Military branches:

Brazilian Army, Brazilian Navy (Marinha do Brasil (MB), includes Naval Air and Marine Corps (Corpo de Fuzileiros Navais)), Brazilian Air Force (Forca Aerea Brasileira, FAB) (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

21-45 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - 9 to 12 months; 17-45 years of age for voluntary service; an increasing percentage of the ranks are "long-service" volunteer professionals; women were allowed to serve in the armed forces beginning in early 1980s when the Brazilian Army became the first army in South America to accept women into career ranks; women serve in Navy and Air Force only in Women's Reserve Corps (2001)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 52,449,957
females age 16-49: 52,375,921 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 39,263,710
females age 16-49: 44,109,056 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

males age 16-49: 1,668,722
females age 16-49: 1,609,437 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

2.6% (2006 est.)