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Brazil
Federative Republic of Brazil
República Federativa do Brasil
Political Status: Independent monarchy proclaimed 1822; republic established 1889; current constitution promulgated October 5, 1988.
Area: 3,286,470 sq. mi. (8,511,965 sq. km.).
Population: 183,888,841 (2007C).
Major Urban Centers (2005E): BRASILIA (federal district, 2,231,000), São Paulo (10,278,000), Rio de Janeiro (6,094,000), Salvador (2,673,000), Belo Horizonte (2,375,000), Recife (1,501,000), Belém (1,397,000), Pôrto Alegre (1,387,000).
Official Language: Portuguese.
Monetary Unit: Real (market rate November 1, 2008: 2.13 reals = $1US).
President: Luiz Inácio (“Lula”) DA SILVA (Workers' Party); elected in runoff of October 27, 2002, and inaugurated on January 1, 2003, for a four-year term, succeeding Fernando Henrique CARDOSO (Brazilian Social Democratic Party); reelected in runoff of October 29, 2006, and inaugurated for another four-year term on January 1, 2007.
Vice President: José ALENCAR (initially elected as a member ...