History of Brazil in Timeline

Brazil is the largest country in South America, ranking fifth globally in area and seventh in population, with over 212 million residents. It's a federation of 26 states and a Federal District, where the capital, Brasília, is located. São Paulo is its most populous city, followed by Rio de Janeiro. Notably, Brazil has the highest number of Portuguese speakers worldwide and is the only nation in the Americas where Portuguese is the official language.

1902: Acre War

In 1902, Brazil was involved in the Acre War.

1914: World War I Involvement

In 1914, Brazil was involved in World War I.

1915: Devastating drought

In 1915, a similarly devastating drought occurred in Brazil.

1918: World War I Involvement

In 1918, Brazil was involved in World War I.

September 1922: Radio broadcasting begins

On September 7, 1922, radio broadcasting began in Brazil with a speech by then President Epitácio Pessoa.

1922: Modern Art Week

In 1922, the Modern Art Week evidenced Brazilian Modernism.

April 1923: Formalization of radio broadcasting

On April 20, 1923, radio broadcasting was formalized with the creation of the "Radio Society of Rio de Janeiro".

October 1930: Civilians take power

In October 1930, civilians took power in Brazil, remaining there until October 1930.

1930: European Immigration to Brazil Ends

From 1880 to 1930, four million Europeans arrived in Brazil.

1930: Revolution of 1930

In 1930, Getúlio Vargas led the Revolution of 1930, supported by most of the military. Vargas and the military were supposed to assume power temporarily, but instead closed down Congress, extinguished the Constitution, ruled with emergency powers and replaced the states' governors with his own supporters.

1930: Armed revolution

In 1930, an armed revolution ended the First Republic and brought Getúlio Vargas to power in Brazil.

1931: Release of the film Limite

In 1931, the film Limite was released. It was poorly received at release and failed at the box office, but is acclaimed nowadays and placed among the finest Brazilian films of all time.

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1932: Constitutionalist Revolution

In 1932, the Constitutionalist Revolution, led by São Paulo's oligarchy, was an attempt to remove Vargas and his supporters from power.

1933: Release of the film Ganga Bruta

In 1933, the film Ganga Bruta, produced by Adhemar Gonzaga through Cinédia, was released. It was poorly received at release and failed at the box office, but is acclaimed nowadays and placed among the finest Brazilian films of all time.

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November 1935: Communist Uprising

In November 1935, a Communist uprising occurred in Brazil, creating a security crisis in which Congress transferred more power to the executive branch.

1937: Self-coup and the Estado Novo

In 1937, Getúlio Vargas assumed dictatorial powers following a self-coup, marking the beginning of the Estado Novo in Brazil.

1937: Coup d'état

In 1937, a coup d'état resulted in the cancellation of the 1938 election and formalized Vargas as dictator, beginning the Estado Novo era in Brazil.

May 1938: Putsch Attempt

In May 1938, a putsch attempt by local fascists occurred in Brazil, failing to remove Vargas from power.

1940: Brazil's Population Growth Increases

In 1940, Brazil experienced a significant increase in population due to a decline in mortality rates, with an annual population growth rate of 2.4%. More than half the population (54%) was illiterate.

1940: Renewal of Brazilian theater

In 1940, Paschoal Carlos Magno and his student's theater, the comedians group and the Italian actors Adolfo Celi, Ruggero Jacobbi and Aldo Calvo, founders of the Teatro Brasileiro de Comédia, renewed the Brazilian theater.

1941: Production of the unfinished film It's All True

In 1941, the unfinished film It's All True was divided into four segments, two of which were filmed in Brazil and directed by Orson Welles as part of the United States' Good Neighbor Policy during Getúlio Vargas' Estado Novo.

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August 1942: Brazil Enters World War II

In August 1942, Brazil entered World War II on the allied side after suffering retaliation by Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy.

1945: Decline of Railway System Begins

In 1945, Brazil's railway system started declining as emphasis shifted towards highway construction.

1945: Restoration of Democracy

In 1945, democracy was restored in Brazil after the ousting of Getúlio Vargas.

