Brazil is a country in South America. It is the fith largest country by geographical area, the fith most populous country, and the fourth most populous democracy in the world. The official language is Portuguese. Before the first portugese explores arrived in 1500, Brazil is thought to have been inhabited by Semi-nomadic populations for at least 10,000 years. The origins of the first Brazilians, who were called "Indians" by the portugese, are still a matter of dispute among archeologist. The pre-columbian indian population in Brazil was widely scattered and probably numbered no more than 1 million when Pedro Cabral, the portugese explorer reached the coast of Brazil on April 22, 1500. Bounded by the Atlantic ocean on the east, Brazil has a coastline of over 7,367 kilometers. Brazil borders every nation except Ecuador and Chile. Brazil is crossed by both the equator and tropic of capricorn, and as such a home to a vast array fauna and flora natural environments as well as extensive natural resources. The Brazilian populations is concentrated along the coastline and in a few large urban centers in the interior.

While Brazil is on of the most populous nations in the world population density drops dramaticly as one moves inland. Brazil was a colony of Portugal from its discovery by Pedro Alvares Cabral in 1500 until it's independent as the Brazilian Empire, the country has been a republic since 1889, although the bicameral legislature (now called congress) dates back to 1824, when the first constitution was ratified. Brazil is the worlds 8th largest economy in terms of purchasing power and the 10th largest economny at market exchange rates. In spite of important economical achievements many social issues still hamper development.