Brazil People

Brazil's population is made up of a mixture of Native American, European, and African people, which gives rise to an ethnic society in Brazil. The Portuguese had arrived in 1500, while other European groups came after 1850 and the ancestors of African Brazilians arrived as slaves, in the beginning of mid-1500s. This is how Brazil got its unique ethnic background. The Native American population, however, who has been in Brazil for a very long time, is today present in a very small group.

The ethic mix of cultures of all the three races - American, European and Brazil gives the country a unique cultural heritage. However, Portuguese culture still manages to influence Brazil. The country also has a strong folk-art tradition, a mixture of the art of Native Americans, Africans, and Portuguese. Brazil also has an affiliation towards poetry and has seen the birth of many poets. Besides this, painting and pottery also form part of Brazil's artistic culture. Music has always been a part of every Brazilian's life, the most popular being Samba which is a result of the blending of rhythm and vocal styles of the Native Americans, Portuguese, and Africans.

The flag of Brazil is green in colour with a large yellow diamond in the center bearing a blue celestial globe with 27 white five-pointed stars (one for each state and the Federal District) arranged in the same pattern as the night sky over Brazil. The globe has a white equatorial band with the motto ORDEM E PROGRESSO (Order and Progress).
Please click here to view the Flag of Brazil

Brazil has been through economic difficulties despite witnessing a growth in its industrial sector. Faced with a series of oil crisis in 1973 and 1979, accumulation of high foreign debt and periods of rapid inflation, Brazil has seen the economy progress very slowly. However, the government, with a view to see Brazil Economy recover, has been taking firm steps, like it has reduced its role in planning the economy and in financing the development of new industries. It has also opened up a number of state-owned companies to private investors in areas such as steel, petroleum, electricity, and telecommunications. In 2001 services accounted for 57 percent of Brazil's gross domestic product (GDP); industry, 34 percent; and agriculture, forestry, and fishing, 9 percent.