Introduction ::Portugal
Following its heyday as a global maritime power during the 15th and 16th centuries, Portugal lost much of its wealth and status with the destruction of Lisbon in a 1755 earthquake, occupation during the Napoleonic Wars, and the independence of its wealthiest colony of Brazil in 1822. A 1910 revolution deposed the monarchy; for most of the next six decades, repressive governments ran the country. In 1974, a left-wing military coup installed broad democratic reforms. The following year, Portugal granted independence to all of its African colonies. Portugal is a founding member of NATO and entered the EC (now the EU) in 1986.
Geography ::Portugal
Southwestern Europe, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Spain
39 30 N, 8 00 W
total: 92,090 sq km
country comparison to the world: 110
land: 91,470 sq km
water: 620 sq km
note: includes Azores and Madeira Islands
slightly smaller than Indiana
total: 1,214 km
border countries: Spain 1,214 km
1,793 km
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Current Weather
maritime temperate; cool and rainy in north, warmer and drier in south
mountainous north of the Tagus River, rolling plains in south
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Ponta do Pico (Pico or Pico Alto) on Ilha do Pico in the Azores 2,351 m
fish, forests (cork), iron ore, copper, zinc, tin, tungsten, silver, gold, uranium, marble, clay, gypsum, salt, arable land, hydropower
arable land: 17.29%
permanent crops: 7.84%
other: 74.87% (2005)
6,500 sq km (2003)
73.6 cu km (2005)
total: 11.09 cu km/yr (10%/12%/78%)
per capita: 1,056 cu m/yr (1998)
Azores subject to severe earthquakes
soil erosion; air pollution caused by industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution, especially in coastal areas
party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Environmental Modification
Azores and Madeira Islands occupy strategic locations along western sea approaches to Strait of Gibraltar
People ::Portugal
10,707,924 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
0-14 years: 16.3% (male 912,147/female 834,941)
15-64 years: 66.1% (male 3,525,717/female 3,554,513)
65 years and over: 17.6% (male 772,413/female 1,108,193) (2010 est.)
total: 39.7 years
male: 37.6 years
female: 41.9 years (2010 est.)
0.275% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178
10.29 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191
10.68 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
3.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
urban population: 59% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.4% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
at birth: 1.067 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.09 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
total: 4.78 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 195
male: 5.24 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.29 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
total population: 78.21 years
country comparison to the world: 47
male: 74.95 years
female: 81.69 years (2010 est.)
1.5 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187
0.5% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
34,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
fewer than 500 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
noun: Portuguese (singular and plural)
adjective: Portuguese
homogeneous Mediterranean stock; citizens of black African descent who immigrated to mainland during decolonization number less than 100,000; since 1990 East Europeans have entered Portugal
Roman Catholic 84.5%, other Christian 2.2%, other 0.3%, unknown 9%, none 3.9% (2001 census)
Portuguese (official), Mirandese (official - but locally used)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93.3%
male: 95.5%
female: 91.3% (2003 est.)
total: 15 years
male: 15 years
female: 16 years (2006)
4.4% of GDP (2008)
country comparison to the world: 92
Government ::Portugal
conventional long form: Portuguese Republic
conventional short form: Portugal
local long form: Republica Portuguesa
local short form: Portugal
republic; parliamentary democracy
name: Lisbon
geographic coordinates: 38 43 N, 9 08 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
18 districts (distritos, singular - distrito) and 2 autonomous regions* (regioes autonomas, singular - regiao autonoma); Aveiro, Acores (Azores)*, Beja, Braga, Braganca, Castelo Branco, Coimbra, Evora, Faro, Guarda, Leiria, Lisboa (Lisbon), Madeira*, Portalegre, Porto, Santarem, Setubal, Viana do Castelo, Vila Real, Viseu
1143 (Kingdom of Portugal recognized); 5 October 1910 (republic proclaimed)
Portugal Day (Dia de Portugal), 10 June (1580); note - also called Camoes Day, the day that revered national poet Luis de Camoes (1524-80) died
adopted 2 April 1976; subsequently revised
note: the revisions placed the military under strict civilian control, trimmed the powers of the president, and laid the groundwork for a stable, pluralistic liberal democracy; they allowed for the privatization of nationalized firms and government-owned communications media
based on civil law system; the Constitutional Tribunal reviews the constitutionality of legislation; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
18 years of age; universal
chief of state: President Anibal CAVACO SILVA (since 9 March 2006)
head of government: Prime Minister Jose SOCRATES Carvalho Pinto de Sousa (since 12 March 2005)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister
(For more information visit the World Leaders website Opens in New Window)
note: there is also a Council of State that acts as a consultative body to the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 22 January 2006 (next to be held in January 2011); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the president
election results: Anibal CAVACO SILVA elected president; percent of vote - Anibal CAVACO SILVA 50.6%, Manuel ALEGRE 20.7%, Mario Alberto Nobre Lopes SOARES 14.3%, Jeronimo DE SOUSA 8.5%, Franciso LOUCA 5.3%
