GeoRealityMatch

The UK Foreign Office advises against all but essential travel to parts of the country. FCDO travel advice, read 29 October 2026.

Silhouettes of people in an underpass with Brasília's National Congress in the background.View of Brasília's iconic JK Bridge under a blue sky with clouds, traffic and greenery surrounding.

Brazil

South America

Medium safetyVery affordable cost of livingHigh development

Essential health services reach most people. The air is polluted.

Digital NomadOffers a digital nomad visa and home internet at 222 Mbps.BackpackerVery affordable cost of living.
vs Mexicovs Colombiavs Argentina
Safety

123rd most peaceful of 161

Global Peace Index
2.333lower is more peacefulMedium safety
#123 of 161
IEP GPI · 2026
Homicides
19.3per 100,000 people a yearVery highUNODC / World Bank · 2023
Safety index
36Numbeo's safety index, higher is saferLowNumbeo · 2026
Money

Incomes above the median country

GNI per person
$10,550national income per person, US dollarsModerate
World Bank · 2025
Rent index
8.5New York = 100Very affordableNumbeo · 2026
Property price to income
15.2years of median income to buy a median flatExpensiveNumbeo · 2026

Income and inflation over time

Income per person rose 81% in current dollars from 2006 to 2025, and rose 28% after inflation.

GDP per person, current US$At purchasing power parityInflation

$0$13K$25K$23,433 PPP$10,713Inflation, % a year10%0200620102015202020252006, $5,934 a person, $11,751 at PPP, inflation 4.2%2007, $7,410 a person, $12,673 at PPP, inflation 3.6%2008, $8,908 a person, $13,445 at PPP, inflation 5.7%2009, $8,679 a person, $13,391 at PPP, inflation 4.9%2010, $11,403 a person, $14,452 at PPP, inflation 5%2011, $13,397 a person, $15,212 at PPP, inflation 6.6%2012, $12,522 a person, $15,198 at PPP, inflation 5.4%2013, $12,459 a person, $15,722 at PPP, inflation 6.2%2014, $12,275 a person, $15,827 at PPP, inflation 6.3%2015, $8,936 a person, $14,821 at PPP, inflation 9%2016, $8,836 a person, $14,309 at PPP, inflation 8.7%2017, $10,081 a person, $14,559 at PPP, inflation 3.4%2018, $9,301 a person, $15,464 at PPP, inflation 3.7%2019, $9,030 a person, $16,070 at PPP, inflation 3.7%2020, $7,074 a person, $16,102 at PPP, inflation 3.2%2021, $7,973 a person, $18,076 at PPP, inflation 8.3%2022, $9,281 a person, $19,874 at PPP, inflation 9.3%2023, $10,378 a person, $21,193 at PPP, inflation 4.6%2024, $10,311 a person, $22,371 at PPP, inflation 4.4%2025, $10,713 a person, $23,433 at PPP, inflation 5%$0$13K$25KInflation, % a year10%0200620102015202020252006, $5,934 a person, $11,751 at PPP, inflation 4.2%2007, $7,410 a person, $12,673 at PPP, inflation 3.6%2008, $8,908 a person, $13,445 at PPP, inflation 5.7%2009, $8,679 a person, $13,391 at PPP, inflation 4.9%2010, $11,403 a person, $14,452 at PPP, inflation 5%2011, $13,397 a person, $15,212 at PPP, inflation 6.6%2012, $12,522 a person, $15,198 at PPP, inflation 5.4%2013, $12,459 a person, $15,722 at PPP, inflation 6.2%2014, $12,275 a person, $15,827 at PPP, inflation 6.3%2015, $8,936 a person, $14,821 at PPP, inflation 9%2016, $8,836 a person, $14,309 at PPP, inflation 8.7%2017, $10,081 a person, $14,559 at PPP, inflation 3.4%2018, $9,301 a person, $15,464 at PPP, inflation 3.7%2019, $9,030 a person, $16,070 at PPP, inflation 3.7%2020, $7,074 a person, $16,102 at PPP, inflation 3.2%2021, $7,973 a person, $18,076 at PPP, inflation 8.3%2022, $9,281 a person, $19,874 at PPP, inflation 9.3%2023, $10,378 a person, $21,193 at PPP, inflation 4.6%2024, $10,311 a person, $22,371 at PPP, inflation 4.4%2025, $10,713 a person, $23,433 at PPP, inflation 5%

World Bank: GDP per person in current US dollars and at PPP, real GDP per person, consumer price inflation. Observed years only.

