BRAZIL  [1]

 

General Information

Brazil is a federal republic with twenty-six states and one Federal District. It covers a total area of 8,514,215.3 sq. km. In 2004 the country’s population was 179,443,000 [2] and 81.7% of its inhabitants lived in urban areas. Between 2000 and 2005, annual population growth was 1.2%. Illiteracy was estimated at 11.1% for 2005 among Brazilians over the age of fifteen, well below the rate of 18% reported in 1990. Population age distribution has shifted, with the under-fifteen group dropping to 28.8% of the total population in 2000, compared to 34.7% in 1990. The 15-34 age group remained relatively stable (it was 36.5% in 2000 and 36.4% in 1990). ECLAC estimated life expectancy for 2000-2005 at 69 years. The poverty rate remained stable at 31.5% between 1999 and 2001, while extreme poverty rose slightly from 12.9% to 13.2%. The World Bank reported 2% GDP growth for 2002, and no growth for 2003. [3]  Per capita income in 2002 was US$2,860, dropping to US$2,710 with a purchasing power parity of US$7,510 in 2004. Urban unemployment increased 0.6% to 12.3% between 2002 and 2003. [4]
 

Judicial System Highlights

• On December 8, 2004, Constitutional Amendment 45 entered into force, modifying the rules governing the structure and functioning of the Judicial Branch.

• One of the main innovations was the creation of the National Council on Justice (Consejo Nacional de Justicia).

• In 2003 Brazil had 7.7 judges per 100,000 inhabitants, with 73% of judges serving in the ordinary justice system.

• In 2004 the federal justice system budget represented 0.97% of the federal budget. The justice administration allocation represented 3.66% of total public spending.[5]

• Brazil has 3,154 public defenders, or 1.86 per 100,000 inhabitants [6].

• Between 1997 and 2003 the congestion rate in Brazil’s first instance courts was 80% or higher and that of the second instance courts was 70% or higher. In 2003, the Superior Federal Court reached a clearance rate of 124%, while ordinary state justice cleared an average of 68% of cases filed that year.

• In 2003, 3,792.5 crimes were committed per 100,000 inhabitants. In July 2004 there were 187.4 inmates per 100,000 inhabitants, with prison overcrowding at 83.17%.