10 Largest Countries In The World - 10 Most Today 10 Largest Countries In The World 2 Comments The following is a list of the largest countries by area in the world: 1. Russia – Largest country in the world by far with a size of 17,098,242 square km (6,601,668 square mi) St. Basil Cathedral near the Kremlin, Moscow (source: wiki) 2. Canada – Second largest in the world and largest in the Americas with 9,984,670 square km (3,855,100 sq ml). It is also the country with the most water in the world (8.93% of it’s total size is water) The Skyline of Toronto, Canada (source: wiki) 3. China – Third in the world and the largest in Asia: 9,706,961 sq km (3,747,879 sq mi) China is the third largest country in the world. Shanghai, China (source: wiki)Shanghai, China (source: wiki) 4.

United States – Fourth largest in the world: 9,629,091 sq km (3,717,813 sq mi). It is only slightly smaller than China The United States is the fourth largest country in the world (Skyline of Manhattan) (source: wiki) 5. Brazil – 5th largest in the world and the largest country in South America and in the Southern Hemisphere: 8,514,877 sq km (3,287,612 sq mi) Corcovado statue in Rio, Brazil (source: wiki) 6. Australia – 6th largest in the world and the largest country in Oceania, as well as the largest country without land borders: 7,692,024 sq km (2,969,907 sq mi) Sydney, Australia. Australia is the 6th largest country in the world (source: Rodney Haywood) 7.

India – 7th largest in the world but less than half the size of Australia: 3,166,414 sq km (1,222,559 sq mi) The Taj Mahal – a symbol of India – 7th largest country (source: wiki) 8. Argentina – 8th in the world with a size of 2,780,400 sq km (1,073,500 sq mi) The Casa Rosada (pink house) in Plaza de Mayo, known landmark in Buenos Aires (source: wiki) 9. Kazakhstan – In the 9th place and just slightly smaller than Argentina: 2,724,900 sq km (1,052,100 sq mi) Downtown Astana – the capital of Kazakhstan (source: wiki) 10.

Algeria – 10th largest in the world but the largest country in Africa: 2,381,741 sq km (919,595 sq mi) The Monument Of The Martyrs in Algiers – capital of Algeria (source: wiki) Largest Countries in the World, Top 10 Biggest Countries by Area Africa 2,381,741 Russia's geographical position is commonly described as "Eurasia". Its Asian part alone has larger area as compared to an entire country. As the largest country in the Western Hemisphere, Canada has the longest coastline. Its border with the United States is the world's longest land border. Slighter smaller in area than Canada, the United States of America is bordered by Mexico to the south and Canada to the north. It has the world's most fertile growing areas. China shares its border with 14 different countries, including Afghanistan to the east, Russia to the north, and Vietnam to the south. It is also home to 56 recognized ethnic groups. As the largest country in South America, Brazil is the home to the world's largest rainforest named as the Amazon. Also, it has a lengthy Atlantic coastline on the eastern side.

As the largest country in Oceania, Australia is a continental landmass and not an island. The country is well known for its extreme climate and wildlife. With rapidly changing boundaries over the past century, India has China, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal sharing their borders with it. It was once separated from Asia by a particular sea. As the largest Spanish-speaking nation in the world, Argentina has a varied climate and geography. Its southern tip, Cape Horn is the stormiest location available on Earth. Formerly part of the USSR, Kazakhstan has been the largest nation in the world for most of the 20th century. It is also the largest landlocked country on the globe. Algeria is situated in Northern Africa and has a majority of its desert regions highly elevated. The Algerian Sahara desert extends all the way to the south of Algeria past its borders with Mali and Niger The world's ten biggest countries by size are ranked based on information from the CIA World Factbook. The numbers shown are based on the total land area of each country, including both land and water areas within the international boundaries. Russia is the largest country in the world by a wide margin, covering 17,098,242 square kilometers.

Russia stretches across Eurasia, spanning nine time zones and covering about an eighth of the inhabited land area of the Earth. The next largest country is also located in the far north. Canada covers the northern part of the Western Hemisphere, with a total area of 9,984,670 square kilometers. The United States and China are next on the list, so close in size that their positions are sometimes reversed, depending on the inclusion of particular territories and water areas. Just behind China and the USA is the largest country in South America, Brazil, with an area of 8,514,877 square miles, followed by Australia with an area of 7,692,024 square kilometers. Rounding out the top ten are the much smaller countries of India, Argentina, Kazakhstan and Algeria. Interactive Map of Largest Countries in the World The map of the ten largest countries by area is an interactive map of the world showing the largest countries. Hover your mouse over each of the top ten countries to see their areas in square kilometers.

You must be Interested to Know The 20 Biggest Countries in the World Share By Matt Rosenberg Here's a listing of the twenty largest countries in the world by area, in both square kilometers and square miles.

Russia: 17,075,200 km2 (6,591,027 mi2) Canada: 9,984,670 km2 (3,854,082 mi2) United States: 9,631,418 km2 (3,717,727 mi2) China: 9,596,960 km2 (3,704,426 mi2) Brazil: 8,511,965 km2 (3,285,618 mi2) Australia: 7,686,850 km2 (2,967,124 mi2) India: 3,287,590 km2 (1,269,009 mi2) Argentina: 2,766,890 km2 (1,068,019 mi2) Kazakhstan: 2,717,300 km2 (1,048,877 mi2) Algeria: 2,381,74

0 km2 (919,352 mi2) Congo, Democratic Republic of the: 2,345,410 km2 (905,328 mi2) Mexico: 1,972,550 km2 (761,404 mi2)* 10 Countries With The Largest Population - 10 Most Today 10 Countries With The Largest Population Lists Of Countries The following list contains the 10 largest countries by population: 1.

