Brazil Population Facts Which Will Really Surprise You!

The Federative Republic of Brazil, located in South America, is the largest country in the continent and the fifth-largest country in the world.

As per the United Nations population division, Brazil is the sixth most populous country in the world in terms of population. Brazil's population in 2021 has been pegged at around 214 million.

Brazil is the largest country in South America, sharing borders with all South American countries except Chile and Ecuador. It is also the largest country where the official language is Portuguese. The capital city of Brazil is Rio de Janeiro.

One of the most interesting facts about Brazil's population is that Brasilia, despite being the capital city of Brazil, is not the most populous city in the country. That title belongs to the city of Sao Paulo.

Sao Paulo is the most populous city not only in Brazil but in both Americas combined, even in the Southern and Western Hemispheres. As per the United Nations' definition of a city proper, São Paulo is the fourth most densely populated city in the world.

If you enjoyed reading these facts, you can also read these fun Brazil beaches facts, and Brazil agriculture facts here at Kidadl!

Brazil's Population Growth

Brazil is seeing continuous and steady population growth. In 2020, the population was estimated at around 212 million (contributing significantly to the total world population).

The population increased to around 214 million in 2021. As per the available data, Brazil’s population density is around 10 people per sq mi (25 people per sq km). This number is directly indicative of the population growth rate. Brazil’s total population today makes up about 2.73% of the total world population.

Brazil Vs. Other Countries' Population

As already discussed, Brazil ranks number six in terms of the most populous countries in the world. China, India, the United States, Indonesia, and Pakistan rank one to five (in order) as the most populous countries in the world.

In 2020, when Brazil had a population makeup of 212.8 million, China was ranked first with 1,412.3 million, India was second with 1,393 million, the United States stood at rank third with 332.3 million, Indonesia was ranked fourth with 275.1 million, and Pakistan was ranked fifth with 225.4 million, followed by Brazil.

As far as countries surrounding Brazil are concerned, Brazil’s large population numbers are followed by Colombia at 50.8 million, making it the second-most populous country in South America, followed by Argentina in third place, with 45.2 million people.

Other major countries to follow in order of most to least populous in South America are Peru, Venezuela, Chile, Ecuador, Bolivia, Paraguay, Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana.

Brazil Ethnicity Makeup

Due to its complex history and troubled colonial past, Brazil's ethnic makeup is very diverse. In around 1930, European countries colonized Brazil.

Soon after, between the years of 1940 and 1970, Brazil saw an increase in population growth directly related to the decline in mortality rate and slight growth in the birth rate. This growth in life expectancy directly translates to population growth.

In broad divisions, European Brazilians (Brazilians who have European descent and are white) form half of Brazil’s population, while the other half consists of people of mixed indigenous, Brazilian, and African descent.

Brazil Population By Age

Taking the population growth indexes dating back to the '50s, we can easily see growth in life expectancy. Starting in the '50s, only about 3% of Brazil's total population lived up to and past the age of 65.

That number grew to 5.6% in the year 2000 and is now sitting at 9.6% of the total population in 2020. Needless to say, the past couple of decades have witnessed an exponential growth rate in the aging population.

The rest of the population can be divided into two parts, the first consisting of children below the age of 15, and the other (forming the largest portion) consisting of children over age 15 and adults under the age of 65.

While the most current estimates display a total population percentage of 20.7% for children under 15 years of age, they show a whopping 69.8% of people falling between the ages of 15 and 65.

Thus, it is clear that the majority portion of Brazil’s total population consists of young people. However, it must be noted that there has been a drastic decrease in the percentage of the total population of children under 15 years of age. In 1950, the total population under age 15 was 41.6%.

It has been estimated by various authorities that by the year 2039, the population of older people in Brazil will surpass that of younger people, posing considerable challenges for the future.

This trend can be attributed to an increasing number of women entering the workforce and therefore waiting longer before having children or not having children at all, as per their personal preferences.

Brazil Population Projections

Looking at the past 70 years' worth of statistics, it is clear that the decrease in the total population of children can be attributed to the decrease in the birth rate.

While in the '40s, the fertility rate stood at around 5.6, it has now decreased to 1.75. Life expectancy for women has increased from 52 to 78, and for men, it has increased from 49 to 71.

It is projected that despite the continuous drop in the birth rate, Brazil’s increasing life expectancy will keep the population growth rate high and possibly even show a significant upwards growth in every census survey.

Population Changes And Challenges

At present, Brazil is undergoing a considerable socio-economic transition as a large part of the population is gradually moving from a younger age bracket to an elderly age bracket.

As per a report by the World Bank issued in 2011, this also presents an opportunity for the Brazilian government where it can leverage this transition for economic and social development and not face any future fiscal and social benchmarks in the region.

The report highlighted that instead of simply accepting this demographic transition, Brazil has all the estimated prerequisites for acting as a catalyst for growth. With the help of suitable planning, the country can ensure its development along with the increase in the average age of the current population.

In general, older populations are related to highly developed nations, and Brazil is certainly heading in this direction.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for Brazil population facts, then why not take a look at Brazil economy facts, or Brazil carnival facts.