1945: Overthrow of Vargas

In 1945, with the Allied victory and the end of fascist regimes in Europe, Getúlio Vargas was overthrown in a military coup and democracy was reinstated in Brazil.

September 1950: Television begins in Brazil

On September 18, 1950, television in Brazil began officially with the founding of TV Tupi by Assis Chateaubriand.

1950: Brazil hosts the FIFA World Cup

In 1950, Brazil hosted the FIFA World Cup.

1950: Vargas returns to power

In 1950, Getúlio Vargas returned to power by election in Brazil.

1950: Population Growth Rate Increases

In the 1950s, the annual population growth rate in Brazil rose to 3.0%.

August 1954: Suicide of Vargas

In August 1954, Getúlio Vargas committed suicide amid a political crisis in Brazil.

1954: Brazil hosted the FIBA Basketball World Cups

In 1954, Brazil hosted the FIBA Basketball World Cups

1956: Kubitschek Becomes President

In 1956, Juscelino Kubitschek became president of Brazil.

1960: Inauguration of Brasília

In 1960, the new capital city of Brasília was inaugurated in Brazil.

1960: Population Growth Rate Remains High

In the 1960s, the annual population growth rate in Brazil remained high at 2.9%.

1961: Quadros Resigns

In 1961, Jânio Quadros resigned from the presidency of Brazil less than a year after taking office.

1963: São Paulo organized the IV Pan American Games and Brazil hosted the FIBA Basketball World Cups

In 1963, São Paulo organized the IV Pan American Games, and Brazil hosted the FIBA Basketball World Cups, at which the Brazil national basketball team won one of its two world championship titles.

April 1964: Military Coup

In April 1964, João Goulart was deposed by a coup that resulted in a military dictatorship in Brazil.

1964: Release of Black God, White Devil

In 1964, Glauber Rocha's film Black God, White Devil was released and is considered one of the greatest and most influential in Brazilian film history.

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1964: Emergence of Military Dictatorship

In 1964, an authoritarian military dictatorship emerged in Brazil with support from the United States and ruled until 1985.

1967: Release of Entranced Earth

In 1967, Glauber Rocha's film Entranced Earth was released and is considered one of the greatest and most influential in Brazilian film history.

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1967: Paved Roads Totaled 35,496 km

In 1967, the total length of paved roads in Brazil was 35,496 km.

1968: Promulgation of the Fifth Institutional Act

In 1968, the new regime became a full dictatorship with the promulgation of the Fifth Institutional Act in Brazil.

1969: Glauber Rocha Wins at Cannes Film Festival

In 1969, Glauber Rocha won the Prix de la mise en scène at the Cannes Film Festival for Antonio das Mortes.

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1970: Population Growth Remains High

Between 1960 and 1970, Brazil's population continued to grow at a rate of 2.9% per year, even though the birth rate underwent a slight decline.

1970: Railway Track Length Reaches 31,848 km

In 1970, the total railway track length in Brazil was 31,848 km, making it the ninth-largest network in the world.

1970: Start of Deforestation Threat

Since the 1970s, the Amazon rainforest has been under direct threat of deforestation in Brazil because of rapid economic and demographic expansion.

1972: End of Major Immigration Wave

From 1808 to 1972, about five million people from over 60 countries migrated to Brazil.

September 1974: São Paulo Metro Begins Operations

On September 14, 1974, the São Paulo Metro began operating as Brazil's first underground transit system.

1977: Glauber Rocha Wins Special Jury Prize

In 1977, Glauber Rocha won the Special Jury Prize for Best Short Film for Di.

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1978: Production of First Ethanol Car

In 1978, the first car with an ethanol engine was produced in Brazil.

1979: Enactment of the Amnesty Law

In 1979, with the enactment of the Amnesty Law, Brazil began a slow return to democracy.

1985: Sarney Assumes Presidency

In 1985, José Sarney assumed the presidency of Brazil.

1985: Resumption of Civilian Governance

In 1985, civilian governance resumed in Brazil after a period of authoritarian military dictatorship.