unicameral Assembly of the Republic or Assembleia da Republica (230 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held on 27 September 2009 (next to be held in fall 2013)
election results: percent of vote by party - PS 42%, PSD 35%, CDS/PP 9%, BE 7%, CDU 7%; seats by party - PS 97, PSD 81, CDS/PP 21, BE 16, CDU 15
Supreme Court (Supremo Tribunal de Justica); judges appointed for life by the Conselho Superior da Magistratura
Democratic and Social Center/Popular Party or CDS/PP [Paulo PORTAS]; Socialist Party or PS [Jose SOCRATES Carvalho Pinto de Sousa]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Pedro Manuel PASSOS COELHO]; The Left Bloc or BE [Franciso Anacleto LOUCA]; Unitarian Democratic Coalition or CDU [Jeronimo DE SOUSA] (includes Portuguese Communist Party or PCP and Ecologist Party ("The Greens") or PEV)
the media; labor unions
ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Australia Group, BIS, CD, CE, CERN, CPLP, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAIA (observer), MIGA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club (associate), PCA, Schengen Convention, SECI (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, Union Latina, UNMIT, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
chief of mission: Ambassador Joao DE VALLERA
chancery: 2012 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 328-8610
FAX: [1] (202) 462-3726
consulate(s) general: Boston, New York, Newark (New Jersey), San Francisco
consulate(s): New Bedford (Massachusetts), Providence (Rhode Island)
chief of mission: Ambassador-designate Allan J. KATZ
embassy: Avenida das Forcas Armadas, 1600-081 Lisbon
mailing address: Apartado 43033, 1601-301 Lisboa; PSC 83, APO AE 09726
telephone: [351] (21) 727-3300
FAX: [351] (21) 726-9109
consulate(s): Ponta Delgada (Azores)
two vertical bands of green (hoist side, two-fifths) and red (three-fifths) with the national coat of arms (armillary sphere and Portuguese shield) centered on the dividing line; explanations for the color meanings are ambiguous, but a popular interpretation has green symbolizing hope and red the blood of those defending the nation
Economy ::Portugal
Portugal has become a diversified and increasingly service-based economy since joining the European Community in 1986. Over the past two decades, successive governments have privatized many state-controlled firms and liberalized key areas of the economy, including the financial and telecommunications sectors. The country qualified for the European Monetary Union (EMU) in 1998 and began circulating the euro on 1 January 2002 along with 11 other EU member economies. Economic growth had been above the EU average for much of the 1990s, but fell back in 2001-08, and shrank 2.8% in 2009. GDP per capita stands at roughly two-thirds of the EU-27 average. A poor educational system, in particular, has been an obstacle to greater productivity and growth. Portugal has been increasingly overshadowed by lower-cost producers in Central Europe and Asia as a target for foreign direct investment. The budget deficit surged to an all-time high of 6% of GDP in 2005, but the government reduced the deficit to 2.6% in 2007 - a year ahead of Portugal's targeted schedule. Portugal's financial sector has been relatively insulated from the global financial crisis and the government has not spent much on shoring up banks. Nonetheless, the government faces tough choices in its attempts to stimulate the economy, while trying to keep the budget deficit within the euro-zone 3%-of-GDP ceiling. In 2009, the deficit reached 6.7% of GDP.
$232.6 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
$239.1 billion (2008 est.)
$239.1 billion (2007 est.)
note: data are in 2009 US dollars
$227.9 billion (2009 est.)
-2.7% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160
0% (2008 est.)
1.9% (2007 est.)
$21,700 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56
$22,400 (2008 est.)
$22,500 (2007 est.)
note: data are in 2009 US dollars
agriculture: 2.7%
industry: 23%
services: 74.3% (2009 est.)
5.583 million (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
agriculture: 10%
industry: 30%
services: 60% (2007 est.)
9.5% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
7.6% (2008 est.)
18% (2006)
lowest 10%: 3.1%
highest 10%: 28.4% (1995 est.)
38.5 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 72
35.6 (1995)
19.1% of GDP (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
revenues: $94.87 billion
expenditures: $116.4 billion (2009 est.)
76.9% of GDP (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17
66.3% of GDP (2008 est.)
-0.8% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
2.6% (2008 est.)
3% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 93
5% (31 December 2007)
note: this is the European Central Bank's rate on the marginal lending facility, which offers overnight credit to banks in the euro area
8.35% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 116
7.92% (31 December 2007)
$NA
note: see entry for the European Union for money supply in the euro area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for the 16 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); individual members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money and quasi money circulating within their own borders
$NA
$491 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 21
$412.7 billion (31 December 2007)
$NA (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 45
$68.71 billion (31 December 2008)
$132.3 billion (31 December 2007)
grain, potatoes, tomatoes, olives, grapes; sheep, cattle, goats, pigs, poultry, dairy products; fish
textiles, clothing, footwear, wood and cork, paper, chemicals, auto-parts manufacturing, base metals, diary products, wine and other foods, porcelain and ceramics, glassware, technology, telecommunications; ship construction and refurbishment; tourism
-7.7% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
44.47 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
48.78 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47
1.313 billion kWh (2008 est.)
