Print guia aluno 06 - Faap

90 Student Guide - FAAP
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1.7 Population indexes 1
According to survey conducted in the year 2000, Brazil has approximately
170 million inhabitants, being:
• 81% urban / 19% rural;
• 49,2% men / 50,8% women;
• distribution by age: 29,7% below 15 years; 28,2% from 15 to 29; 21,1% from
30 to 44; 12,5% from 45 to 59; 6,4% from 60 to 74; 2,1% above 75.
1.8 Currency
The official currency is the Real.
1.9 Brazilian foreign trade 2
Through the nineties, the quality of agricultural production in Brazil increased
significantly, becoming it the worldwide leader producer of soy, cotton, orange,
sugar, cocoa, coffee, rice and corn.
According to the Brazilian Secretariat of International Commerce (SECEX), in
2005, the main Brazilian exports for basic products were chicken, bovine meat,
soy, crude oil, and iron ore. For the semi-manufactured goods such as paper and
cellulose, sugar and casting ore, Brazil had its best performance.
Despite this positive leap and as consequence of the Federal Government
reforms, the Brazilian exports were diversified, including a huge amount of high
value-added products, such as airplanes, load vehicles, cell phones, jewels and
textiles
In 2005, manufactured products or of high value-added corresponded to 55%
of the exporting guidelines. Consequently, successive surpluses in the Brazilian
trade balance occurred, even considering the fact that the “Real” was
overvalued.
Nowadays, the main imported products are mechanical equipment, electric and
electronic products, fuel, lubricants, chemical products, manure and fertilizers,
medical instruments and plastics.
According to 2005’s survey, the main Brazilian exports destinations were:
United States 19.2%, Argentina 8.4%, China 5.8%, the Netherlands 4.5% and
Germany 4,2%. The main origins of the Brazilian imports were: United States
17.5%,Argentina 8.5%, Germany 8.4%, China 7.3% and Japan 4.6%.
1.10 Religion
1.10 Religion
A great majority of Brazilians is Catholic (71%), although all are free to
practice any religion.