China – The largest population in the world with over 1.3 billion people – 1,359,100,000 to be exact. China’s population alone is 19.1% of the entire population on earth! China is also the third largest in the world by size (after Russia and Canada) The Great Wall Of China. China has the largest population in the world (source: wiki) 2. India – Not too far behind, India has the second largest population in the world with 1,231,990,000 (over than 1.2 billion). India’s population is 17.3% of the entire world population. India and China together consist of 26.4% of the total human population! The Taj Mahal in India. India has the second largest population (source: wiki) 3. United States – Third largest population in the world but far far behind China and India is the United States. With 316,364,000 in population, and 4.45% of the total population on the planet.

The United States is also 4th largest in the world by area Times Square, a symbol of the United States (source: wiki) 4, Indonesia – 4th largest in the world with 237,641,000 people – 3.35% of the world population Jakarta – the capital of indonesia (source: wiki) 5. Brazil – Brazil is 5th largest in the world by size and also by population with 193,946,000 which are 2.73% of the total human population Corcovado statue in Rio. Brazil has the 5th largest population (source: wiki) 6. Pakistan – Population of 183,830,000, 2.59% of the total human population in the world Faisal mosque in islamabad, Pakistan (source: wiki) 7. Nigeria – Not far behind Pakistan, Nigeria has a population of 173,615,000 which accumulate to 2.44% of the entire population Zuma Rock near Abuja, the capital of Nigeria (source: wiki) 8.

Bangladesh – 152,518,015, 2.15% Sadarghat port in Dhaka, capital of Bangaladesh (source: wiki) 9. Russia – Russia is the largest country in the world by far, but population-wise it is only 9th in the world with a total population of 143,400,000 which are only 2.02% of the world’s population The Kremlin in Moscow. A symbol of Russia (source: wiki) 10. Japan – Japan is 10th largest in the world population-wise, but it’s population is less than 10% of the population of China. Japan has a population of 127,350,000 which are 1.79% of the world’s population Tokyo, Japan. Japan has the 10th largest population in the world (source: wiki) Geography of Brazil - Physical, Political & Economic Geography of Brazil By Matt Rosenberg Updated July 22, 2016.

Brazil is the fifth largest country in the world; in terms of population (186 million in 2005) as well as land area. It is the economic leader of South America, with the ninth largest economy in the world, and a large iron and aluminum ore reserve. Physical Geography From the Amazon basin in the north and west to the Brazilian Highlands in the southeast, Brazil's topography is quite diverse. The Amazon River system carries more water to the ocean than any other river system in the world. It is navigable for its entire 2000 mile trip within Brazil. The basin is home to the most rapidly depleting rain forest in the world, losing about 52,000 square miles annually. The basin, occupying more than sixty percent of the entire country, receives more than eighty inches (about 200 cm) of rain a year in some areas. Almost all of Brazil is humid as well as either has a tropical or subtropical climate. Brazil's rainy season occurs during the summer months. continue reading below our video Test Your General Science Knowledge Eastern Brazil suffers from regular drought. There is little seismic or volcanic activity due to Brazil's position near the center of the South American Plate.

The Brazilian Highlands and plateaus generally average less than 4000 feet (1220 meters) but the highest point in Brazil is Pico de Neblina at 9888 feet (3014 meters). Extensive uplands lie in the southeast and drop off quickly at the Atlantic Coast. Much of the coast is composed of the Great Escarpment which looks like a wall from the ocean. Political Geography Brazil encompasses so much of South America that it shares borders with all South American nations except Ecuador and Chile. Brazil is divided into 26 states and a Federal District. The state of Amazonas has the largest area and the most populous is Sao Paulo . The capital city of Brazil is Brasilia, a master planned city built in the late 1950s where nothing existed before in the Mato Grasso plateaus. Now, millions of people reside in the Federal District. Urban Geography Two of the world's fifteen largest cities are in Brazil: Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, and are only about 250 miles (400 km) apart. Rio de Janeiro surpassed Sao Paulo's population in the 1950s.

Rio de Janeiro's status also suffered when it was replaced by Brasilia as the capital in 1960, a position Rio de Janeiro had held since 1763. However, Rio de Janeiro is still the undisputed cultural capital (and major international transportation hub) of Brazil. Sao Paulo is growing at an incredible rate. The population has doubled since 1977 when it was an 11 million people metropolis. Both cities have a huge ever-expanding ring of shanty towns and squatter settlements on their periphery. Culture and History Portuguese colonization began in Northeastern Brazil after Pedro Alvares Cabral's accidental landing in 1500. Portugal established plantations in Brazil and brought slaves from Africa. In 1808 Rio de Janeiro became the home of the Portuguese royalty which was ousted by Napoleon's invasion. Portuguese Prime Regent John VI left Brazil in 1821. In 1822, Brazil proclaimed independence. Brazil is the only Portuguese-speaking nation in South America. A military coup d'etat of the civilian government in 1964 gave Brazil a military government for more than two decades.

