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Country dossier Series span 1960 to 2024

Brazil

Americas · South America · Brazilian Real

Historical loadout
7 live datasets
89 tagged events on record

Brazil is presented here as a historical economic dossier rather than a flat stat sheet: long-run macro cycles, public balance-sheet pressure, market depth, external buffers, and the events that likely bent the curve.

GDP
$2.19T
as of 2024
GDP growth
3.4%
as of 2024
Inflation
4.4%
as of 2024
Debt / GDP
81.9%
as of 2024
Population
212.0M
as of 2024
Reserves
$329.7B
as of 2024
FDI
$74.1B
as of 2024
Private credit
75.6%
as of 2024
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Series coverage
Economic · 65Finance · 65Markets · 63Currency · 65Labor · 65Energy · 62Assets · 61
89
Events
14
Critical
11
High
Country profile
No structural profile fields are loaded for this country yet.
Latest linked event
45th UBES National Congress
2024 · Sanctions
Current read

Latest cross-section

A tighter current-state read before dropping into the long historical charts.

GDP per capita
$10,311
as of 2024
Exports
$392.1B
as of 2024
Imports
$385.7B
as of 2024
Trade balance
$6.4B
as of 2024
Government debt
$1.79T
as of 2024
Military spend
$20.9B
as of 2024
Market cap / GDP
30.1%
as of 2024
Interest rate
34.7%
as of 2024
Long-run charts

Macro cycle

Funding conditions

Debt, rates, and external regime

Demography and scale

Population backdrop

Latest position
Population
212.0M
2024 latest labour row
Workforce
107.9M
Labour participation
63.3%
Reserves
$329.7B
Asset fallback reserves
Historical drivers

Major events timeline

The timeline is where macro numbers meet story: crises, wars, policy shifts, trade deals, and other shocks connected to Brazil.

89
Total
14
Critical
11
High
1500-04 Policy change medium

Discovery by Portugal

Beginning of Portuguese colonization

Source: World Important Dates (CSV dataset)
1776 War medium

Spanish–Portuguese War of 1776-1777

1776-1777 war fought over the border between Spanish and Portuguese South America

Source: humanhistories.org (Histoverse/Wikidata)
1816 War medium

Battle of San Borja

1816 battle

Source: humanhistories.org (Histoverse/Wikidata)
1821 War medium

Battle of Cabrito

Battle of Cabrito

Source: humanhistories.org (Histoverse/Wikidata)
1822 War medium

Battle of Cachoeira

Battle of Cachoeira

Source: humanhistories.org (Histoverse/Wikidata)
1822 War critical

Battle of Pirajá

1822 battle of the War of Independence of Brazil

Source: humanhistories.org (Histoverse/Wikidata)
1822 War medium

Battle of Funil

Battle of Funil

Source: humanhistories.org (Histoverse/Wikidata)
1822-09 Independence medium

Independence from Portugal

Transition to Empire of Brazil

Source: World Important Dates (CSV dataset)
1823 War critical

Battle of 4 May

1823 naval battle during the Brazilian War of Independence

Source: humanhistories.org (Histoverse/Wikidata)
1823 War medium

Battle of Montevideo

1823 battle between the Brazilian Empire and Portugal; Brazilian victory

Source: humanhistories.org (Histoverse/Wikidata)
1823 War high

Siege of Caxias

1823 siege

Source: humanhistories.org (Histoverse/Wikidata)
1825 War medium

Battle of Rincón

1825 battle of the Cisplatine War

Source: humanhistories.org (Histoverse/Wikidata)
1826 War medium

Battle of Los Pozos

Battle of Los Pozos

Source: humanhistories.org (Histoverse/Wikidata)
1827 War medium

Battle of Ituzaingó

battle fought in 1827 in the vicinity of the Santa Maria river, southern Brazil

Source: humanhistories.org (Histoverse/Wikidata)
1835 War medium

Battle of Ponte da Azenha

1835 battle

Source: humanhistories.org (Histoverse/Wikidata)
1838 War medium

Battle of Barro Vermelho

1838 battle

Source: humanhistories.org (Histoverse/Wikidata)
1844 War medium

Battle of Porongos

battle during the Ragamuffin War, Brazil

Source: humanhistories.org (Histoverse/Wikidata)
1844 War medium

Battle of Arroio Grande

1844 battle

Source: humanhistories.org (Histoverse/Wikidata)
1864 War medium

Coimbra Fort Skirmish

1864 battle of the Paraguayan War

Source: humanhistories.org (Histoverse/Wikidata)
1864 War medium

Siege of Salto

1864 military operation in Uruguay

Source: humanhistories.org (Histoverse/Wikidata)
1864 War critical

Paraguayan War — War of the Triple Alliance

Paraguay's dictator Francisco Solano López attacked Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay simultaneously, triggering the deadliest war in South American history. Paraguay lost over half its population, including most of its adult male population, and was forced to cede territory.