October 1988: Promulgation of the Federal Constitution

In October 1988, the Federal Constitution was promulgated, serving as the fundamental law of Brazil to which all other legislation and court decisions must conform.

1988: Enactment of the Current Constitution

In 1988, Brazil's current constitution was enacted, defining it as a democratic federal republic.

1988: Abolishment of Federal Territories

The 1988 Constitution abolished the last three federal territories in Brazil: Amapá and Roraima, which gained statehood, and Fernando de Noronha, which became a state district of Pernambuco.

1988: Creation of the Unified Health System

The Unified Health System was created in 1988.

1989: Election of Fernando Collor

In 1989, Fernando Collor was elected president of Brazil.

1990: Forest cover in Brazil

In 1990, forest cover in Brazil was around 588,898,000 hectares (ha).

1992: Collor Impeached

In 1992, Fernando Collor was impeached by the National Congress in Brazil.

1994: Implementation of Plano Real

In 1994, Fernando Henrique Cardoso devised the Plano Real, which stabilized the Brazilian economy.

1995: Release of O Quatrilho

In 1995, the film O Quatrilho, directed by Fábio Barreto, was released and nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.

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1997: Release of O Que É Isso, Companheiro?

In 1997, the film O Que É Isso, Companheiro?, directed by Bruno Barreto, was released and nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.

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1998: Cardoso Wins Re-election

In 1998, Cardoso won the election in Brazil again.

1998: Release of Central do Brasil

In 1998, the film Central do Brasil, directed by Walter Salles, was released and nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, with Fernanda Montenegro receiving a Best Actress nomination.

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2000: Brazilian Health System Ranked 125th by WHO

In 2000, the Brazilian health system was ranked 125th among 191 countries by the World Health Organization (WHO).

2002: Election of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva

In 2002, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was elected president of Brazil.

2002: Sign Language Law Requires Government Acceptance

In 2002, a sign language law required government authorities and public agencies to accept and provide information in Língua Brasileira dos Sinais or LIBRAS, the Brazilian Sign Language.

2002: Release of City of God

In 2002, the crime film City of God, directed by Fernando Meirelles, was released and received critical acclaim.

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2004: City of God Receives Academy Award Nominations

In 2004, City of God received four Academy Award nominations, including Best Director.

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2005: Domestic vs. Foreign Tourism

In 2005, 51 million Brazilian nationals made ten times more trips than foreign tourists and spent five times more money.

2005: Presidential Edict Extends Sign Language Law

In 2005, a presidential edict extended the sign language law to require teaching of LIBRAS as part of education and speech and language pathology curricula.

2005: Number of Uncontacted Tribes Estimated at 40

In 2005, the National Indian Foundation estimated that Brazil had 40 uncontacted tribes.

2005: Base year for greenhouse gas emission cuts

In 2024 Brazil revised its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), setting a goal to cut greenhouse emissions by 59% to 67% compared to 2005 levels by 2035.

2005: First Ethanol Airplane Engine

The first airplane engine running on ethanol was created in 2005.

2006: Brazil Achieves Oil Self-Sufficiency

In 2006, Brazil achieved self-sufficiency in oil production as part of a government program to reduce dependence on imported oil.

2006: Re-election of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva

In 2006, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was re-elected president of Brazil.

2007: Brazil Achieves Oil Self-Sufficiency

In 2007, Brazil achieved self-sufficiency in oil production as part of a government program to reduce dependence on imported oil.

2007: Rio de Janeiro hosts the XV Pan American Games

In 2007, Rio de Janeiro hosted the XV Pan American Games.

2007: Life Expectancy Reaches 72.6 Years

In 2007, life expectancy in Brazil rose to 72.6 years.

2007: Privatization of the Federal Railroad Network Corporation

In 2007, the Federal Railroad Network Corporation (RFFSA), which owned most of the railway system, was privatized.

2007: Number of Uncontacted Tribes Estimated at 67

In 2007, the National Indian Foundation estimated that Brazil had 67 different uncontacted tribes, an increase from 40 in 2005.

2008: Population Growth Rate Declines

In 2008, the population growth rate in Brazil had fallen to 1.05% per year. In 2008, the illiteracy rate was 11.48%.

