Brazilian Americans facts for kids
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| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 371,529 0.11% of the U.S. population (2012) |
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| Regions with significant populations | |
| Miami metropolitan area, Orlando metropolitan area, New York City metropolitan area and Northern New Jersey, Boston metropolitan area, Dallas–Fort Worth, Connecticut, Philadelphia, Houston, Los Angeles. Growing populations in Chicago, Atlanta, Colorado, North Carolina and Louisiana | |
| Languages | |
| American English, Brazilian Portuguese, Indigenous Brazilian languages, Spanish, European languages (German, Venetian, Polish, etc.), Asian languages (Japanese, etc.) | |
| Religion | |
| Predominantly: Roman Catholicism Minority: Protestantism, Mormonism, Spiritism, Candomblé, Quimbanda, Umbanda, Buddhism, Judaism |
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| Related ethnic groups | |
| Brazilian Canadians, other Brazilian diaspora |
Brazilian Americans are people in the United States who have full or partial family roots from Brazil. They are a relatively new group in the U.S. In 1960, only about 27,855 Brazilians were counted.
The first big wave of Brazilians moving to the U.S. happened after 1986. At that time, about 1.4 million Brazilians moved to different countries around the world.
Brazilian Americans: A Look at Their Story
Most Brazilian Americans live in a few key states. Nearly half of them live in New York, Massachusetts, and New Jersey. There are also many Brazilian Americans in the southern parts of the U.S.
Where Do Brazilian Americans Live?
Large groups of Brazilian Americans can be found in big cities. These include the Miami metropolitan area and the Orlando metropolitan area in Florida. You can also find many in the New York City metropolitan area and Northern New Jersey. The Boston metropolitan area in Massachusetts is another important home for them.
Growing Communities Across the U.S.
Beyond these main areas, Brazilian American communities are growing in other places. These include cities like Dallas–Fort Worth, Houston, and Los Angeles. States like Connecticut, Philadelphia, Chicago, Atlanta, Colorado, North Carolina, and Louisiana also have increasing numbers of Brazilian Americans.
When Did Brazilians Come to the U.S.?
As mentioned, Brazilians are a newer immigrant group in the U.S. The number of Brazilians living in the U.S. has grown a lot since the 1980s. Many came seeking new opportunities.
How Many Brazilians Have Become Permanent Residents?
The number of Brazilians who have become lawful permanent residents in the U.S. has changed over time. From 1860 to 2016, this number steadily increased. The years between 2000 and 2009 saw a large number of people getting permanent status. This trend continued, though at a slightly slower rate, in the years that followed.
Languages and Traditions
Brazilian Americans speak different languages. Most speak American English, especially those born in the U.S. Many also speak Brazilian Portuguese, which is the main language of Brazil. Some also speak Indigenous Brazilian languages or Spanish.
Diverse Backgrounds and Beliefs
Because Brazil is a diverse country, Brazilian Americans come from many backgrounds. Some speak European languages like German or Polish. Others speak Asian languages like Japanese.
Most Brazilian Americans are Roman Catholic. However, there are also many who follow other religions. These include Protestantism, Mormonism, and various Afro-Brazilian religions like Candomblé and Umbanda. Some also practice Buddhism or Judaism.
Famous Brazilian Americans
Many Brazilian Americans have become well-known in different fields. For example, Maiara Walsh is an actress. She is known for her roles in TV shows and movies.
Another famous Brazilian American is Sky Ferreira. She is a singer, songwriter, and model. She has released popular music and worked in fashion.
Images for kids
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The figure portrays a historical pattern of Brazilians obtaining lawful permanent resident status. Each bar represents a 10-year fiscal period. The last 6 years accumulated 80,741 persons obtaining permanent status. The number of persons from 2010 to 2020 will more likely reflect the 10-year fiscal period from 2000 to 2009. However, the number of people will increase slightly at a much lower rate than from 1990–1999 to 2000–2009. Source: Yearbook of Immigration Statistics 2016.
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Brazilians obtaining lawful permanent resident status by the top 6 states in the United States. Source: Yearbook of Immigration Statistics 2016