Since 1989 there has been a democratically elected civil leader. Though Brazil has the world's largest Roman Catholic population, the birth rate has significantly decreased over the last 20 years. In 1980, Brazilian women gave birth to an average of 4.4 children each. In 1995, that rate dropped to 2.1 children. The annual rate of growth has also decreased from just over 3% in the 1960s to 1.7% today. An increase in contraceptive use, economic stagnation, and the diffusion of global ideas through television have all been explained as reasons for the downturn. The government has no formal program of birth control. There are less than 300,000 indigenous Amerindians living in the Amazon basin. Sixty-five million people in Brazil are of mixed European, African, and Amerindian descent. Economic Geography The state of Sao Paulo is responsible for about half of Brazil's Gross Domestic Product as well as about two-thirds of it manufacturing. While only about five percent of the land is cultivated, Brazil leads the world in coffee production (about a third of the global total).

Brazil also produces a quarter of the world citrus, has more than one-tenth of the cattle supply, and produces one-fifth of the iron ore. Most of Brazil's sugar cane production (12% of the world total) is used to create gasohol which powers a portion of Brazilian automobiles. The key industry of the country is automobile production. It will be very interesting to watch the future of the South American giant. For more data, see the World Atlas page about Brazil. *Only China, India, the United States, and Indonesia have larger populations and Russia, Canada, China, and the United States have larger land area. The Largest Countries in the World - WorldAtlas.com The Largest Countries in the World The worlds largest nations, measured in square kilometers of land area. Rolling Hills and Vast Vistas in Tuscany, Italy From Cape Horn all the way to the Arctic Circle, the world’s largest countries provide a beautiful snapshot of the variety of geography, climate and wildlife on the planet. Collectively, the world’s largest countries contain rainforest and tundra, mountains and valleys, coastline and desert.

As this we explore the largest nations, we visit five different continents, some of the world’s most spectacular geography, and every type of climate imaginable. Excitingly, it’s always changing, too: history has taught that geopolitical boundaries shift dramatically as centuries pass. In the next decades, who’s to say which countries will become the world’s largest? When 11.5 percent of all the land in the entire world is claimed by just one country, it’s not surprising to learn that the tenth largest country ( Algeria ) could fit into the largest ( Russia ) seven times over. When all 10 of the world's largest countries are taken together, they total 49% of the earth's entire 149 million square kilometres of land. 10 – Algeria The Algerian Sahara, the largest expanse of Saharan dessert Algeria , at 2.38 million square kilometers, is the tenth-largest country in the world by area and the only African country in the top 10. Situated in Northern Africa, Algeria has a Mediterranean coastline 998 km long. 90 percent of the country is desert, and much of its desert regions are highly elevated.

The Tell Atlas mountain range runs along the country’s northern border, while the interior, much of it hundreds of meters above sea level, contains the Algerian portion of the Sahara desert. The massive Algerian Sahara extends all the way to the south of the country past its borders with Niger and Mali . 9 – Kazakhstan Kazakhstan is the world's largest landlocked country Kazakhstan’s 2.72 million square kilometers stretch over vast plains and highlands. A cool and dry, but not quite desert-like, climate prevails for most of the year. Kazakhstanis experience a great range of temperatures throughout the year, though it doesn’t get as cold in Kazakhstan as it does in parts of its northern neighbor, Russia . Formerly part of the USSR, the largest nation in the world for most of the 20th century, Kazakhstan’s current main claim to fame is its status as the largest landlocked country in the world—and the only landlocked country in the top 10. 8 – Argentina Mount Fitz Roy in Patagonia, Argentina Argentina , the world’s 32nd most populous country, is the world’s eighth largest, and the largest Spanish-speaking nation in the world by area.

Its 2.78 million square kilometers include some of the most varied geography and climate in the world. Swampy, tropical conditions in the very north give way to freezing glacial regions in the south. Patagonia, one of the most spectacular and dangerous places on the planet, stretches from the southern Andes in the west to the Atlantic Ocean in the east. The southern tip of Argentina, known as Cape Horn, is one of the stormiest locations on the globe. 6 – Australia The Twelve Apostles, Victoria State, Australia The approximately 4.4 million square kilometer difference between Australia and India represents the second-largest size difference between countries ranked consecutively in the top 10. Australia, at around 7.69 million square kilometers, is over twice the size of India . It’s the largest country in Oceania by far. Technically it is so large that it doesn’t even qualify as an island, it is a continental landmass. The vast majority of its population live in coastal cities like Sydney in the east and Perth in the west, and with good reason: the Australian Outback is one of the world’s driest and hottest regions.

Along with extreme climate and geography, Australia is known for its spectacular—and often deadly—wildlife. 5 – Brazil Copacabana beach, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil The largest country in South America at over 8.51 million square kilometers, Brazil plays home to much of the world’s largest rainforest, the Amazon. The Amazon is so dense and vast that explorers and scientists have found human civilizations within—small tribes—that had never made contact with the outside world. Even still, these same experts believe there may be more undiscovered tribes living there unfound still. Brazil also has a lengthy Atlantic coastline on the eastern side, which stretches approximately 8,000 km. Most of its major cities, including Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, were built along this coastline, detouring the thick Amazon jungle. 4 – People’s Republic of China The Great Wall of China stretches along a long stretch of the northern border of China China , the United States of America , and Canada each occupy just under seven percent of the globe’s surface. Of these three, China is the smallest—just barely—at approximately 9.6 million square kilometers.

