World Finance Atlas
187 economies · 2025–26

Brazil

Capital BrasiliaCurrency BRLRegion Latin America
Output · rank 9/187
$2.3T
People · rank 7/187
212.8M
Land · rank 5/187
8,358K km²
GDP per person
$10,841
Density
25.5 /km²

Government debt

92.0%gross debt, share of GDP
$2.1Toutstanding, rank 10 of 178
Perimeter
General government
Basis
Gross, not net
Valuation
Nominal
Debt per person
$9,974
Net of assets
63.2%
Source
IMF World Economic Outlook / Fiscal Monitor
Gross debt is 92.0%; net of the government’s financial assets it is 63.2%, a 28.8% gap.
What this number does not tell youThe most misread figure in public finance. Perimeter varies by country — the IMF notes its Fiscal Monitor tables use a narrower perimeter for China than its Article IV estimates, and published figures for Japan range from roughly 200% to 250% depending on perimeter and valuation, both citing the IMF. Debt in a currency the government issues is a fundamentally different instrument from debt it must earn or borrow to service; this ratio does not distinguish them.

Private-sector debt

Households
34.7% of GDP
Non-financial corporations
33.4% of GDP
Total private
68.1% of GDP
Government debt is only one layer. Household and corporate borrowing is where financial fragility often actually sits — and here it totals 68.1% of GDP, set against the public figure above.

Currency & monetary policy

Currency
BRL
Regime
Free floating
Central bank
Banco Central do Brasil
Selic rate
15.00%
Issues its own currency and sets its own policy rate — meaningful room to manage local-currency debt.

House prices

Nominal, year-on-year
+6.8%
Real (inflation-adjusted)
+1.9%
The real figure strips out inflation and is the one that tells you whether housing actually became more expensive.

Payment rails

SystemTypeLive since
STRLarge-value RTGS2002
TEDSame-day transfer2002
PIXInstant retail2020

Against its region and the world

Where Brazil sits relative to the Latin America average and the world average.

GDP per person (USD)
This country10,841
Region average10,882
World average14,013
Population density (per km²)
This country26
Region average33
World average64
Debt to GDP (%)
This country92
Region average68
World average95

Major banks

Largest institutions headquartered in Brazil, by total assets. Assets, not market value — the two rank very differently.

All banks →
InstitutionHeadquartersTotal assetsvs. national GDP
1Itau UnibancoSao Paulo$480B21%
2Banco do BrasilBrasilia$470B20%
3Caixa Economica FederalBrasilia$450B20%

All figures

Nominal GDP
$2.3T
Share of world output
2.00%
Population
212.8M
Share of world population
2.59%
Land area
8,358,140 km²
Share of world land
6.47%
GDP per person
$10,841
GDP per km²
$276,018
Population density
25.5 /km²
Government debt
92.0%
Debt outstanding
$2.1T

Closest by output in Latin America

Mexico$1.9T58.6%
Argentina$683B64.5%
Colombia$480B58.2%
Chile$344B42.6%
Peru$305B34.1%

Nearest neighbours by nominal output within the same region. Third column is debt to GDP.

Where these figures come from

Nominal GDPGross domestic product at current market prices, converted to US dollars at market exchange rates. Not adjusted for purchasing power.
IMF World Economic Outlook
2025 estimate
PopulationTotal resident population, mid-year estimate.
UN World Population Prospects
2025 estimate
Land areaTotal land area, excluding inland water where the source reports it separately.
UN Statistics Division
2024
General government gross debtGross debt of the general government sector as a share of GDP. Gross means government-held financial assets are not netted off.
IMF World Economic Outlook / Fiscal Monitor
2025–26 estimate
Bank total assetsTotal assets for the most recent reporting period: cash, loans, investments, property and equipment.
S&P Global Market Intelligence
2026 ranking
Net government debtGovernment debt net of its financial assets, as a share of GDP.
IMF Fiscal Monitor
2025–26 estimate
Household debtCredit to households and non-profits serving them, as a share of GDP.
BIS credit statistics
2024–25
Corporate debtCredit to non-financial corporations, as a share of GDP.
BIS credit statistics
2024–25
Exchange rate regimeHow the currency is managed: free floating, floating, pegged, currency board, or no separate legal tender.
IMF AREAER
2025
Central bank policy rateThe main policy interest rate set by the central bank.
Central banks / BIS
mid-2026, live
Residential house pricesYear-on-year change in residential property prices, nominal and inflation-adjusted.
BIS / OECD residential property
latest quarter