Brazilian real facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Brazilian real
Banknotes of reais (from 2 reais to 100 reais) 200 reais banknote
ISO 4217 Code	BRL
User(s)	Brazil
Inflation	3.94% (May 2023)
Source	agenciadenoticias.ibge.gov.br
Method	CPI
Subunit
1⁄100	centavo
Symbol	R$
Nickname	pila, prata, mango, pau, conto, réis (plural)
Plural	reais
Coins
Freq. used	5, 10, 25, 50 centavos, and R$ 1
Rarely used	1 centavo
Banknotes	R$ 2, R$ 5, R$ 10, R$ 20, R$ 50, R$ 100, R$ 200
Printer	Casa da Moeda do Brasil

The Brazilian real (pronounced "heh-OW," plural reais, pronounced "heh-ICE") is the official money of Brazil. Its symbol is R$. One real is made up of 100 smaller units called centavos. The Central Bank of Brazil is in charge of printing and managing the real. This currency started being used in 1994, replacing an older currency called the cruzeiro real.

As of April 2019^[update] the real was one of the top 20 most traded currencies in the world.

History of the Brazilian Real

Brazil has used many different types of money throughout its history. Before the current real, these were some of the currencies:

• The Portuguese real was used from the 1500s to the 1700s.
• The old Brazilian real was used from 1747 to 1942.
• The first cruzeiro was used from 1942 to 1967.
• The cruzeiro novo was used from 1967 to 1970, then renamed the (second) cruzeiro until 1986.
• The cruzado was used from 1986 to 1989.
• The cruzado novo was used from 1989 to 1990, then renamed the (third) cruzeiro until 1993.
• The cruzeiro real (CR$) was used from 1993 to 1994.

The current real was introduced on July 1, 1994. It was part of a big plan to make Brazil's economy stable. This plan was called the Plano Real. The new real replaced the cruzeiro real.

When it first came out, one real was worth exactly one U.S. dollar. This was a big deal because Brazil had faced a lot of inflation (when prices go up very quickly) before. The new currency helped to control prices and make the economy stronger.

After it was introduced, the real actually became stronger than the U.S. dollar for a short time. This happened because a lot of money came into Brazil from other countries. But then, the value of the real started to go down slowly.

In 1999, the Central Bank of Brazil decided to let the real's value change freely in the market. This caused the real to lose a lot of its value against the dollar.

The value of the real kept changing over the years. Sometimes it went up, and sometimes it went down. For example, in 2007, one real was worth more than 50 U.S. cents for the first time in six years.

More recently, in May 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the real reached its lowest value against the U.S. dollar. This was a tough time for Brazil's economy. However, after the 2022 elections, the real's value improved a bit.

Coins of Brazil

First Series (1994–1997)

The first coins for the real were made in 1994. They came in values of 1, 5, 10, 25, 50 centavos, and 1 real. All these coins were made of stainless steel.

The 1-real coins from this first series were stopped from being used in 2003. This was because there were many fake versions of them. But all the other coins from this series can still be used today.

First series
Image	Value	Design	When they started	When they stopped
	1 centavo	Front: Big number showing the value. Back: Head of the Republic.	July 1, 1994	Still used
	5 centavos	Front: Big number showing the value. Back: Head of the Republic.
	10 centavos	Front: Big number showing the value. Back: Head of the Republic.
	50 centavos	Front: Big number showing the value. Back: Head of the Republic.
	1 real	Front: Big number showing the value. Back: Head of the Republic.		December 23, 2003
	25 centavos	Front: Big number with wavy lines. Back: Head of the Republic.	September 30, 1994	Still used

Special Commemorative Coins

In 1995, special 10 and 25 centavos coins were made. They celebrated the 50th birthday of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). These coins had special designs related to food and farming.

Circulating special coins from the first series
Image	Value	Details
	10 centavos	Released: May 31, 1995 Reason: 50th anniversary of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Number made: 1 million of each design Back design: The 10 centavos coin shows hands holding a plant. The 25 centavos coin shows farming. Both say "FAO—1945/1995" and "food for all."
	25 centavos

Some other special coins were also made. These were for collectors and had values like R$2, R$3, R$4, and R$20. Even though they are special, they are still official money.

Second Series (1998–Present)

A new series of coins was introduced in 1998. These coins had different metals and designs. For example, the 1 and 5 centavos coins were made of copper-plated steel. The 1 real coin was made of two different metals.

In 2005, the Central Bank stopped making 1 centavo coins. However, if you have them, they are still good to use. Stores usually round prices to the nearest 5 or 10 centavos now.