Source: James Saeger, Francisco Solano Lopez and the Ruination of Paraguay
1865 War high

Invasion of Rio Grande do Sul

1865 invasion

Source: humanhistories.org (Histoverse/Wikidata)
1865 War medium

Battle of Butuí

Battle of Butuí

Source: humanhistories.org (Histoverse/Wikidata)
1867 War medium

Battle of Perecué

part of the Paraguayan War

Source: humanhistories.org (Histoverse/Wikidata)
1888-05 Policy change medium

Abolition of Slavery

End of slavery in Brazil

Source: World Important Dates (CSV dataset)
1888 Policy change critical

Brazil Abolishes Slavery — Last Country in Americas to Do So

Brazil's Princess Regent Isabel signed the Golden Law abolishing slavery without compensation to slave owners, making Brazil the last country in the Western Hemisphere to abolish the institution. The act cost the monarchy support among the slave-owning class and contributed to its overthrow.

Source: Robert Conrad, The Destruction of Brazilian Slavery
1889-11 Government change medium

Proclamation of the Republic

End of the Brazilian Empire and the start of the Republic

Source: World Important Dates (CSV dataset)
1889 Revolution high

Brazil Becomes a Republic

A military coup overthrew Emperor Dom Pedro II and proclaimed Brazil a republic, ending the Brazilian Empire and the last monarchy in the Americas outside the Caribbean. The republic was initially dominated by military officers and the powerful coffee-growing elite.

Source: Boris Fausto, A Concise History of Brazil
1900 War medium

Battle of Riosinho

Battle of Riosinho

Source: humanhistories.org (Histoverse/Wikidata)
1906 Sanctions medium

Third Pan-American Conference

Third Pan-American Conference

Source: humanhistories.org (Histoverse/Wikidata)
1909 Trade agreement medium

Velarde-Río Branco Treaty

1909 treaty between Brazil and Peru

Source: humanhistories.org (Histoverse/Wikidata)
1913 War medium

Sedição de Juazeiro

conflict in Brazil in the 20th century

Source: humanhistories.org (Histoverse/Wikidata)
1924 Revolution medium

Paulista Revolution

Rebellion in Brazil

Source: humanhistories.org (Histoverse/Wikidata)
1930-11 Government change medium

Vargas Era Begins

Start of Getúlio Vargas' rule

Source: World Important Dates (CSV dataset)
1932 Revolution critical

Constitutionalist Revolution

1932 civil war in Brazil

Source: humanhistories.org (Histoverse/Wikidata)
1934 War medium

Battle of Praça da Sé

1934 conflict in São Paulo, Brazil

Source: humanhistories.org (Histoverse/Wikidata)
1945 Trade agreement medium

Portuguese Language Orthographic Agreement of 1945

Portuguese Language Orthographic Agreement of 1945

Source: humanhistories.org (Histoverse/Wikidata)
1945 War medium

Battle of Collecchio

Battle between the Brazilian Expeditionary Force, together with Italian guerrillas and the American Infantry division units, against the German 148th division, Panzergrenadier, and the Italian Bersaglieri and Monterosa

Source: humanhistories.org (Histoverse/Wikidata)
1957 Sanctions medium

1st Brazilian Mathematics Colloquium

Informations about the Brazilian Mathematics Colloquium

Source: humanhistories.org (Histoverse/Wikidata)
1960-04 Policy change medium

Construction of Brasília

Creation of a new capital aiming at interior development and national integration

Source: World Important Dates (CSV dataset)
1961 War medium

Massacre at 11th Parallel

1963 mass killing of indigenous people in Brazil

Source: humanhistories.org (Histoverse/Wikidata)
1964-04 Coup critical

Military coup in Brazil

The Brazilian military overthrew President Joao Goulart, beginning a 21-year military dictatorship that pursued rapid industrialization alongside political repression.

