Brazil has a population of about 146 million, with over 15 million living in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. Nearly half of the population is under 20 years old.
In Brazil, Portuguese is the official language. However, some of the population speaks Spanish, Italian, and different Amerindian languages.
There is a multiparty Federal Republic in Brazil. The President is chief of the state as well as the head of the government. There are two legislative houses in Brazil: an 81-member Senate and a 503-member Chamber of Deputies.
There is not an official religion in Brazil, but Roman Catholicism is predominant, practiced by over 90% of the population.
Since 1994, the currency of Brazil is the Brazilian real, demarcated R$.