Second series
Image	Value	Design
	1 centavo (not made anymore)	Front: The Southern Cross stars. Back: Shows Pedro Álvares Cabral, who explored Brazil, with an old ship.
	5 centavos	Front: The Southern Cross stars. Back: Shows Tiradentes, a hero of Brazil's independence. It also has a triangle and a dove.
	10 centavos	Front: The Southern Cross stars. Back: Shows Emperor Pedro I, Brazil's first emperor, on a horse.
	25 centavos	Front: The Southern Cross stars. Back: Shows Deodoro da Fonseca, Brazil's first president, with the country's coat of arms.
	50 centavos	Front: The Southern Cross stars. Back: Shows José Paranhos, Jr., a famous foreign minister. It also shows a map of Brazil.
	1 real	Front: The Southern Cross stars. Back: Has a pattern from marajoara art and the Head of the Republic.

In 2019, some 5 and 50 centavos coins were made by a different company. These coins have a small letter "A" on them to show where they were made.

• Coins minted by the Royal Dutch Mint
• 

  5 centavos coin with mint mark

• 

  50 centavos coin with mint mark

Special Commemorative Coins (Second Series)

The Central Bank of Brazil sometimes makes special versions of the regular coins. These coins are still official money. They usually have a different design on their back side.

Circulating special coins from the second series
Image	Value	Details
	1 real	Released: December 10, 1998 Reason: 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights Number made: 600 thousand Back design: A human figure and words about human rights.
	1 real	Released: September 12, 2002 Reason: 100th birthday of former president Juscelino Kubitschek Number made: 50 million Back design: A picture of Kubitschek and parts of the Alvorada Palace in Brasília.
	1 real	Released: September 23, 2005 Reason: 40th anniversary of the Central Bank of Brazil Number made: 40 million Back design: The Central Bank building and its logo.
	1 real	Released: August 13, 2012 Reason: Olympic Flag Handover for the Rio 2016 Summer Olympics Number made: 2 million Back design: The Olympic Flag and logos for London 2012 and Rio 2016.
	1 real	Released: 2014-2016 (in sets) Reason: 2016 Summer Olympics Number made: 20 million of each design Back design: Sixteen different designs showing Olympic and Paralympic sports and mascots.
	1 real	Released: March 30, 2015 Reason: 50th anniversary of the Central Bank of Brazil Number made: 50 million Back design: The Central Bank building and its logo.
	1 real	Released: August 28, 2019 Reason: 25th anniversary of the Plano Real Number made: 25 million Back design: A hummingbird feeding its chicks, like on the 1 real banknote.

Other special coins for collectors have also been made with values like R$2, R$5, R$10, and R$20. These are also official money.

Banknotes of Brazil

First Series (1994–2010)

In 1994, the first real banknotes were printed. They came in values of 1, 5, 10, 50, and 100 reais. Later, 2 and 20 reais banknotes were added. Each banknote in this series features a different animal from Brazil on its back. For example, the 2 real note has a sea turtle, and the 20 real note has a golden lion tamarin.

The 1 real banknote stopped being printed in 2005.

First series
Image		Value	Size	What it shows
Front	Back			Front	Back
		1 real	140 mm × 65 mm	The Head of the Republic	Sapphire-spangled emerald hummingbird
		2 reais			Hawksbill turtle
		5 reais			Great egret
		10 reais			Green-winged macaw
		20 reais			Golden lion tamarin
		50 reais			Jaguar
		100 reais			Dusky Grouper

Special Banknotes

In April 2000, a special 10 real banknote was made. It was to celebrate 500 years since Portuguese explorers arrived in Brazil. This was the first time Brazil used a polymer banknote, which is made of a special plastic material.

Front	Back	Value	Year	Material	What it shows
		10 reais	2000	Polymer	Front: Shows Pedro Álvares Cabral, who explored Brazil. Back: A map of Brazil with pictures showing the different cultures of the country.

Second Series (2010–Present)

A new series of real banknotes started in 2010. These new notes have better security features to prevent fake money. They are also different sizes, which helps people who can't see well. The new banknotes slowly replaced the older ones.

In 2020, a new 200 reais banknote was released. It features a Maned wolf.

Second series
Image		Value	Size	Main color	What it shows		First made	Watermark
Front	Back				Front	Back
		2 reais	121 mm × 65 mm	Blue	Wave pattern; Head of Republic	Hawksbill turtle	July 29, 2013	Hawksbill turtle and the number 2
		5 reais	128 mm x 65 mm	Purple	Plants; Head of Republic	Great egret	July 29, 2013	Great egret and the number 5
		10 reais	135 mm × 65 mm	Red	Plants; Head of Republic	Green-winged macaw	July 23, 2012	Green-winged macaw and the number 10
		20 reais	142 mm × 65 mm	Yellow	Plants; Head of Republic	Golden lion tamarin	July 23, 2012	Golden lion tamarin and the number 20
		50 reais	149 mm × 70 mm	Brown	Jungle plants; Head of Republic	Jaguar	December 13, 2010	Jaguar and the number 50
		100 reais	156 mm × 70 mm	Cyan	Underwater plants and starfish; Head of Republic; coral	Dusky Grouper; coral	December 13, 2010	Dusky Grouper and the number 100
		200 reais	142 mm × 65 mm	Grey	Savanna plants; Head of Republic	Maned wolf	September 2, 2020	Maned wolf and the number 200

These new banknotes have special features that glow under ultraviolet light. This helps to make sure they are real.

