards, but elsewhere medical care may be limited.

The Federative Republic of Brazil has a vibrant and diverse culture, with numerous ethnic groups living in the country. Brazil’s population is approximately 217 million and almost half are of European—mainly Portuguese—descent. Furthermore, over 40 percent of the population are of mixed European, African, and occasionally indigenous heritage. Indigenous groups—mainly Tupi or Guaraní—still have a presence in Brazil, although indigenous Brazilians comprise less than one percent of the population. The remainder of the Brazilian population can be accounted for by the waves of immigration since the mid-19th century, particularly from Japan, the Middle East, and other parts of Europe. Portuguese is the official language of Brazil.

Brazil is bordered by French Guiana, Suriname, Guyana, Venezuela, and Colombia to the north; Peru, Bolivia, and Paraguay to the west; and Argentina and Uruguay to the south. Brazil is divided into four major geographical areas: the Amazon basin, Brazilian plateau, tropical coastline, and southern states. The Amazon basin has a generally hot and humid tropical climate, although a cold spell called friagem occasionally occurs, bringing temperatures below 10 °C (50 °F) for a few days. The seasons are considerably pronounced on the Brazilian plateau, which has a rainy season. The tropical coastline, which encompasses most of the major cities including Belém, Fortaleza, Recife, Rio de Janeiro, and Santos, is hot and tropical. However, the rainy season is not uniform throughout. The southern states of Brazil (i.e., Paraná, Rio Grande do Sul, and Santa Catarina) are temperate rather than tropical, although they are still very warm. In Brazil, the high sun period extends from December to March and the low sun period is from May to September.