Brazil vs Mexico
Brazil leads on 3 of 6 metrics, Mexico on 3. Here's the full side-by-side breakdown.
Brazil vs Mexico: the verdict
Brazil is the more populous of the two, home to 212.81 million people — about 1.6× the population of Mexico (131.95 million).
On the economy, Brazil has the larger nominal GDP at $2.28T. But measured per person, Mexico comes out ahead on GDP per capita ($13,889), a better proxy for average living standards.
Geographically, Brazil is the larger country, spanning 8,515,767 km².
Mexico records the higher Human Development Index (0.789), reflecting stronger combined outcomes in health, education and income (source: UNDP).
Overall the two are evenly matched across these headline metrics — the "winner" depends on which measures matter most to you.
Full breakdown
Brazil
BrazilBrazilGovernment & politics
BrazilBrazil
Brazil is a federal presidential republic modelled partly on the United States. The President is both head of state and head of government, directly elected and serving as commander of the armed forces. Power is divided among the executive, a bicameral National Congress and an independent judiciary led by the Supreme Federal Court. Brazil's many political parties mean presidents must build broad coalitions in Congress to govern.
Mexico
Mexico is a federal presidential republic. The President is both head of state and government, directly elected for a single six-year term (the sexenio) with an absolute ban on re-election — a legacy of revolution-era limits on personal power. A bicameral Congress and an independent judiciary check the executive across 32 federal entities.
Travel & practical
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Frequently asked questions
Which country has a higher GDP, Brazil or Mexico?
Brazil has the higher nominal GDP at $2.28T, compared with $1.83T for Mexico (World Bank).
Is Brazil bigger than Mexico by population?
Brazil has the larger population with 212,812,405 people, versus 131,946,900 for Mexico.
Which is larger in area, Brazil or Mexico?
Brazil is larger, covering 8,515,767 km² compared with 1,964,375 km² for Mexico.