It shares a border with 14 different countries, including Afghanistan to the east, Russia to the north, and Vietnam to the south. Its climate and its people vary dramatically. In the north, temperatures drop to subarctic levels, the center of the nation holds the Gobi, the world’s 4th largest desert, and in the south temperatures reach tropical levels regularly. With over 1.35 billion citizens, China is home to 56 recognized ethnic groups, has the world’s 18th largest Muslim population, the 19th largest Christian population, and with 1.9 doctors per 1000 people, China has more doctors than the entire population of Qatar . 3 – United States of America Long meandering rivers of North Dakota cut through plains and canyons The United States , just bigger than China but slightly smaller than Canada , occupies 9.63 million square kilometers. Bordered by Mexico to the south, and Canada to the north, the United States is home to a diverse array of geography and wildlife. Two North-South features split the nation into three distinct pieces.

West of the Rocky Mountains, the Pacific states are known for year round temperate weather and long expanses of beach along the California coast. Sandwiched between the Rockies and the Mississippi River, the great plains stretch from Canada to Mexico, giving the United States one of the world's most fertile growing areas. Lastly, the third of the nation east of the Mississippi is the industrial and economic hub of America, with major cities spread all along the Eastern seaboard. 2 – Canada The vast wilderness of Canada is popular for outdoor activity Canada’s 9.984 million square kilometers make it the largest country in the western hemisphere, and its 202,080 kilometer coastline means that it has a longer shoreline than any other nation. With a population density of 4 people per square kilometer, this means that each of Canada's 35 million people could have 61 acres for themselves. Positioned between the Arctic and the United States, Canada’s massive frozen tundra extends into the Arctic Circle. Split similar to the USA; in the western half of the country, the Rocky Mountains run north to south, and prairies provide huge grain and canola growing areas.

Eastern Canada is the traditional heart of the nation, with Toronto, Montreal, and the national capital of Ottawa, all located in the East. 1 – Russia The Trans-Siberian Railroad is the world's longest railroad Russia’s 17.1 million square kilometres easily make it the world’s largest by area. In fact, if Russia were to lop off 7 million square kilometers, it would still be the largest—and the lopped-off section would rank seventh overall! Like China , Russia borders 14 different countries. Unlike China, none of Russia is tropical, though humid summers prevail in much of southern Russia. The Taiga, the world’s largest terrestrial biome, extends all the way from Eastern Canada throughout the vast majority of northern Russia. Massive oil reserves exist underneath Russia’s frozen forests and tundra; however, due to the expense and difficulty of extracting it, much of Russia’s oil wealth remains untapped. 50 Largest Countries in the World By Area Rank Brazil Brazil COUNTRY OVERVIEW LOCATION AND SIZE. Located in South America, Brazil is the fifth largest country in the world, after Russia, Canada, China, and the United States.

Brazil has an area of 8,511,965 square kilometers (3,286,482 square miles), extending 4,320 kilometers (2,684 miles) from north to south and 4,328 kilometers (2,689 miles) from east to west, and a total coastline of 7,491 kilometers (4,655 miles). Brazil borders all the countries of South America except Chile and Ecuador. Brazil's capital city, Brasília, is located in the country's midwest; its largest cities, São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, are located in the southeast. POPULATION. The population of Brazil was approximately 172.86 million in July 2000, which was an increase of 17.7 percent from the 1991 population of 146.83 million. In 2000 the birth rate was estimated at 18.84 births per 1,000, and the death rate at 9.37 deaths per 1,000.

The population growth rate declined by an average of 1.9 percent annually between 1980-1990, to 0.94 percent in 2000, reflecting the effect of birth control programs developed by the Brazilian government during the 1990s. It was forecasted that the population would reach approximately 190 million by the year 2010. Brazil is the most populous country in Latin America and the fifth most populous country in the world. The highest concentration of Brazilians live in the Atlantic coastal region. Of the total population, the states of Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, and São Paulo contain approximately 41 percent; the states of Rio Grande do Sul, Bahia, Pernambuco, and Ceará contain about 23 percent; and the remaining states hold about 36 percent. The population is extremely urbanized with 78 percent of the population living in cities. Approximately 29 percent of the population is between 0-14 years old, 66 percent is between 15-64 years old, and only 5 percent is over 65 years old.

About 55 percent of the Brazilian population is comprised of whites, the descendants of Portuguese, German, Italian, Spanish, and Polish immigrants; 38 percent are mixed white and black; 6 percent are blacks of African descent; and others comprise 1 percent. Immigration was a major determinant of the population structure in Brazil. During colonial times, Portuguese and Africans immigrated to the northeastern region of Brazil. During the period between 1821-1945, approximately 5.2 million Europeans immigrated to Brazil, settling in the southern agricultural regions. After World War I, the Japanese community in Brazil grew to become the largest expatriate Japanese group of the world, with more than 1 million immigrants. COFFEE. Brazil's coffee production increased from 1 million metric tons in 1995-96 to 2.14 million metric tons by 1998-99, more than doubling in 4 years. However, production decreased slightly to 1.85 million metric tons in 1999-2000.

