The
Four Member Nations
BRAZIL
Covering 8.5 million
square kilomters, Brazil is the largest of the four nations. Over
156 million people, mainly Portugues speakers, call this land home. As
the largest memeber, Brazil carries much of the weight in the Mercosur
economy. Its $676.0 billion GDP for 1995 made up nearly 69% of the total
Mercosur GDP. Per person, the average GDP in Brazil $4,350 but income
disparity is high. Most citizens of Brazil are concentrated along
the Atlantic coast in mega-cities like Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, though
the capital -Brasilia- is located more towards the interior of the country.
The northern half of the country is covered in a vast expanse of forested
land that has made Brazil famous - the Amazon. More
information.
ARGENTINA
A contrast to the lush
Amazon, Argentina is know for the Pampas, or praries, that stretch throughout
the interior. These praries have made Argentine beef world renound.
Its territory covers 2.3 million square kilometers from the Andes mountains
to the Atlantic ocean. Of the 34.3 million Argentines, 14 million
live in the massive capital city of Buenos Aires. Most commerce in
funneled through this heart of Argentina. With a 1995 GDP of $282.7
billion, translating to $8,250 per capita, Argentina's economy is the relative
richest country in Mercosur. More
information.
PARAGUAY
Paragauy is the smallest
economic contributor to Mercosur, with a total 1995 GDP of $8.9 billion.
Its 4.9 million people have the lowest per capita GDP at $1,800 a year.
Paraguayans speak both Spanish and Guarani, the indigenous language.
Tucked above Argentina and below Brazil, Paraguay's 406 thousand kilometers
are landlocked. Much political strife has damaged the Paraguayan
economy of the last century. This has left them highly import dependent,
$3.4 billion vs $2.0 billion for imports in 1995.
More information.
URUGUAY
A tiny buffer nation
between the major powers of Brazil and Argentina, Uruguay is an important
finacial center for the region. Mercosur is headquartered in Uruguay's
capital city. They are currently reconstructing a historic hotel,
located along Montevideo's waterfront, to be the permanent site.
Although the smallest in size and population, 177 thousand square kilometers
and 3.2 million inhabitants, Uruguay has a highly dynamic economy.
In 1995 the GDP was $17.2 billion, $5,400 per person. In many ways,
Uruguay is similar to Argentina with its open interior perfect for grain
and beef. But Uruguayans are proud of their nation and strongly differentiate
themselves from Argentines.
More information.
RETURN TO CONTENTS