Multi-racial Brazil (by Joe)

South Africa holds claim as the world's 'Rainbow Nation', but Brazil could hold a pretty good claim too, with a mixed population descended from European, African and Japanese immigrants, as well as indigenous people.

According to our travel guide, of a population of nearly 200 million, 40% are 'mixed-race', 54% 'white or near white' and 5% 'Afro-Caribbeans'.

In general, whites predominate towards the south, with the population becoming increasingly Afro-Caribbean and mixed-race as you progress north.

Of the European immigrants, 32% were Italian, 30% Portuguese, 14% Spanish, 4% German (20% 'other'). There are also some 1 million Japanese-descended Brazilians (mostly concentrated around Sao Paulo).

It sure makes for an stimulating and varied mix of people and culture everywhere you go.

Joe