2008: Brazil's Population Reaches 190 Million

In 2008, the population of Brazil was approximately 190 million, with 22.31 inhabitants per square kilometer and 83.75% defined as urban.

October 2009: Brazilian Senate Approves Agreement with Vatican

In October 2009, the Brazilian Senate approved an agreement with the Vatican recognizing the Legal Statute of the Catholic Church in Brazil.

October 2009: Rio de Janeiro selected to host the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games

On October 2, 2009, Rio de Janeiro was selected to host the 2016 Olympic Games and 2016 Paralympic Games.

2009: Global Information Technology Report Ranking

According to the Global Information Technology Report 2009–2010 of the World Economic Forum, Brazil is the world's 61st largest developer of information technology.

2009: Mobile phone and Internet use

By 2009, the mobile phone and Internet use in Brazil was the fifth largest in the world.

February 2010: President Enacts Agreement with Vatican

In February 2010, the President of Brazil enacted the agreement with the Vatican, recognizing the Legal Statute of the Catholic Church in Brazil.

May 2010: Launch of TV Brasil Internacional

In May 2010, the Brazilian government launched TV Brasil Internacional, an international television station, initially broadcasting to 49 countries.

2010: Irreligious Population Exceeds 8%

According to the 2010 census, individuals professing no religion exceeded 8% of the Brazilian population.

2010: Global Information Technology Report Ranking

According to the Global Information Technology Report 2009–2010 of the World Economic Forum, Brazil is the world's 61st largest developer of information technology.

2010: Protestant Community Grows to 22% of Population

By 2010, the Protestant community in Brazil had grown to include over 22% of the population.

2010: Election of Dilma Rousseff

In 2010, Dilma Rousseff won election in Brazil.

2010: International Tourist Revenue

In 2010, revenues from international tourists in Brazil reached US$6 billion.

2011: Historical Records in Tourism

In 2011, Brazil reached historical records of 5.4 million visitors and US$6.8 billion in tourism receipts.

May 2013: Nationwide Marriage Rights for Same-Sex Couples

Since May 2013, same-sex couples in Brazil have held nationwide marriage rights.

2013: Textile Industry Ranking

Although it was among the five largest world producers in 2013, Brazil's textile industry is very little integrated into world trade.

2014: Economic Recession

In 2014, Brazil entered a recession amid a political corruption scandal and nationwide protests.

2014: Brazil hosts the FIFA World Cup

In 2014, Brazil hosted the FIFA World Cup.

2014: Re-election of Dilma Rousseff

In 2014, Dilma Rousseff won election in Brazil again by narrow margins.

2015: Forest area ownership

In 2015, 56% of the forest area in Brazil was reported to be under public ownership and 44% private ownership.

2015: Tourist Arrivals in Brazil

In 2015, Brazil had 6.36 million visitors, making it the main tourist destination in South America.

2015: Railway Track Length Reaches 30,576 km

In 2015, the total railway track length in Brazil was 30,576 km, making it the ninth-largest network in the world.

2016: Brazil Shares Camões Prize

As of 2016, Brazil has eleven recipients of the Camões Prize, which it shares with the rest of the Portuguese-speaking world.

2016: Pulp and Paper Production

In 2016, Brazil was the second-largest producer of pulp and the eighth-largest producer of paper in the world.

2016: Impeachment of Rousseff

In 2016, Dilma Rousseff was impeached by the Brazilian Congress.

2016: Rio de Janeiro hosts the Olympic and Paralympic Games

In 2016, Rio de Janeiro hosted the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.

2017: Record High Homicides

In 2017, Brazil recorded a record 63,880 homicides.

2017: Land Use in Brazil

In 2017, preserved native vegetation occupied 61% of Brazil, while agriculture occupied 8% and pastures 19.7% of the national territory.

2017: Freedom House Report

In 2017, the Freedom House report gave Brazil a score of "2" for both political rights and civil liberties.

2017: Supreme Court Investigation

In 2017, the Supreme Court requested the investigation of 71 Brazilian lawmakers and nine ministers of President Michel Temer's cabinet who were allegedly linked to the Petrobras corruption scandal.

