What do you know about the country of Brazil? If you're like me before I went, then you probably don't know much! I know it's sad, but that's how we in the United States tend to be. So let's be enlightened! This text was taken from the JEMS South America Missions Handbook.

Size: 3,284,426 square miles. It is larger than the continental United States and covers more than 50% of the continent of South America. Brazil is the fifth largest nation in the world. It shares common boundaries with every South American country except Chile and Ecuador. It has almost 5,000 miles of beautiful coast which are mostly untouched.

Population:147,094,739 with an average growth rate of 2.45%, according to the CIA published report as of July 1987. It is estimated that one million are of Japanese descent or about 7% of the total population.

Capital City: Brasilia in the Federal District was entirely planned before being founded on April 21, 1960. It is a monumental showplace of ultra-modern 21st century architecture.

Time Zone: There is a five hour difference between Los Angeles and Sao Paulo during Standard Time and a six hour difference during Daylight Savings Time.

Language: The official language is Portuguese.

Major Relegion: It is reported that over 90% of the population is Roman Catholic. However, only about 10% actually practice Roman Catholicism. Roman Catholocism in Brazil is considered different than Roman Catholocism in other countries because of African and Native American influences. Other relegions include Protestantism (of which the Assembly of God and the Pentecostals are the fastest growing group), Greek Orthodox Catholocism, Judiasm, Buddhism, and Islam. Between 15-30% of the Brazilians are Spiritists (relegious syncretism). Macumba is one of these spiritist relegions which has a strong grip on the lower class.

Principal Industries: Soybeans, coffee, timber, sugar, livestock, iron ore, transport equipment, chemicals, machinery, orange juice, and shoes. Japanese industries such as Honda, National, Seiko, and Citizens have factories in Manaus, a free port in the interior of Amazonas.

Major Ethnic Groups: 55% Caucasian (including Portuguese, Italian, and other European), 38% mixed, 6% African, and 1% other.

Go back to Odds and Ends.