The decline in production for 1999-2000 was linked to an agreement of the Association of Coffee Producing Countries (ACPC). ACPC developed a program to reduce the world supply of coffee in order to increase its price. The volume of coffee held back by each country is set at 20 percent of exports. However, Brazil still remains the largest producer and exporter of coffee in the world. SOYBEANS. Soybean production in Brazil increased considerably for the 1999-2000 harvest. The average production of soybeans for 1994-99 was 28.23 million metric tons and for 1999-2000 alone was 32.5 million metric tons. The increase in soybean production for the 1999-2000 harvest was equivalent to 15 percent over the 1994-99 average. This increase was due to favorable weather in the southeast area of Brazil, where most of the farms are located. Another positive effect was that the world market increased imports from Brazil after the currency devaluation.

The increase in soybean exports was equal to 24 percent, from 8.93 million metric tons for 1998-99 to 11.16 million metric tons for 1999-2000. Brazil is the second largest soybean producer and exporter (after the United States) in the world. The total area used for soybean production is equal to 13.4 million hectares (33.16 million acres). ORANGES. Brazil is the largest producer and exporter of oranges and orange juice in the world. Brazil's total production was equal to 1.1 million metric tons in 1999-2000, or 47 percent of the world total. Orange juice consumption in Brazil is very small, only 18,000 metric tons for 1999-2000. The remainder is exported, at 1.16 million metric tons for 1999-2000 (including tangerine juice).

Brazil's orange production and export volume declined from 1998-99 levels by 19 and 11 percent, respectively, in 1999-2000. SUGAR. Since the time of Portuguese colonization, Brazil has been the largest producer and exporter of sugar in the world. Sugarcane production is concentrated in the northeastern area. Brazilian companies process sugarcane into sugar and alcohol. Sugar is mostly exported to the rest of the world while alcohol is mostly used as fuel for passenger vehicles. Passenger vehicles in Brazil are powered by either a combination of oil and alcohol, or solely alcohol. The Brazilian government developed research and financial incentives for utilization of alcohol in passenger vehicles after the world oil crisis in 1973-74. Brazil's sugar production in 1999-2000 was equal to 20.1 million metric tons. Sugar exports for 1999-2000 were equal to 11.3 million metric tons. TOBACCO. Tobacco is another major agricultural product. Brazil is the third largest producer (after China and India) and largest exporter of tobacco in the world.

During the 2000 calendar year, 493,100 metric tons were produced and 350,000 metric tons of tobacco were exported from Brazil. Tobacco production in Brazil increased from 365,000 metric tons in 1996 to 493,100 in 2000, an increase of 35 percent. Tobacco exports in Brazil increased from 282,500 metric tons in 1996 to 350,000 in 2000, an increase of 24 percent. COCOA. Cocoa production in Brazil has suffered the effects of mixed weather patterns and infection by the witches-broom fungus since 1989. Despite these problems, Brazil is the third largest cocoa producer and exporter in the world (after Côte D'Ivoire and Ghana). Cocoa production for 2000 was the lowest in 30 years, decreasing by 21 percent, from 159,119 metric tons in 1999 to 125,290 metric tons in 2000.

Exports, however, increased by 3 percent, from 93,295 metric tons in 1999 to 96,100 metric tons in 2000. Brazil's chocolate consumption rose 89 percent from 1988-89 to 1995-96, from 62,700 metric tons to 118,500 metric tons. Cocoa imports in 2000 increased by 67 percent, setting an all-time high, from 50,350 metric tons in 1999 to 84,100 metric tons in 2000. The government tried to develop new cocoa strains resistant to the fungus, and to use pest management systems, but without success. CORN. Brazil is the third largest producer of corn in the world (after China and the European Union). Corn production for 1999-2000 yielded 31.6 million metric tons, a decrease of 2 percent from the 1998-99 production of 32.35 million metric tons.

Consumption after 1996-97 was higher than production, generating a need for imports. Corn imports were small, amounting to only 1.79 million metric tons in 1999-2000. It is expected corn production will surpass consumption in the future due to government production incentives. BEEF. Brazil is the world's second largest producer (after the United States) and third largest exporter of beef (after Australia and the United States). Beef production for 2000 was 6.3 million metric tons, an increase of 4 percent from the 1999 production of 6.05 million metric tons. Beef exports for 2000 were equal to 650,000 metric tons, an increase of 18 percent from the 1999 export of 550,000 metric tons. In 2000 the mad cow disease in Europe helped boost beef exports from Brazil. In 1999 the European Union was the market for nearly 70 percent of Brazilian beef exports.

However, Brazilian exporters expanded to other existing markets (such as the United States) and to new markets (mainly in Asia). Even though exports to the United States rose 50 percent in 1999 to 50,376 metric tons, the United States joined Canada (its NAFTA partner) in temporarily banning all imports of beef in 2001. DAIRY. Brazil's dairy production is the sixth largest in the world (after the United States, India, Russia, Germany, and France), but all of its production is consumed domestically. Total production of fresh cow's milk was equal to 22.8 million metric tons in 2000. POULTRY. Brazil's poultry production ranks third in the world (after the United States and China). Broiler meat exports from Brazil also rank third in the world (after the United States and Hong Kong). Broiler production has increased significantly throughout the last 5 years. Broiler meat production increased from 4.05 million metric tons in 1995 to 5.45 million metric tons in 2000, an increase of 35 percent.

