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A military coup in 1964 led to an authoritarian regime that ruled for 21 years, characterized by political repression but also periods of rapid economic growth known as the "Brazilian Miracle".
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Brazil rapidly industrialized and urbanized, becoming a majority urban nation by the end of the 20th century. The population grew from around 54 million in 1950 to over 210 million by 2022, with a vast majority now living in cities like São Paulo.
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Civilian rule resumed in 1985, and the current democratic federal republic was established with the promulgation of a new constitution in 1988.
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The economy faced severe inflation through the 1980s and 1990s, but the 1994 Plano Real stabilized the currency and fostered sustained economic growth.
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Significant gains were made in reducing child mortality, and the country elected its first female president, Dilma Rousseff, in 2010.
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Brazil developed a large, diversified upper-middle-income economy, becoming one of the world's largest economies and a major exporter of agricultural and mineral resources.
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Internal migration continued to shape the nation, with people moving from rural areas to cities and the Amazon frontier, even as Brazil has focused on renewable energy and remains greener than many developed nations.