Updated
Overview
Brazil has about 50% more people than Russia: 212.81 million against 143.51 million (2025).
Russia's economy is 12% larger than Brazil's, at $2.56T versus $2.28T.
Per person, Russia is the wealthier of the two: $17,547 against $10,713 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Brazil | Russia | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $2.28T | Higher: $2.56T | 2025 | $2.18T / $2.17T |
| GDP per capita | $10,713 | Higher: $17,547 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 2.3% | 1.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 5.0% | 8.7% | 2025 | 4.4% / 6.7% |
| Unemployment | 6.0% | Lower: 2.1% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 46 | 32 | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $607 | Higher: $777 | 2025 / 2021 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $262 | $208 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $4.71 | $1.74 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 212.81 million | 143.51 million | 2025 | 221.36 million / 140.13 million |
| Population growth | 0.4% | -0.1% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 34.8 yrs | 40.3 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.60 | 1.46 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 76.0 yrs | 73.4 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 88% | 75% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 84% | Higher: 94% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 8,515,767 km² | 17,098,242 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 25.0/km² | 8.4/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | Lower: 483 Mt | 1,781 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 2.3 t | 12.3 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $20.95B | $148.97B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.0% | 7.1% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 762,000 | 1.5 million | 2020 | — / — |
Sources by row: World Bank WDI, IMF WEO, UN WPP 2024, ILOSTAT, The Economist. Emphasis marks the stronger figure where one direction is meaningfully better.
Reading the numbers
Economy
Brazil is growing faster: 2.3% annual GDP growth versus 1.0%.
Russia runs the hotter price environment: 8.7% inflation versus 5.0%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Russia: a price level of 32 versus 46 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Russia: $777 against $607 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Brazil is the younger society: median age 34.8 versus 40.3 years.
Life expectancy is 2.6 years longer in Brazil (76.0 vs 73.4).
Brazil is considerably more urbanized: 88% of people live in cities, against 75%.
Geography
By land area, Brazil is 50% smaller than Russia: 8,515,767 km² versus 17,098,242 km².
Brazil is far more densely settled: 25 people per km² against 8.
Military
Russia spends 7.1 times as much on defence as Brazil: $148.97B versus $20.95B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Russia carries the heavier military burden: 7.1% of GDP versus 1.0%.
Russia fields the larger armed forces: 1.5 million personnel against 762,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Brazil bigger than Russia?
- Russia is larger by land area. Brazil covers 8,515,767 km² while Russia covers 17,098,242 km², so Russia is 2.0 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Brazil or Russia?
- Brazil has the larger population: 212.81 million versus 143.51 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Brazil richer than Russia?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Russia is richer: $17,547 against $10,713. Total GDP tells the same story: $2.28T for Brazil versus $2.56T for Russia.
- Who spends more on their military, Brazil or Russia?
- Russia spends more: $148.97B versus $20.95B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).