Broiler meat exports went from 424,000 metric tons in 1995 to 850,000 metric tons in 2000, an increase of 100 percent in only 5 years. Most of the increase in exports happened in the years of 1999 and 2000, when the devalued real boosted broiler meat exports. In 2000 the mad cow disease in Europe helped to increase broiler meat exports. Poultry exports increased 26 percent in 1999, and 20 percent in 2000. The European Union increased its imports of Brazilian poultry by 50 percent in 2000. OTHER. Brazil's pork production was equal to 1.95 million metric tons in 2000, mostly for domestic consumption. Fishing is limited, and lamb and sheep are not raised in Brazil due to the tropical weather. MANUFACTURING. The manufacturing sector contributed 22.7 percent of the gross domestic product in 1999, engaging 11.8 percent of the workforce in 1998.

The manufacturing sector decreased as a percentage of gross domestic product from 31 percent in 1979 to 29.5 percent in 1989, and 22.7 percent in 1998 and 1999. This was caused in part by a lack of foreign investment and inflationary problems during the 1980s and 1990s. The instability generated by inflation and uncertain government policies caused tremendous fluctuations in manufacturing growth rates. Major products in the manufacturing sector are televisions, VCRs, telephones, and computer chips. There are a few national companies that are domestically oriented, such as Consul and Brastemp. There are also companies that are primarily export oriented, such as Nokia, Intel, and Compaq. State participation in manufacturing occurs in the production of textiles and clothing, footwear, food, and beverages. These industries comprise a large proportion of the manufacturing sector, but there are also new industries that have been developed in the last few decades with government aid. Machinery and transport equipment, construction materials, sugar cane and wood derivatives, and chemicals are important manufacturing industries.

Direct government participation is noticed in the oil processing industry and passenger jet aircraft industry through partial ownership of such companies. Indirect government participation is noticed in the textile industry and machinery industry through export subsidies and low interest loans. TRANSPORT VEHICLES. Automobiles are the most important manufactured items in Brazil. Brazil's passenger automotive production was approximately 1.25 million passenger car units, 350,000 commercial vehicles, and 17,000 tractors in 1998. Machinery and transport equipment were the biggest exports from Brazil, accounting for US$12.6 billion in 1998, or 25 percent of total exports. Brazil has manufacturing plants for General Motors, Volkswagen, Ford, Fiat, Honda, and Toyota. Workers are highly unionized, receiving the highest salaries among the manufacturing industries. In 1998, 292,290 people were employed in the industry. STEEL. Crude steel production in 1998 was 25.76 million metric tons. Vast reserves of ore and high domestic demand for steel products have helped the industry.

Brazil exported US$3.67 million in steel and ore in 1998. TEXTILES. The national textile industry is responsible for 3 percent of world production. Total sales average US$19 billion per year; exports were US$2.9 billion in 1998. Brazil has the largest textile operating facilities in Latin America. The textile industry is also labor intensive, employing 1.43 million people in 1998. Fibers and leather are used to produce clothing, shoes, and luggage. Brazilian shoes are exported mainly to Europe, where they are famous for their quality. The Brazilian textile industry was comprised of 44,478 mostly small producers in 1998. PAPER. The Brazilian paper and pulp industry was responsible for the production of 273,000 metric tons of newsprint in 1998. The industry consisted of approximately 200 companies, employing approximately 80,000 people directly in their processing operations and 60,000 people in forestry operations. Pulp and waste paper exports were US$1 billion for 1998. MINING.

The mining sector was protected by the 1988 constitution against foreign majority participation of direct mining companies. This was a setback for the development of the mining sector because domestic investors lacked the capital for extensive mineral exploration. Private Brazilian investors and Brazilian corporations own the majority of the mineral industry. The participation of foreign capital is very limited due to Brazilian mining laws. However, in 1995 the Congress approved an amendment to the constitution allowing private companies (including foreigners) to participate in the mining industry through joint ventures , deregulating investments, and the privatization of state-owned mining plants. Shortly afterwards, the state-owned Companhia Vale do Rio Doce was privatized. In 1999 mining contributed 0.6 percent of the gross domestic product of Brazil. The country is the world's largest producer of bauxite, gemstones, columbium, gold, iron ore, kaolin, manganese, tantalum, and tin. Major exports are iron ore, tin, and aluminum. The states of Minas Gerais, Bahia, and Goiás, located in the midwest of Brazil, have deposits of diamonds and other precious and semiprecious stones.

In 1991 production of diamonds accounted for 1,500 carats, sixth in the world. Reserves of petroleum in Brazil were estimated in 1997 to be at 657 million metric tons. Brazil's iron ore reserves are estimated at 20 billion metric tons. Mining operations started in 1942, extracting iron ore from the state of Minas Gerais, located on the country's Midwest. With the help of foreign investments, iron ore production increased to 59.4 million metric tons in 1974, and by 1985 output was 186 million metric tons. In 1981 Brazil became the world's leading exporter of iron ore, exporting 131 million metric tons in 1985, mostly to Japan and Germany. TOURISM. The number of tourists that visit Brazil increased considerably during the 1990s. In 1994, 1.8 million foreign tourists visited Brazil, generating receipts of US$1.9 billion. In 1999, 5.1 million foreign tourists arrived, spending over US$4 billion.

