Brazil Country Information

Fact and Figures

Location Eastern South America, bordering the Atlantic Ocean

Capital Brasília

Population 201.1 million

People European 54%, Mulatto 39%, Black 6%, other 1%

Language Portuguese, Spanish, German, Italian, Japanese, English, Amerindian languages

Religion Roman Catholic 74%, Protestant 15%, Spiritualist 1.5%, other 1.5%, none 8%

Literacy rate 88.6%

Life expectancy 72 years

% Living below $1/day 8%

Sources The CIA World Fact Book 2008, Compassion International, www.news.bbc.co.uk

Brazil

After three centuries of Portuguese rule, Brazil became an independent nation in 1822 and a republic in 1889. By far the largest and most populous country in South America, Brazil overcame more than half a century of military intervention in 1985, when the military regime peacefully ceded power to a civilian government. The country continues to grow in industry and agriculture, exploiting its vast natural resources and a large labour pool.

Despite this burgeoning economy, the chasm between rich and poor remains a pressing problem. Much of the arable land is controlled by a handful of wealthy families and social conditions are harsh in the big cities, where over a third of the population lives in favelas, or slums.

Over half of Brazil’s population is under the age of 18 and the millions of homeless children living on the streets of the cities are subject to drug abuse, prostitution and violence. This is exacerbated by the fact that Brazil is used by drug traffickers as a station for cocaine headed to Europe from neighbouring countries, leading to an upsurge in drug-related violence and weapons smuggling.

Compassion began ministering to children in Brazil in 1984 and there are currently over 35,711registered children attending 148 projects. Our hope is to reach out to the children of Brazil with God’s love, encouraging them to rise above their circumstances and become all that God has created them to be.

Compassion Brazil does not have any Child Survival Programmes yet.

Over 35,711children are currently being assisted in more than 148 Child Sponsorship Programmes in Brazil.

Compassion Brazil currently has 59 active Leadership Development Programme students.