Brazil
South America · South America
Continental-scale biodiversity and culture, paired with high urban crime and extreme inequality.
Digital Nomad
Ideal destination
Backpacker
Ideal destination
At a Glance
📈Brazil's Human Development Index
0.760
High human development#89 of 191 countries worldwide, #6 of 12 in South America.
Higher than 54% of countries with data. UNDP Human Development Report.
UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita.
Closest indicators in this dataset
World Bank, own vintages. UNDP’s own component values are not carried here, so these are related measures rather than the index inputs.
Nearest countries by HDI
Full HDI ranking, all 191 countries →Brazil
Brazil is a country of continental scale and extraordinary diversity, from the dense biodiversity of the Amazon basin to the sun-soaked beaches of the northeast, the rhythms of Rio de Janeiro, and the cultural melting pot of São Paulo. The warmth and spontaneity of Brazilian social life, expressed through music, football, and food, is infectious. The country rewards those who embrace its contradictions and chaos, though safety awareness is important in urban areas.
- Alberto Santos-Dumont flew two years before the Wright Brothers — Brazil claims the airplane.
- More murders annually than Iraq or Afghanistan despite being at peace.
- TV Globo telenovelas dominate Latin American TV — soft power through serialised drama.
- Carnival 'schools' spend millions on floats and costumes for a single night of competition.
- Only country in South America with Portuguese as its official language.
Quick Facts
Capital
Brasília
Language
Portuguese
Currency
R$ BRL
Area
8.36M km²
Nomad Hub
Fixed Broadband
222Mbps
Mobile
262Mbps
Digital Nomad Visa
Min. Income
$1,500/mo
Duration
12 months
Renewable
Yes
Application Fee
Varies
GDP / Capita
$11K
PPP / Capita
$23K
Inflation
5.0%
Unemployment
6.0%
Innovation (GII)
32.9
GNI / Capita
$11K
Tax Revenue
15.4%
FDI Inflows
3.4%
Education Spend
5.6%
Cost of Living
30.1
Price Level Index
47th pct
20-Year Trend + IMF Forecast
Income & inflation over time
HDI since 1990
0.620 → 0.760 (+0.140)Year by year →UNDP Human Development Report, 2023-24 edition. 33 annual values, none interpolated; hover any point for its year.
Twenty years here
Year by year →The world report →World Bank observations, first to last available year per indicator (roughly 2005–2024; each series has its own window).
Thinking about Brazil for real?
The matcher weighs your budget, timeline and dealbreakers against the same data on this page, then answers with the places that actually fit.
Find your match →Neighbouring Countries
Brazil head-to-head
💬Quick answers
What is Brazil's Human Development Index?
Brazil's Human Development Index is 0.760 (UNDP Human Development Report), ranked #89 of 191 countries.
Is Brazil safe?
Brazil scores 2.33 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #123 of 160 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.
How expensive is Brazil?
Numbeo's cost-of-living index puts Brazil at 30.1 (New York = 100); that is #29 cheapest of 143 countries with data.
What is life expectancy in Brazil?
Life expectancy at birth in Brazil is 76.0 yrs (World Bank), ranked #80 of 195 countries.
What is the quality of life in Brazil?
Numbeo's quality-of-life index scores Brazil at 117.8, ranked #64 of 87 countries with data. It composites purchasing power, safety, healthcare, cost of living, commute and pollution from resident surveys, so it reflects what residents report rather than what an economy produces.