Brazil's population tops 180 million

RIO DE JANEIRO, Aug. 30 (UPI) -- Brazil's population almost doubled in the last 34 years, according to a survey released Monday by the Brazilian Institute for Geography and Statistics.

In 2004, the population of South America's largest country reached 182 million, up from 93 million in 1970.

At the current rate of growth, the institute predicts that by 2050, Brazil's population could reach 259.8 million, making it the sixth most populated country on the planet behind India, China, the United States, Pakistan and Indonesia.

The survey found, however, that the rate of growth had diminished since 1970, from 3 percent per year to 1.44 percent in 2004.