Health

Around the middle for life expectancy

Life expectancy
76.0years, at birthHigh
#80 of 195
World Bank · 2024
Health coverage
84WHO universal health coverage index, 0 to 100Very highWHO · 2023
Air pollution
20.4PM2.5, micrograms per cubic metre, national averageHighWHO · 2023
Work and internet

Very fast home internet

Unemployment rate
6%share of the labour force without a jobWorld Bank · 2025
Home internet
222 Mbpsmedian download speedVery fastOokla Speedtest · 2025
English proficiency
482EF English Proficiency Index scoreLowEF EPI · 2025

Internet speeds

Home internet222 MbpsVery fast
Mobile262 MbpsVery fast

Ookla Speedtest Global Index, median download speed, ranked among the countries Ookla lists.

Visas and moving

Digital nomad visaMedium

Minimum income
$1,500 a month
Duration
12 months
Renewable
Yes
Application fee
Varies
  • Tax treatmentLocal rates apply
  • Processing timeAbout 30 days
  • Health insuranceRequired
  • DependantsAllowed
  • Apply onlineIn person or at a consulate
  • Path to residencyYes
  • NationalitiesOpen to all
Official page
View of Brasília's iconic JK Bridge under a blue sky with clouds, traffic and greenery surrounding.
How it changed

Brazil's Human Development Index

0.786High human development

84th of 193 in UNDP's 2023 ranking, 6th of 12 in South America.

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. UNDP Human Development Report 2025.

Nearest countries by HDI

  1. #81Mexico0.789
  2. #83Colombia0.788
  3. #84Brazil0.786
  4. #84Palau0.786
  5. #86Moldova0.785
Full HDI ranking, all 193 countries

HDI since 1990

Year by year

Human development rose from 0.641 in 1990 to 0.786 in 2023.

0.600.720.850.78619902000201020231990: 0.6411991: 0.6451992: 0.6481993: 0.6541994: 0.6591995: 0.6661996: 0.6711997: 0.6761998: 0.6801999: 0.6842000: 0.6902001: 0.6942002: 0.7002003: 0.7052004: 0.7122005: 0.7182006: 0.7252007: 0.7322008: 0.7392009: 0.7422010: 0.7482011: 0.7532012: 0.7582013: 0.7622014: 0.7652015: 0.7642016: 0.7652017: 0.7702018: 0.7742019: 0.7762020: 0.7702021: 0.7682022: 0.7802023: 0.7860.600.720.8519902000201020231990: 0.6411991: 0.6451992: 0.6481993: 0.6541994: 0.6591995: 0.6661996: 0.6711997: 0.6761998: 0.6801999: 0.6842000: 0.6902001: 0.6942002: 0.7002003: 0.7052004: 0.7122005: 0.7182006: 0.7252007: 0.7322008: 0.7392009: 0.7422010: 0.7482011: 0.7532012: 0.7582013: 0.7622014: 0.7652015: 0.7642016: 0.7652017: 0.7702018: 0.7742019: 0.7762020: 0.7702021: 0.7682022: 0.7802023: 0.786

UNDP Human Development Report, 2025 edition. 34 annual values, none interpolated.

Twenty years here

Year by yearThe world report
Life expectancy at birth
76 years2024at birthUp 4.2 years from 71.8 years in 2005
Internet users
84%2024of people onlineUp 56 points from 28% in 2006
Urban population
88%2025of people in towns and citiesUp 5 points from 83% in 2006
Births per woman
1.612024births per womanDown 0.33 from 1.94 in 2005
Renewable share of energy
47%2021of energy usedUp 1 point from 45% in 2004
Access to electricity
100%2024of people with electricityUp 3 points from 97% in 2005
Infant mortality
122024deaths before age one, per 1,000 birthsDown 9 from 21 in 2005
CO2 emissions per person
2.3 t2024of CO2 per person a yearUp 0.3 t from 2 t in 2005
Forest area
59%2023of land under forestDown 5 points from 64% in 2004

World Bank, from the first to the last observed year of each indicator; each has its own window.

Our take

Continental-scale biodiversity and culture, paired with high urban crime and extreme inequality. The case for living here is wide access to essential health services. The case against is polluted air and little English among locals.

About 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.

Practical facts

  • CapitalBrasília
  • LanguagesPortuguese
  • CurrencyBrazilian real (BRL)
  • Area8,358,140 km²
  • Plug typeType C/N
  • Drives on theright
Weigh Brazil against your priorities
Every figure

Everything we hold on Brazil

Compare Brazil

Borders

ArgentinaBoliviaColombiaGuyanaParaguayPeruSurinameUruguayVenezuela

Side by side

vs Mexicovs Colombiavs Argentinavs PortugalCompare any two countries

Quick answers

What is Brazil's Human Development Index?

Brazil's Human Development Index is 0.786 for 2023 (UNDP Human Development Report 2025), ranked #84 of 193 by UNDP.

Is Brazil safe?

Brazil scores 2.33 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #123 of 161 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.