2018: Paved Roads Increased to 215,000 km

By 2018, the length of paved roads in Brazil had increased to 215,000 km.

2018: World Tourist Destination Ranking

In 2018, Brazil was the 48th most visited country in the world, with 6.6 million tourists and revenues of 5.9 billion dollars.

2018: Election of Jair Bolsonaro

In 2018, Jair Bolsonaro of the Social Liberal Party (PSL) was elected president of Brazil.

2018: Chemical Industry Ranking

In 2018, the chemical industry of Brazil was the eighth-largest in the world.

2018: GDP Contribution by Sector

In 2018, the tertiary sector (trade and services) represented 75.8% of Brazil's GDP, with the service sector accounting for 60% and trade for 13%.

2019: Renewable Electric Energy in Brazil

In 2019, 83% of Brazil's electric energy was renewable, compared to a global average of 25%.

2019: Brazil hosts Copa América

In 2019, Brazil hosted Copa América.

2019: Global Innovation Index Ranking

In 2019, Brazil was ranked 66th in the Global Innovation Index.

2019: Processed Foods Export

In 2019, Brazil was the second-largest exporter of processed foods in the world and the fourth-largest producer in the footwear industry.

2019: Constitutional Amendment No. 104

In 2019, Brazil's Constitution was amended by Constitutional Amendment No. 104, including the Federal, District and State Penal Police as law enforcement agencies.

2019: Renewable Energy Matrix

In 2019, Brazil's energy matrix was 45% renewable, compared to a global average of only 14%.

2019: Land Use Comparison with Europe

In 2019, forests covered 43% of Europe, but only 3% of the continent's forest area was native forest, highlighting Brazil's interest in conservation due to its agriculture sector's dependence on forests.

2019: Brazilian Road System Totals 1,720,000 km

In 2019, the Brazilian road system totaled 1,720,000 km, serving as the primary carrier of freight and passenger traffic.

2019: Literacy Rate at 93.4%

In 2019, the literacy rate in Brazil was 93.4%, meaning that 11.3 million people are still illiterate.

2020: Forest cover in Brazil

In 2020, forest cover in Brazil was around 496,619,600 hectares (ha).

May 2021: Lula announces candidacy

In May 2021, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva stated that he would run for a third term in the 2022 Brazilian general election against Bolsonaro.

2021: Trade Statistics

As of 2021, Brazil is the world's 24th-largest exporter and 26th-largest importer, with China as its largest trading partner accounting for 32% of the total trade.

2021: Installed Power Capacities

At the end of 2021, Brazil ranked highly for installed hydroelectric power (109.4 GW) and biomass (15.8 GW), and was 7th for wind power (21.1 GW) and 14th for solar power (13.0 GW) globally.

2021: Electricity Sector Capacity

At the end of 2021, Brazil's electricity sector capacity was 181,532 MW.

2021: Brazil Becomes a Major Oil Producer

In 2021, Brazil became the 7th largest oil producer in the world, exporting approximately three million barrels per day.

2021: Healthcare Statistics in Brazil

In 2021, Brazil had 2.1 doctors and 2.5 hospital beds for every 1,000 inhabitants.

2021: Brazil hosts Copa América

In 2021, Brazil hosted Copa América.

2021: Democracy Index and Freedom Classification

In 2021, the Economist Intelligence Unit's Democracy Index categorized Brazil as a "flawed democracy", ranking it 46th, while Freedom House classified it as a free country.

July 1, 2022: Brazil's Estimated Population Reaches 210,862,983

On July 1, 2022, Brazil's estimated population was 210,862,983, according to official projections, which was an adjustment of 3.9% from the initial figure of 203 million reported by the 2022 census.

July 2022: Amendments to the Federal Constitution

As of July 2022, there have been 124 amendments to the Federal Constitution of Brazil.

October 2022: 2022 Brazilian general election

In October 2022, Lula was in first place in the first round, with 48.43% of the support from the electorate, and received 50.90% of the votes in the second round.