10.74 billion kWh (2008 est.)
4,721 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
272,200 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
53,260 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
351,100 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30
0 bbl
country comparison to the world: 135
NA (2008 est.)
4.846 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141
4.895 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32
0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144
-$23.38 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180
-$29.3 billion (2008 est.)
$43.71 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
$56.42 billion (2008 est.)
agricultural products, food products, oil products, chemical products, plastics and rubber, skins and leather, wood and cork, wood pulp and paper, textile materials, clothing, footwear, minerals and mineral products, base metals, machinery and tools, vehicles and other transport material, and optical and precision instruments
Spain 26.25%, Germany 12.99%, France 12.04%, Angola 7.21%, UK 5.54% (2009)
$67.64 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
$87.76 billion (2008 est.)
agricultural products, food products, oil products, chemical products, plastics and rubber, skins and leather, wood and cork, wood pulp and paper, textile materials, clothing, footwear, minerals and mineral products, base metals, machinery and tools, vehicles and other transport material, and optical and precision instruments, computer accessories and parts, semi-conductors and related devices, household goods, passenger cars new and used, and wine products
Spain 31.58%, Germany 12.41%, France 8.58%, Italy 5.55%, Netherlands 5.31% (2009)
$16.03 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
$11.95 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
$507 billion (30 June 2009)
country comparison to the world: 19
$484.7 billion (31 December 2008)
$102.6 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32
$99.82 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
$63.64 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27
$63.64 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.7338 (2009), 0.6827 (2008), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006), 0.8041 (2005)
Communications ::Portugal
4.121 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 37
14.91 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 44
general assessment: Portugal's telephone system has a state-of-the-art network with broadband, high-speed capabilities
domestic: integrated network of coaxial cables, open-wire, microwave radio relay, and domestic satellite earth stations
international: country code - 351; a combination of submarine cables provide connectivity to Europe, North and East Africa, South Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and the US; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), NA Eutelsat; tropospheric scatter to Azores (2008)
the publicly-owned TV broadcaster operates 2 domestic channels and external service channels to Africa; overall, roughly 40 domestic TV stations; viewers have widespread access to international broadcasters with more than half of all households connected to multi-channel cable or satellite TV systems; publicly-owned radio operates 3 national networks and provides regional and external services; several privately-owned national radio stations and some 300 regional and local commercial radio stations (2008)
.pt
3.267 million (2010)
country comparison to the world: 26
4.476 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 45
Transportation ::Portugal
65 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 77
total: 43
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 8
1,524 to 2,437 m: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 13
under 914 m: 10 (2010)
total: 22
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 21 (2010)
gas 1,098 km; oil 11 km; refined products 188 km (2009)
total: 2,786 km
country comparison to the world: 59
broad gauge: 2,603 km 1.668-m gauge (1,351 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 183 km 1.000-m gauge (2008)
total: 82,900 km
country comparison to the world: 57
paved: 71,294 km (includes 2,613 km of expressways)
unpaved: 11,606 km (2008)
210 km (on Douro River from Porto) (2008)
country comparison to the world: 96
total: 117
country comparison to the world: 48
by type: bulk carrier 10, cargo 36, carrier 1, chemical tanker 15, container 6, liquefied gas 9, passenger 10, passenger/cargo 9, petroleum tanker 4, roll on/roll off 1, specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 15
foreign-owned: 84 (Bahamas 1, Belgium 8, Denmark 3, Germany 20, Greece 4, Hong Kong 2, Italy 12, Japan 15, Mexico 1, Netherlands 1, Spain 11, Sweden 3, Switzerland 2, US 1)
registered in other countries: 15 (Cyprus 1, Hong Kong 1, Italy 1, Malta 3, Panama 9) (2008)
Leixoes, Lisbon, Setubal, Sines
Military ::Portugal
Portuguese Army (Exercito Portuguesa), Portuguese Navy (Marinha Portuguesa; includes Marine Corps), Portuguese Air Force (Forca Aerea Portuguesa, FAP) (2010)
18 years of age for voluntary military service; compulsory military service ended in 2004; women serve in the armed forces, on naval ships since 1993, but are prohibited from serving in some combatant specialties; reserve obligation to age 35 (2007)
males age 16-49: 2,572,007
females age 16-49: 2,474,719 (2010 est.)
males age 16-49: 2,104,945
females age 16-49: 2,034,912 (2010 est.)
male: 62,628
female: 55,737 (2010 est.)
2.3% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
Transnational Issues ::Portugal
Portugal does not recognize Spanish sovereignty over the territory of Olivenza based on a difference of interpretation of the 1815 Congress of Vienna and the 1801 Treaty of Badajoz
seizing record amounts of Latin American cocaine destined for Europe; a European gateway for Southwest Asian heroin; transshipment point for hashish from North Africa to Europe; consumer of Southwest Asian heroin