Argentina ranked first with 1.5 million visitors in 1999, American tourists ranked second with 0.6 million visitors, and Germans ranked third with 0.3 million visitors. The average annual income of visitors in 1999 was US$37,000 and they spent an average of US$79 per day, excluding expenses of international airfare. Brazil has over 10,000 hotels and other forms of accommodation. Approximately 63 percent of the existing hotel rooms were occupied in 1998. Hotels generate over 1 million jobs and pay over US$400 million in taxes. Tourists are attracted to Rio de Janeiro for its notable sights: the Pão de Açúcar (Sugar Loaf Mountain), with its cable car; the Corcovado, with its statue of Jesus Christ the Redeemer; and Copacabana Beach, with its beautiful people and mosaic sidewalks. The historic city of Ouro Preto in Minas Gerais, and the churches of Bahia also attract many tourists.

Ecotourism is developed in the Amazon Valley cities such as Belém and Manaus, the Iguaçu Falls in the south, and in the flooded areas of the Pantanal located in the western central region. Brazil is most famous for its Carnival, that usually takes place in February. Rio de Janeiro's Desfile das Escolas de Samba (Samba Schools Parade) attracts millions of tourists every year. Foreign and government investments in tourism are important to the economy. The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Brazilian government invested 1.2 billion in the northeast region, starting in 1994. Investments in that region were responsible for renovating airports, improving public sanitation, preserving natural ecosystems, and restoring cultural practices. These investments rapidly boosted the tourist economy in the northeast, and foreign investment helped with the construction of multimillion dollar resorts in the coastal areas of the northeast. Such investments helped attract an increasing number of tourists to the northeast region. Other investments funded by the IDB and Brazilian government are planned for the Amazon and Pantanal regions, and in the south of Brazil. FINANCIAL SERVICES. The government owns most of the financial sector, the largest component of the services industry.

The 3 largest banks of Brazil—the Bank of Brazil, Federal Economic Register, and National Bank of Economic and Social Development (BNDES)— accounted for US$181.5 billion in total assets in 2000. The assets of the 3 major banks represented approximately 23 percent of the gross domestic product in 1999. The government holds the majority of the stocks of 3 national banks and a variety of state banks, with the exception of the privatized State Bank of São Paulo (BANESPA), the seventh largest bank in Brazil, and the State Bank of Rio de Janeiro (BANERJ). The Bank of Brazil is the largest bank in Brazil and the largest financial institution in Latin America. It has 12.9 million customers and agencies in 30 different countries, employing 90,378 people. The total assets of the Bank of Brazil were worth roughly US$71 billion in 2000. The second largest bank, the Federal Economic Register, had assets worth approximately US$63 billion, employing 102,614 people in 2000.

BNDES's assets were worth approximately US$48 billion, employing 1,246 people. The Brazilian Discount Bank (BRADESCO) and Itaú have the largest assets in the private sector . BRADESCO has 3.6 million customers and more than 26 million checking accounts. Total assets for 2000 accounted for US$40 billion and US$27 billion for BRADESCO and Itaú, respectively. The total assets of the 50 largest banks in Brazil were worth US$436 billion in 2000. This represented more than 50 percent of the total gross domestic product of that year. This part of the financial services sector employed 492,230 people in 2000. RETAIL. This sector is responsible for the highest number of employed people in all sectors of the services industry. The number of companies that employ 500 or more workers is low; there were 75 companies which hired 500 or more workers in 1997 in the retail section, and 31 companies with 500 or more workers in the wholesale section.

The bulk of employed people in this sector come from companies that employ less than 500 employees. Combined retail and wholesale sectors were made up of 708,635 retail and wholesale outlets. Total sales in the sector amounted to approximately US$300 billion in 1998. There are few retail chains in the economy. Most of them are located in the capitals of each state but are not part of the retail context in the less developed economies in rural areas. Food, grocery, and other retail chains are located in the coastal areas whereas small family-owned businesses compose the retail sector in smaller cities. The smaller retail businesses are responsible for employing a large number of people. DEPENDENCIES Brazil has no territories or colonies. BIBLIOGRAPHY Baaklini, Abdo I. The Brazilian Legislature and Political System .Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1992. Bacha, Edmar L., and Herbert S. Bacha, editors. Social Change in Brazil, 1945-1985: The Incomplete Transition . Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press, 1989. Bak, Joan L.

"Political Centralization and the Building of the Interventionist State in Brazil." Luso-Brazilian Review . Vol. 22, No. 1, Summer 1985. Banco Central do Brasil. < . AccessedFebruary 2001. Becker, Bertha K. Brazil: A New Regional Power in the World-Economy . New York: Cambridge University Press, 1992. Brazilian Embassy in Washington. < . Accessed in January 2001. Burns, E. Bradford. A History of Brazil, 3rd ed. New York:Columbia University Press, 1993. Economist Intelligence Unit. Country Profile: Brazil. London: Economist Intelligence Unit, 2001. Fausto, Boris. A Concise History of Brazil . Cambridge, U.K.:Cambridge University Press, 1999. Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE). < . Accessed February 2001. Instituto de Pesquisa Econômica Aplicada (IPEA). < . Accessed February 2001. International Cocoa Organization (ICCO).