Source: Historical records
1964-03 Policy change high

Military Coup

Beginning of military dictatorship lasting until 1985

Source: World Important Dates (CSV dataset)
1966 Terror attack low

Attack on Guararapes Airport

1966 terrorist incident in Brazil

Source: humanhistories.org (Histoverse/Wikidata)
1967 Policy change medium

Tropicália Movement

AvantUnknowngarde music and arts movement challenging traditional Brazilian culture

Source: World Important Dates (CSV dataset)
1968 War medium

Sexta-Feira Sangrenta

Sexta-Feira Sangrenta

Source: humanhistories.org (Histoverse/Wikidata)
1982-08 Debt default critical

Mexico Debt Default - Latin American Debt Crisis

Mexico announced it could not service its $80 billion foreign debt, triggering the Latin American debt crisis as other countries defaulted. The crisis led to a 'lost decade' of economic stagnation across Latin America.

Source: Historical record
1984 Policy change medium

Direct Elections Now Campaign

Nationwide protests for direct presidential elections

Source: World Important Dates (CSV dataset)
1985-10 Pandemic critical

HIV/AIDS Named and Spreading Globally

By 1985, the AIDS epidemic had spread to every continent and been reported in 51 countries, with over 20,000 cases worldwide. The discovery of the HIV virus in 1984 enabled development of blood tests to screen donations, preventing further spread through transfusions.

Source: Historical record
1992 Sanctions medium

Earth Summit

international conference in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in June 1992

Source: humanhistories.org (Histoverse/Wikidata)
1992 War medium

Carandiru massacre

1992 massacre in the Carandiru penitentiary in São Paulo, Brazil

Source: humanhistories.org (Histoverse/Wikidata)
1992-12 Government change medium

Fernando Collor's Impeachment

First Brazilian president to be impeached due to corruption charges

Source: World Important Dates (CSV dataset)
1992-06 Policy change medium

Rio Earth Summit

International conference on environment and sustainability

Source: World Important Dates (CSV dataset)
1992-06 Policy change high

Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro

The UN Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro was the largest gathering of world leaders in history up to that point, producing the Framework Convention on Climate Change and Convention on Biological Diversity. It placed environmental protection on the global political agenda.

Source: Historical record
1993 War medium

Haximu massacre

1993 armed conflict in Brazil

Source: humanhistories.org (Histoverse/Wikidata)
1993 War medium

Candelária massacre

massacre

Source: humanhistories.org (Histoverse/Wikidata)
1994-07 Policy change critical

Real Plan stabilizes economy

The introduction of the Real currency and accompanying stabilization plan ended decades of hyperinflation, setting the stage for Brazils modern economic growth.

Source: Central Bank of Brazil
1994-07 Economic crisis medium

Real Plan Implementation

Stabilization of Brazilian economy and introduction of the Real (R$)

Source: World Important Dates (CSV dataset)
1994-07 Economic crisis medium

Plano Real Economic Stabilization

Introduction of the Real (R$) to stabilize the Brazilian economy

Source: World Important Dates (CSV dataset)
1995-01 Government change medium

FHC Presidency (Fernando Henrique Cardoso)

Implementation of economic reforms and Plano Real

Source: World Important Dates (CSV dataset)
1997 Trade agreement medium

CIFTA

international firearms control treaty

Source: humanhistories.org (Histoverse/Wikidata)
1999 Terror attack medium

Morumbi Shopping shooting

Morumbi Shopping shooting

Source: humanhistories.org (Histoverse/Wikidata)
2002-06 Policy change medium

FIFA World Cup Victory

Brazil wins its first FIFA World Cup boosting national pride

Source: World Important Dates (CSV dataset)
2003 War critical

Opération 14 juillet

2003 failed French military operation to rescue Íngrid Betancourt from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia

Source: humanhistories.org (Histoverse/Wikidata)
2003-01 Government change medium

Lula da Silva's Presidency

First workingUnknownclass president

Source: World Important Dates (CSV dataset)
2005 Policy change high

Mensalão Scandal

Major corruption scandal involving bribery and misuse of public funds

Source: World Important Dates (CSV dataset)
2006 War medium

Militias-Comando Vermelho conflict

ongoing armed conflict in Brazil

Source: humanhistories.org (Histoverse/Wikidata)
2007 Sanctions medium

V Latin American Episcopal Conference and the Caribbean

V Latin American Episcopal Conference and the Caribbean

Source: humanhistories.org (Histoverse/Wikidata)
2012 Sanctions medium

United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development

June 2012 UN conference in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Source: humanhistories.org (Histoverse/Wikidata)
2014 Policy change medium

Operation Car Wash (Lava Jato)

Extensive corruption investigation impacting politics and businesses

Source: World Important Dates (CSV dataset)
2014-06 Policy change medium

FIFA World Cup Corruption Scandals Exposed

The US Department of Justice indicted 14 FIFA officials on racketeering, wire fraud, and money laundering charges on May 27, 2015 (related to conduct from the 2000s-2014), revealing systematic corruption in the award of World Cup hosting rights including the 2010 and 2014 tournaments. FIFA President Sepp Blatter resigned amid the scandal.