Exchange Rates

Current Exchange Rates

How the Real's Value Changed Over Time

The value of the Brazilian real compared to other currencies, like the U.S. dollar or the Euro, changes over time. This is called the exchange rate. You can see how the real's value has changed in the graphs below.

Historical US$/BRL exchange rate with Lowest, Highest and Average rates

Historical US$/BRL exchange rate

The cost of one Euro in Brazilian real.

Most traded currencies by value
Currency distribution of global foreign exchange market turnover

Rank	Currency	ISO 4217 code (symbol)	% daily share (April 2016)
1	United States dollar	USD ($)	87.6%
2	Euro	EUR (€)	31.4%
3	Japanese yen	JPY (¥)	21.6%
4	Pound sterling	GBP (£)	12.8%
5	Australian dollar	AUD ($)	6.9%
6	Canadian dollar	CAD ($)	5.1%
7	Swiss franc	CHF (Fr)	4.8%
8	Chinese yuan	CNY (¥)	4.0%
9	Swedish krona	SEK (kr)	2.2%
10	New Zealand dollar	NZD ($)	2.1%
11	Mexican peso	MXN ($)	1.9%
12	Singapore dollar	SGD ($)	1.8%
13	Hong Kong dollar	HKD ($)	1.7%
14	Norwegian krone	NOK (kr)	1.7%
15	South Korean won	KRW (₩)	1.7%
16	Turkish lira	TRY (₺)	1.4%
17	Russian ruble	RUB (₽)	1.1%
18	Indian rupee	INR (₹)	1.1%
19	Brazilian real	BRL (R$)	1.0%
20	South African rand	ZAR (R)	1.0%
Other			7.1%
Total Most traded currencies by value Currency distribution of global foreign exchange market turnover Rank Currency ISO 4217 code Symbol or abbreviation Proportion of daily volume, April 2019 Proportion of daily volume, April 2022 1 U.S. dollar USD US$ 88.3% 88.5% 2 Euro EUR € 32.3% 30.5% 3 Japanese yen JPY ¥ / 円 16.8% 16.7% 4 Sterling GBP £ 12.8% 12.9% 5 Renminbi CNY ¥ / 元 4.3% 7.0% 6 Australian dollar AUD A$ 6.8% 6.4% 7 Canadian dollar CAD C$ 5.0% 6.2% 8 Swiss franc CHF CHF 5.0% 5.2% 9 Hong Kong dollar HKD HK$ 3.5% 2.6% 10 Singapore dollar SGD S$ 1.8% 2.4% 11 Swedish krona SEK kr 2.0% 2.2% 12 South Korean won KRW ₩ / 원 2.0% 1.9% 13 Norwegian krone NOK kr 1.8% 1.7% 14 New Zealand dollar NZD NZ$ 2.1% 1.7% 15 Indian rupee INR ₹ 1.7% 1.6% 16 Mexican peso MXN $ 1.7% 1.5% 17 New Taiwan dollar TWD NT$ 0.9% 1.1% 18 South African rand ZAR R 1.1% 1.0% 19 Brazilian real BRL R$ 1.1% 0.9% 20 Danish krone DKK kr 0.6% 0.7% 21 Polish złoty PLN zł 0.6% 0.7% 22 Thai baht THB ฿ 0.5% 0.4% 23 Israeli new shekel ILS ₪ 0.3% 0.4% 24 Indonesian rupiah IDR Rp 0.4% 0.4% 25 Czech koruna CZK Kč 0.4% 0.4% 26 UAE dirham AED د.إ 0.2% 0.4% 27 Turkish lira TRY ₺ 1.1% 0.4% 28 Hungarian forint HUF Ft 0.4% 0.3% 29 Chilean peso CLP CLP$ 0.3% 0.3% 30 Saudi riyal SAR ﷼ 0.2% 0.2% 31 Philippine peso PHP ₱ 0.3% 0.2% 32 Malaysian ringgit MYR RM 0.1% 0.2% 33 Colombian peso COP COL$ 0.2% 0.2% 34 Russian ruble RUB ₽ 1.1% 0.2% 35 Romanian leu RON L 0.1% 0.1% … Other 2.2% 2.5% Total 200.0% 200.0% || style="text-align:right;" | 200.0%

See also

• Central Bank of Brazil
• Economy of Brazil
• Plano Real
• Portuguese real

Images for kids

• 

  The 1995 R$20 non-circulating commemorative coin celebrating Brazil's 4th FIFA World Cup win the year prior.

• 

  The 2000 R$20 non-circulating commemorative coin celebrating the 500th anniversary of Brazil's discovery by the Portuguese (1500–2000)

• 

  Commemorative 1 real coins for the 2016 Summer Olympics and Paralympics Games in Rio de Janeiro. Left, allegory to Olympic boxing, right, allegory to Paralympic swimming.

• 

  Separated parts of the second series, post-2002 R$1 coin