1997/98 Annual Report . < . Accessed February 2001. Latin American Network Information Center (LANIC). Brazil. < . Accessed February 2001. Levine, Robert M. The History of Brazil . Westport, CT:Greenwood Press, 1999. Ministério do Esporte e Turismo. EMBRATUR: Empresa Brasileira de Turismo. < . Accessed August 2001. Parkin, Vincent. Chronic Inflation in an Industrialising Economy: The Brazilian Experience . New York: Cambridge University Press, 1991. Payne, Leigh A. Brazilian Industrialists and Democratic Change .Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1994. Schneider, Ronald M. Brazil: Culture and Politics in a New Industrial Powerhouse . Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 1996. U.S. Central Intelligence Agency. World Factbook 2000. < . Accessed August 2001. U.S. Department of State. FY 2001 Country Commercial Guide: Brazil . < . Accessed February 2001.

The World Bank Group. Countries: Brazil . < . Accessed February 2001. —Ecio F. Costa Brasília. MONETARY UNIT: Brazil's currency, the real (R$), was introduced on 1 July 1994. One real equals 100 centavos. There are coins of 1, 5, 10, 25, 50 centavos, and 1 real, and notes of 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100 reals. CHIEF EXPORTS: Manufactures, iron ore, soybeans, footwear, coffee. CHIEF IMPORTS: Machinery and equipment, chemical products, oil, electricity. GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT: US$1.057 trillion (purchasing power parity, 1999 est.). BALANCE OF TRADE: Dec 15, 2009 @ 8:20 pm Great article! I found this article after I had completed my report over Brazil, of course.

I can only say that if i would've foun it before hand it would've made my research 100% easier! Claire Apr 14, 2011 @ 12:00 am well in my opinion the area of the country is alot bigger now days acourding to the latest edition of the jacaranda atlas Jax Apr 19, 2012 @ 5:17 pm Hi thank you for this awesome artical. Now i know more about Brazil and i'm thinking about visiting there a lot. kylee May 13, 2012 @ 4:16 pm hi im doing a research paper on brazil and i just wanted to let you know that this article really helped im sure this will help me a lot on this paper i thank you very much i got a lot of info from this article it was probably the most helpful article i visited the population section and it really did help thank you very much peeps!!!

Brazil Country Profile - National Geographic Kids AREA: 3,286,470 square miles (8,511,965 square kilometers) MAJOR MOUNTAIN RANGES: Serra do Mar, Serra do Espinhaço MAJOR RIVERS: Amazon, São Francisco, Paraná, Tocantins Brazilian Flag Map of Brazil GEOGRAPHY Brazil is the largest country in South America and the fifth largest nation in the world. It forms an enormous triangle on the eastern side of the continent with a 4,500-mile (7,400-kilometer) coastline along the Atlantic Ocean. It has borders with every South American country except Chile and Ecuador . The Brazilian landscape is very varied. It is most well known for its dense forests, including the Amazon, the world's largest jungle, in the north. But there are also dry grasslands (called pampas), rugged hills, pine forests, sprawling wetlands, immense plateaus, and a long coastal plain. Northern Brazil is dominated by the Amazon River and the jungles that surround it. The Amazon is not one river but a network of many hundreds of waterways.

Its total length stretches 4,250 miles (6,840 kilometers), making it the longest river on Earth. Thousands of species live in the river, including the infamous piranha and the boto, or pink river dolphin. Southeastern Brazil was once completely covered with dense forest. Now it is the country's industrial capital, home to Brazil's biggest cities: São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. It covers only 11 percent of the country but houses 43 percent of its population. PEOPLE & CULTURE Most Brazilians are descended from three ethnic groups: Amerindians, European settlers (mainly from Portugal), and Africans. Starting in the 19th century, waves of immigrants from Europe, the Middle East, and even Japan added to this mix. This diversity of cultures has created a rich religious, musical, and culinary culture. Brazilians are soccer crazy, and their country has produced some of the best players. The most famous of all is Edson Arantes do Nascimento, better known as Pelé. Brazil has won the World Cup soccer finals five times, more than any other nation, and is hosting the tournament this year.

NATURE Brazil has the greatest variety of animals of any country in the world. It is home to 600 mammal species, 1,500 fish species, 1,600 bird species, and an amazing 100,000 different types of insects . Brazil's jungles are home to most of its animal life, but many unique species also live in the pampas and semidesert regions. In the central-western part of Brazil sits a flat, swampy area called the Pantanal. This patchwork of flooded lagoons and small islands is the world's largest wetland. Here live giant anacondas , huge guinea pig relatives called capybaras, and fierce South American alligators called caimans . For thousands of years, people have been exploiting the jungles of Brazil. But since Europeans arrived about five centuries ago, forest destruction has been rampant. Most of Brazil's Atlantic rain forest is now gone, and huge tracts of the Amazon are disappearing every year. The government has established many national parks and refuges, but they only cover about 7 percent of the country.

Real, Photograph by Glauco Meneghelli, iStockphoto GOVERNMENT & ECONOMY Brazil is a federal republic with a president, a National Congress, and a judiciary. From 1888 until recently, the country struggled with democracy. But in 1985, the military government was peacefully removed, and by 1995, Brazil's politics and economy had become fairly stable. Brazil has many different soils and climates, so it can produce a great variety of crops. Its agricultural exports include sugarcane, latex, coffee, cocoa beans, cotton, soybeans, rice, and tropical fruits.

Question: Which is the fifth largest country in the world by area?
Answer: Brazil