Source: U.S. Department of Justice; FIFA Ethics Committee
2015-01 Economic crisis high

Brazil enters severe recession

Brazils economy contracted sharply amid falling commodity prices, fiscal mismanagement, and a massive corruption scandal (Operation Car Wash), leading to the worst recession in a century.

Source: IBGE
2015 Policy change high

Zika Virus Outbreak

Major health crisis linked to birth defects sparking international concern

Source: World Important Dates (CSV dataset)
2016 Revolution medium

2016 Summer Olympics

Games of the XXXI Olympiad, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Source: humanhistories.org (Histoverse/Wikidata)
2016-08 Government change medium

Dilma Rousseff's Impeachment

Second Brazilian president to be impeached accused of fiscal mismanagement

Source: World Important Dates (CSV dataset)
2016-08 Policy change medium

Olympics in Rio: Zika Virus and Political Crisis

Brazil hosted the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro from August 5-21, 2016, amid the Zika virus outbreak, a severe recession, and the impeachment of President Dilma Rousseff, with security concerns dominating pre-Games coverage. The Games proceeded successfully despite predictions of disaster, though Brazil's political crisis deepened.

Source: IOC; Brazilian Senate; WHO
2019 Pandemic critical

COVID-19 Pandemic Begins

Novel coronavirus emerges, spreading globally and becoming the most severe pandemic in a century.

2019 Terror attack medium

Suzano Massacre

school shooting, mass murder, murder–suicide and infanticide in Brazil

Source: humanhistories.org (Histoverse/Wikidata)
2019-08 Policy change high

Amazon Rainforest Wildfires

International attention on Brazil's environmental policies and conservation efforts

Source: World Important Dates (CSV dataset)
2019-01 Government change medium

Bolsonaro Presidency Begins

Marked by controversial environmental policies and conservative agenda

Source: World Important Dates (CSV dataset)
2019-08 Natural disaster high

Amazon Fires in Brazil Escalate Under Bolsonaro

Deforestation-driven fires in the Brazilian Amazon surged to record levels in August 2019 under President Bolsonaro's administration, which had weakened environmental protections, triggering an international crisis and threats of trade sanctions from European countries. The fires destroyed an area larger than Portugal in a year.

Source: INPE (Brazilian Space Research Institute); WWF
2020-01 Pandemic critical

COVID-19 pandemic begins

A novel coronavirus first identified in Wuhan, China, spread globally, causing the most severe pandemic since 1918 and unprecedented economic shutdowns worldwide.

Source: WHO
2020 Pandemic critical

COVID-19 Global Lockdowns

Governments worldwide implement unprecedented lockdowns in response to COVID-19 pandemic.

2021 Terror attack medium

Saudades massacre

massacre occurred in may 2021 at the city of Saudades, Santa Catarina, Brazil

Source: humanhistories.org (Histoverse/Wikidata)
2023 Revolution medium

Kuomitê

Brazilian political party

Source: humanhistories.org (Histoverse/Wikidata)
2023-01 Government change critical

Brazil: Bolsonaro Supporters Storm Government Buildings

Supporters of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro stormed and ransacked the Presidential Palace, National Congress, and Supreme Court in Brasília on January 8, 2023, rejecting the election of President Lula da Silva in scenes reminiscent of the US January 6 attack. Over 1,500 rioters were arrested and Bolsonaro was later indicted for allegedly plotting a coup.

Source: Brazilian Federal Police; Supreme Court of Brazil
2023-08 Policy change high

BRICS Expansion: Six New Members Invited

The BRICS leaders' summit in Johannesburg invited six new countries—Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE—to join the bloc on January 1, 2024, in the largest expansion since Brazil joined in 2010. The expansion was seen as part of a broader effort toward de-dollarization and an alternative to Western-led institutions.

Source: South African Presidency; BRICS Summit Declaration
2024 Sanctions medium

45th UBES National Congress

45th UBES National Congress

Source: humanhistories.org (Histoverse/Wikidata)
Data sourced from World Bank, IMF, FRED, Penn World Tables, Maddison Project. For educational purposes.