2022: Brazilian Census Data on Race and Ethnicity

According to the 2022 Brazilian census, 45.3% of the population (92.1 million) described themselves as Pardo (meaning brown or multiracial), 43.5% (88.2 million) as White, 10.2% (20.7 million) as Black, 0.6% (1.2 million) as Indigenous and 0.4% (850,000) as East Asian.

2022: Religion Statistics from the 2022 Census

According to the 2022 demographic census, 56.75% of the population followed Catholicism; 26.85% Protestantism; 1.84% Kardecist spiritism; 5.06% other religions, undeclared or undetermined; while 9.28% had no religion.

2022: Navy Operations

As of 2022, Brazil's navy is the only one in Latin America operating a helicopter carrier, NAM Atlântico, and one of twelve worldwide.

2022: Annual losses from extreme weather events

Extreme weather events like droughts and flash floods are causing annual losses of around R$13 billion (US$2.6 billion), equivalent to 0.1% of the country's 2022 GDP.

2022: Evangelical Protestant Influence in Politics

In 2022, Evangelical Protestant influence was implicated in the Brazilian coup plot.

2022: Homicide Rate Estimate by UNODC

In 2022, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) estimated Brazil's intentional homicide rate at 21.1 per 100,000 inhabitants.

2022: Illiteracy Rate Declines to Approximately 7%

In 2022, the illiteracy rate in Brazil was approximately 7%.

January 2023: Attack on Brazil's federal government buildings

On 8 January 2023, a week after Lula's inauguration, a mob of Bolsonaro's supporters attacked Brazil's federal government buildings in the capital, Brasília, after several weeks of unrest.

2023: Homicides Recorded in Brazil

In 2023, Brazil recorded 40,768 homicides and São Paulo registered a homicide rate of 6.4 per 100,000 inhabitants.

2023: High Infant and Maternal Mortality Rates

In 2023, infant (2.51%) and maternal mortality rates (197.3 deaths per 100,000 births) were still high.

2023: Main Tourist Destination States

In 2023, the main destination states for tourism in Brazil were São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and Rio Grande do Sul.

2024: Wind and Solar Energy Production

At the end of 2024, Brazil was the 4th largest producer of wind energy in the world (107.8 TWh) and the 5th largest producer of solar energy (74.7 TWh).

2024: Prison Population in Brazil

In 2024, Brazil had the third-largest prison population in the world with approximately 909,067 prisoners, leading to a shortfall of about 200,000 accommodations.

2024: Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index Ranking

In 2024, Brazil ranked 26th globally in the Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index (TTCI).

2024: Homicide Statistics in Brazil

In 2024, Brazil recorded 38,772 homicides, a decrease from 40,768 in 2023. The national homicide rate for 2024 was 17.9 per 100,000 inhabitants.

2024: Brazil revises Nationally Determined Contribution

In 2024, Brazil revised its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), setting a goal to cut greenhouse emissions by 59% to 67% compared to 2005 levels by 2035.

2024: Global Innovation Index Ranking

In 2024, Brazil was ranked 50th in the Global Innovation Index, up from 66th in 2019.

2024: Economic Growth

In 2024, Brazil's economy began showing consistent significant growth.

2024: Strongest drought in Brazil

In 2024, for the first time, a drought has covered all the way from the North to the country’s Southeast in Brazil. It is the strongest drought in Brazil since the beginning of measurement in the 1950s, covering almost 60% of the country's territory.

May 2025: The Secret Agent World Premiere at Cannes

On May 18, 2025, The Secret Agent had its world premiere at the main competition of the Cannes Film Festival, where it won the Best Actor prize for Wagner Moura, the Best Director prize for Mendonça and the FIPRESCI Prize. It received further widespread critical acclaim.

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2025: Brazil's Military Power Ranking

In 2025, Brazil was considered the 11th largest military power on the planet.

2029: Launch of First Nuclear Submarine

Brazil's first nuclear submarine is expected to be launched in 2029.

2035: Target for greenhouse emission cuts

In 2024 Brazil revised its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), setting a goal to cut greenhouse emissions by 59% to 67% compared to 2005 levels by 2035.