Brazil

Economy & industry overview

Brazil is the largest economy in Latin America and ranks among the ten largest economies in the world by nominal GDP. The economy is highly diversified, with major contributions from agriculture, mining, manufacturing, financial services, and energy. Key export products include iron ore, soybeans, crude oil, beef, and sugar, with oil emerging as one of the leading export earners. The country operates a large domestic consumer market supported by a population of over 213 million, and its stock exchange, B3, is the largest in Latin America by market capitalization and trading volume. GDP grew at 3.4 percent in 2024, driven by strong private consumption and supply-side factors, though growth is expected to moderate in subsequent years.

Key sectors

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Macro

GDP nominal, USD	$2.19T
GDP growth real, annual	3.4%
Inflation annual	4.6%
Population people	213.0M
GDP per capita USD	$10,282
Market cap total listed, USD	$783.00B
Market cap / GDP	35.8%
Unemployment	6.8%
Listed companies	331
Exchange	B3, Brasil Bolsa Balcao (formerly BM&FBOVESPA), headquartered in Sao Paulo. It is the largest stock exchange in Latin America by market capitalization and the main venue for equities, derivatives, fixed income, and commodity contracts in Brazil. (BVMF)

Primary data year: 2024. Sources: World Bank World Development Indicators, IMF World Economic Outlook, FocusEconomics, B3 official data via Baker McKenzie Cross-Border Listings Guide, SSE Initiative (Sustainable Stock Exchanges), Wikipedia B3 stock exchange, Trading Economics, Statista, Rio Times Online, FinanceCharts, BrazilianFinance.com. Individual figures may cover different reference periods — for example a fiscal year, or an estimate for the current year — and the overview above states these where known.

Local exchange & access

Exchange	B3, Brasil Bolsa Balcao (formerly BM&FBOVESPA), headquartered in Sao Paulo. It is the largest stock exchange in Latin America by market capitalization and the main venue for equities, derivatives, fixed income, and commodity contracts in Brazil.
Code	BVMF
Website	www.b3.com.br/en_us
Currency	BRL

Local broker access

Foreign investors can access Brazilian equities directly through a local brokerage account by registering with the CVM (Comissao de Valores Mobiliarios, the Brazilian securities regulator) and obtaining a CPF (tax identification number) and a CVM foreign investor registration (Annex IV or Resolution 4,373 registration). Several international brokers also offer access to Brazilian ADRs and ETFs listed in the United States. Direct B3 trading by non-residents requires a local custodian and compliance with Brazilian Central Bank and CVM regulations. Many international retail investors gain exposure through US-listed ETFs or ADRs rather than directly on B3.

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

Brazil allows foreign nationals to reside long-term through investor, work, retirement income, or family reunification visas. The retirement and income visa (VITEM XI) requires proof of a monthly foreign income above approximately USD 2,000. The cost of living varies significantly between major cities such as Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro and smaller cities. Brazil imposes worldwide income taxation on tax residents, and new residents are subject to tax on foreign income after a transition period. The country has a complex tax and bureaucratic environment, and professional legal advice is recommended for those relocating.