Brazil

Economy & industry overview

Brazil is the largest economy in Latin America and the tenth largest in the world by nominal GDP, classified by the World Bank as an upper-middle-income economy. The economy is highly diversified, with major contributions from agriculture (soybeans, beef, sugar, coffee), energy (oil and gas via Petrobras), mining (iron ore, nickel), manufacturing, and an extensive services sector. Brazil is a leading global exporter of agricultural commodities and iron ore, and is a member of BRICS and MERCOSUR. The financial sector is deep and well-developed, anchored by large private and state-controlled banks, and a growing fintech ecosystem. GDP growth reached 3.4% in 2024, though it is projected to moderate in 2025–2026 amid high interest rates and persistent inflationary pressures.

Key sectors

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Macro

GDP nominal, USD	$2.18T
GDP growth real, annual	3.4%
Inflation annual	4.1%
Population people	213.0M
GDP per capita USD	$9,565
Market cap total listed, USD	$870.73B
Market cap / GDP	39.9%
Unemployment	6.2%
Listed companies	463
Exchange	B3 – Brasil, Bolsa, Balcão (BVMF)

Data year: 2024. Sources: World Bank – World Development Indicators, IMF World Economic Outlook (April 2026), OECD Economic Outlook Volume 2025 Issue 1, US Department of State – 2025 Investment Climate Statement: Brazil, Baker McKenzie – Cross-Border Listings Guide: B3, B3 S.A. – Brasil, Bolsa, Balcão (official exchange data), Trading Economics, Worldometer GDP, Wikipedia – Economy of Brazil, disfold.com – Top Brazilian Companies by Market Cap, financecharts.com – Biggest Companies in Brazil, iShares EWZ fund data (BlackRock).

Local exchange & access

Exchange	B3 – Brasil, Bolsa, Balcão
Code	BVMF
Website	www.b3.com.br/en_us
Currency	BRL

Local broker access

Non-resident foreign investors can access B3-listed equities directly by registering as a foreign investor (Annex IV/Resolution 4,373 framework) through a local custodian and obtaining a CPF number. Alternatively, US-based investors may access Brazilian equities via ADRs on NYSE/NYSE American or via US-listed ETFs such as EWZ without needing a local account. Several international online brokers (e.g., Interactive Brokers) offer direct access to B3. Brazil levies a 15% withholding tax on dividends and capital gains for non-resident investors in most circumstances; rates may differ under applicable tax treaties.

Global brokers with foreign-market access

• Interactive Brokers — Direct access to 90+ markets worldwide, including many emerging exchanges.
• Saxo Bank — Multi-market access across Asia, Europe and the Middle East.
• Charles Schwab (Global) — Foreign ordinary shares on select markets; US-listed ADRs and ETFs.
• Fidelity International Trading — International stock trading on a number of developed and emerging markets.

Listed for convenience only — not a recommendation. Available markets, fees and onboarding rules differ by broker and by your country of residence.

Relocation & residency

Foreign-investor access

Foreign nationals wishing to reside in Brazil may apply for an investor visa or residency permit under the Lei de Migração framework. A Brazilian CPF (tax registration number) is required for most financial and legal activities. Brazil imposes worldwide income taxation on tax residents. Cost of living varies substantially by city; São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro are the most expensive. Portuguese language proficiency is practically necessary for daily life outside major business districts.