20 curiosities about Brazil – Check it out exclusively!

Undoubtedly, there are many curiosities about Brazil, as the unusual fact has been part of our history since its inception. Brazil is considered the fifth largest country in territorial extension, so it is large enough to accommodate different types of particularities.

In this vast land we have more than 216 million inhabitants spread across 5 regions and 26 states and the Federal District, São Paulo being the most populous state with more than 46 million inhabitants and the least populous Roraima with about 652,000 inhabitants.

In addition, our territory has a great biodiversity, divided into 6 biomes, namely: Amazon, Cerrado, Pantanal, Atlantic Forest, Caatinga and Pampa. As you can imagine, the flora and fauna are very rich and varied.

After this short summary about our country, you can already see that there is no lack of information and curiosities about it, right? However, we separate curiosities for you to know more about Brazil.

1. Official name

In fact, its official name is República Federativa do Brasil. And, for those who don’t know, Brazil means “red as ember” and its origin comes from pau-brasil, which has the color red.

One of the amazing things that few people know about Brazil is that about 100 years ago our country was called the United States of Brazil.

2. Curiosities about Brazil – Large numbers of slaves during the colonial period

During the colonial period, Brazil imported about 4.8 million black slaves from Africa, which is equivalent to almost half of the total number of slaves in the entire American continent.

3. Brazil has a land area 206 times larger than Switzerland

Fifth largest country in the world, Brazil has a land area of 8,515,767,049 square kilometers. Thus, around 206 Swiss would fit in our country, since there are only 41,285 square kilometers, with 11,000 kilometers to go.

In addition, Brazil is the sixth most populous country in the world, with more than 216 million inhabitants, according to IBGE data.

4. The country considered the largest coffee producer in the world

There’s no doubt that Brazilians love coffee, and it’s no surprise that Brazil is the biggest coffee producer in the world. 

In fact, even countries on the other side of the world, such as Japan and Korea, know and appreciate our coffee.

5. Curiosities about Brazil – Biodiversity x Deforestation

Our country has the greatest biodiversity in the world, mainly in the Amazon rainforest. However, many may be curious about Brazil, as we are also the most deforested country.

6. We have the 12 most violent cities in the world

Of the 30 most violent cities in the world, 12 are in Brazil. By the way, of the 12 cities that hosted the 2014 World Cup, 7 are in this ranking.

7. Tocantins is the youngest state in Brazil

Until 30 years ago, Tocantins did not exist and its territory was part of the state of Goiás. The young nation was created with the 1988 constitution.

8. The city of Rio de Janeiro was once the capital of the country

During Brazil’s colonial period, Rio de Janeiro became the capital of Portugal in 1763, thus becoming the first and only European capital outside European territory.

9. Curiosities about Brazil – Feijoada, the national dish

Known in Brazil and abroad, feijoada is a typical dish of our country. In short, it was created by enslaved blacks during the colonial period. 

Thus, they mixed pork ears, pork tongue and other meat “despised” by large families with black beans.

10. Largest Japanese-speaking community outside of Japan

One of the most interesting facts about Brazil is that our country is home to the largest Japanese community outside of Japan. Thus, more than 600,000 Japanese live in São Paulo alone.

11. Curiosities about Brazil- The second largest airport in the world

Brazil is a very large country with a large number of airports due to its vast territory. As a result, the country has approximately 2,498 airports, the second largest number in the world after the United States.

12. Sex reassignment surgery

Brazil is one of the few countries in the world that offers sex reassignment surgery free of charge. Since 2008, it has been offered by the Unified Health System (SUS).

13. Reading books in Brazil can reduce your sentence

In federal prison, you can reduce your sentence by reading books. So for every book you read, you can save up to 4 pen days and up to 12 pen hours a year.

Furthermore, in the prison of Santa Rita do Sapucaí, in Minas Gerais, prisoners ride exercise bikes that supply energy to the city. In fact, 3 days riding is equal to 1 day in jail.

14. Ethanol at all gas stations

Brazil is the only country in the world where all gas stations offer ethanol. Just like more than 90% of new cars run on this fuel.

15. Curiosities about Brazil – Most Catholics in the world

Brazil was a Portuguese colony, so with the colonial period came Catholicism. Today, it is one of the most followed religions in Brazil and one of the most followed in the world, with approximately 123 million people. It is even ahead of Mexico, which has about 96.4 million believers.

16. Brazil bans tanning beds

Brazil was the first country to ban tanning products as they were considered harmful to the skin.

17. Snake Island

Ilha da Queimada Grande, off the coast of São Paulo, has a high number of snakes, about 5 snakes per square meter. By the way, the Navy prohibits landing in this place, except for researchers, due to its dangers.

18. Brazil is not the biggest exporter of Brazil nuts

This is certainly one of the most unusual curiosities about Brazil. The biggest exporter of the famous Brazil nuts or Brazil nuts is not Brazil, but Bolivia.

19. Languages spoken in Brazil

Before the discovery of Brazil, about a thousand languages were spoken. Currently, however, although Portuguese is the official language, about 180 languages survive, but only 11 are spoken by more than 5,000 people.

20. Curiosities about Brazil – Brazilian Navy aircraft carrier for sale on eBay

This is what you read. That’s all, a naval aircraft carrier called Minas Gerais was already for sale on the famous eBay, but it was removed because the ad violated the site’s policies.