8.3 Brazil's Economy and Culture

​Brazil is a mix of several cultures. Around 40% of its people have mixed ancestry.

​The largest groups are the people of European and African ancestry.

​The other major group is made up of people of European and Native ancestry.

​During the colonial period, 4 million African slaves were brought to Brazil. This affected the demographics immensely.

​Though some moved into the hinterlands most people in Brazil live near the coast.

The northern part has a strong presence of freed slaves and natives.

​89% of all Brazilians live in the cities. This causes the cities to be crowded, and at times dangerous.

​Sao Paolo and Rio de Janeiro are the largest cities in the country. Both of them have large gaps in inequality, with many people living in poverty.

​Most of Brazil's cities have shantytowns called "favelas".

​Favelas are makeshift communities usually located at the edges of towns.

​With few resources and a lack of opportunity, many favelas are plagued with disease and crime.

​The Brazilians have what they call the "Brazilian Way" which is characterized by a warm, welcoming nature.

​They are always ready to accept new things and people into their country.

​Ethnicity still plays a role in socioeconomics.

​Due to the many people groups that have lived in Brazil over time, Brazilian has developed a rich multicultural vocabulary.

​Brazilian and Portuguese are somewhat similar, but due to the expanded vocabulary, it is hard for them to understand each other.

​About two-thirds of Brazilians are Roman Catholics with women going to Church more often than men.

​Most of the rest of the population follows the Protestant faith.

​Islam and Buddhism are also growing religions.

​Brazilians love food and their diet is varied, rich with flavor, and diverse representing all of the cultures present in the country.

​Every year Brazilians celebrate the "Carnival", a celebration with music, dress-up, and partying.

​People in rural Brazil have incredibly close ties with their families and communities.

​Their situation is not easy. Most families are poor and work on farms and ranches.

​Their diet consists of hearty meals that help them remain active during harvest seasons.

Many city dwellers are poor and have therefore a poor diet.

​The busy cities in the South enjoy a higher standard of living than those in the North.

​The cities move at a very fast pace compared to the rural areas.

​Soccer is the most popular sport in Brazil

​Today Brazil is the world's seventh economy.

​The country is plagued with large socioeconomic disparities.

​Education and college are some of the main ways people escape poverty in Brazil.

​The country is in a constant fight against deforestation.