MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Brazil: The powerhouse of South America

Photo: Unsplash

While Brazil needs no introduction, it certainly deserves one as the largest country in South America, and the fifth-largest country by area. However, between being a giant in terms of economy and tourism, there’s more to it than just its size. As such, today, we’ll be taking a deeper dive into this country, and what makes it deserve the title of powerhouse.

The Economic Giant of South America

As per the Observatory of Economic Complexity, Brazil is currently number 11 in the world in terms of GDP. When it comes to South America, it is by far the largest economy, and in the Americas, it comes third following Canada and the USA. Of course, this economic success is due to a variety of factors. One of which is its progressive stance when it comes to growth.

Most recently, Brazil is venturing into expanding the online gambling sector in the country by the end of July. This digital sector has been expanding all around the world, allowing players to enjoy games like jackpot slots through online platforms. Some popular titles you might have heard of are Wild Wild Quest, Chilli Fiesta, and Power of Gods.

Apart from these newer industries it’s planning to dip its toes into, Brazil is currently one of the global leaders in mining. Particularly, the export of its mineral resources has led it to be placed among the top five mineral producers globally, as advised by the USA ITA. Chiefly, we have to mention iron, manganese, and niobium, all of which are impacting the economy heavily.

Another industry that is worth mentioning is agriculture. Thanks to its vast landscape, the country has become the world’s primary source of products such as coffee, along with being a major producer of sugar and beef. Some other honorable mentions include their manufacturing and the service sector.

Moreover, for such a powerful country, it is not surprising to find out just how many economic alliances it is part of. Namely, we have to mention the Mercosur trade bloc. This originally comprised only Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay, however, there are other countries that are associated with it, even if they’re not permanent members.

While the country’s economy has been going up and down throughout the years, there’s plenty of hope for it. From the formidable industries forming the backbone of the economy to the newer sectors it’s delving into, the future of its economy looks bright. As such, we can’t wait to see what’s next in store for Brazil.

Brazil's Culture

Apart from its growing economy, another notable mention is the vibrant culture it has that propels another sector — tourism. It is undeniable that Brazilian culture is world-renowned, with people flocking to the country to experience it. As per BRIC Group, approximately 6 million foreigners traveled to the country in 2023, and these numbers are expected to be even higher by the end of 2024.

The main reason for the country’s popularity is its blend of cultures, brought on by the indigenous community, colonization, and immigration. Now, everything from the music to the dances to the food has become one-of-a-kind while still managing to reflect its heritage.

However, while this fusion has led to some pretty unique creations, the biggest impact came from the Portuguese. Brazil has the largest number of Portuguese speakers in the world, and they also got their main religion and several customs from their colonizers.

One lesser-known fact is that Brazil has the largest number of Catholics, which make up over half of its population, as advised by the Catholic World Mission. This has impacted the culture heavily, with the most surprising way being the creation of one of the most popular and biggest festivals in the world. Of course, we’re talking about Carnival, specifically the one in Rio de Janeiro.

After all, we had to give out a special shoutout to the festival that is synonymous with the country. While historians state that the origins of modern Carnival can be traced back to Trinidad and Tobago, no one does it quite like Brazil. It’s typically known to be the largest Carnival celebration in the world, lasting five days. Featuring colorful parades, dazzling costumes, and plenty of samba music, if you’ve never even seen a snippet of this event, we’d recommend checking out this colorful festival.

Photo: Unsplash

Brazil is one of the most unique countries in the world, home to the Amazon River basin, which consists of the largest river system and rainforest. It’s a huge player in terms of the world economy, and we can expect its impact to continue rising thanks to its political and economic alliances, chiefly BRICS. All of this, and it also has one of the most diverse and unique cultures in the world. The powerhouse of South America truly deserves the title in question.