POPULATION:
Brazil
has the sixth largest population in the world--about 186 million
people--which has doubled in the past 30 years. Because of its size, there
are only 15 people per sq. km, concentrated mainly along the coast and in
the major cities, where two-thirds of the people now live: over 19 million
in greater Sao Paulo and 10 million in greater Rio.
There are five distinct regions of Brazil, each with its own diversity,
culture and ethnic groups: North, Northeast, South, Southeast, & Central
West. The Brazilian culture as a whole, has been shaped not only by the
Portuguese but also by the country's native Indians, the African population
and others that settled in Brazil from Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
States of Brazil:
LANGUAGES:
Population includes 311,656 American Indians (1995); 155,000 speak American Indian languages; Official language: Portuguese; Italian speaking: 500,000; Japanese speaking: 380,000; Korean speaking: 37,000; Lithuanian/German speaking: 1,500,000;
The number of languages listed for Brazil is 235. 88 are living languages; 47 extinct
Portuguese is spoken by nearly 100 percent of the population. Exceptions being: Amerindian groups and pockets of immigrants, primarily from Japan and South Korea; The immigrant Portuguese language was greatly influenced by the numerous Indian and African dialects they encountered, but it remains the dominant language in Brazil today; The principal Indian languages are Tupí, Arawak, Carib, and Gę. Many educated Brazilians also speak Spanish, and many are fluent in English and French.
Blind population: 124,805. Deaf population: 9,624,345.
RELIGION:
Most Brazilians are Roman Catholics. This gives Brazil the distinction of having the largest Catholic population of any nation in the world. There are also many Protestants in Brazil. In Smaller numbers of Buddhists and Jews make their homes in Brazil. An unusual mixture of African religions and Roman Catholicism known as candomblé is practiced by many Brazilians of African descent in the cities and the Northeast.
SUGGESTED ARTICLES / WATCHTOWER PUBLICATIONS:
~ The Mighty Amazon—A Lifeline for Millions g03 11/8 13-17
~ Complete Theocratic history of the
preaching of the Good News in Brazil: Yb97, 125-170~ The Dramatic History of a "Land of Contrasts" g00 5/8 16-19
~ The Amazon Rain Forest, g97 3/22, 3
~ Catholicism With an African Flavor, g05 2/22 12-13
Many other informative articles & encouraging experiences can be found researching with the Watchtower Library CD & Watchtower Indexes.
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