Barra, Brazil

The population of Barra, Brazil is just 39,806, a figure that should give any prospective expat pause. This remote municipality in the state of Bahia covers over 11,400 square kilometers, yet has a paltry population density of 4.3 people per square kilometer. The city's importance as a commercial hub along the Rio São Francisco has waned since the 1970s, as roadways have been built inland, leaving Barra increasingly isolated. Bureaucracy is a persistent headache, with the city only being connected to the highway system as recently as 1998. Barra is for the truly rugged adventurer seeking a remote, off-the-grid lifestyle, not the faint of heart.