Brazil is located in South America, where it is the largest country on the continent and the fifth-largest in the world by land area. Occupying the central and eastern portions of the continent, Brazil covers roughly 8,515,767 square kilometers — almost half of South America's entire landmass. Its sheer size means it touches nearly every other nation on the continent and anchors South America's geography, ecology, and economy.
Why Brazil Sits Firmly in South America
South America is one of the world's seven continents, stretching from the warm Caribbean coast in the north to the cold tip of Tierra del Fuego in the south. Brazil sits in the eastern half of this continent, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east. The United Nations, geographers, and atlases all classify Brazil unambiguously as a South American country.
Brazil is sometimes also grouped under the broader label of "Latin America," a cultural and linguistic region that includes Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking countries across both South and Central America. But culturally Brazil stands apart even there: it is the only nation in the Americas where Portuguese is the official language, a legacy of Portuguese colonization that began in the year 1500.
How Brazil Fits Within the Continent
Brazil's dominance of South America is hard to overstate. With its 8.5 million square kilometers, it is larger than the contiguous United States and bigger than the entire continent of Australia. It spans almost four time zones and reaches from just north of the Equator down into subtropical latitudes.
- Continent: South America
- Region: Eastern South America
- Capital: Brasília
- Area: 8,515,767 km²
- Atlantic coastline: 7,491 km
That long coastline gives Brazil more Atlantic frontage than any other South American nation and shapes its history as a maritime trading hub. Famous coastal cities such as Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, and Recife all face the Atlantic.
The Countries That Border Brazil
Because of its size, Brazil shares land borders with 10 of the 12 other sovereign countries in South America. Only Chile and Ecuador do not touch Brazilian territory. Its neighbors are:
- French Guiana (an overseas territory of France)
- Suriname and Guyana
- Venezuela and Colombia
- Peru and Bolivia
- Paraguay, Argentina, and Uruguay
This makes Brazil a continental crossroads, with trade, rivers, and culture flowing across borders from the Andes in the west to the Atlantic in the east. The Amazon River system, the largest on Earth, drains an area of roughly 7 million square kilometers spanning several of these nations.
Landscapes That Define Brazilian Geography
Brazil's position in South America gives it an extraordinary range of environments. It contains around 60% of the Amazon Rainforest, the world's largest tropical rainforest, along with the Amazon River, which discharges more water than the next seven largest rivers combined.
- Amazon Basin: dense equatorial rainforest in the north and northwest
- Brazilian Highlands: rolling plateaus across the south and east, home to cerrado savanna and the Atlantic Forest
- Pantanal: the world's largest tropical wetland, in the west-central region
- Caatinga: dry scrubland of the northeastern interior
- Pampas: temperate grasslands in the far south
The country's highest point is Pico da Neblina, rising 2,994 meters near the Venezuelan border. This variety of ecosystems is why Brazil ranks among the most biodiverse countries on the planet, with more species of plants, freshwater fish, and mammals than any other nation. If you want the full picture of its regions, climate, and culture, see our brazil country guide.
Brazil's Place Among the World's Largest Countries
On the global stage, Brazil ranks fifth in land area, trailing only Russia, Canada, the United States, and China. It is the giant of the Southern Hemisphere's western half and the most populous country in South America, with over 200 million people. No other South American nation comes close to its combined size, population, and economic weight, which is why Brazil is often described as the heart of the continent.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Brazil in South America or Latin America?
Both labels apply, but they mean different things. Geographically, Brazil is on the continent of South America. "Latin America" is a cultural and linguistic grouping of countries in the Americas where Romance languages are spoken, and Brazil belongs to that group as its only Portuguese-speaking member.
What is the capital of Brazil?
The capital is Brasília, a planned city built in the interior and inaugurated in 1960 to encourage development away from the crowded coast. It replaced Rio de Janeiro as the seat of government.
Which countries border Brazil?
Brazil borders 10 South American countries: French Guiana, Suriname, Guyana, Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, Argentina, and Uruguay. Only Chile and Ecuador share no border with it.
How big is Brazil compared to the rest of South America?
Brazil covers about 8.5 million square kilometers, or close to half of South America's total land area, making it by far the largest country on the continent.