Portugal

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 Brazil, its wealthiest colony, in 1822. A revolution deposed the monarchy in 1910, and for most of the next six decades, repressive governments ran the country. In 1974, a left-wing military coup ushered in broad democratic reforms. The following year, Portugal granted independence to all its African colonies. Portugal is a founding member of NATO and entered the EC (now the EU) in 1986.

land

91,470 sq km

note

note: includes Azores and Madeira Islands

total

92,090 sq km

water

620 sq km

slightly smaller than Virginia

maritime temperate; cool and rainy in north, warmer and drier in south

1,793 km

highest point

Ponta do Pico (Pico or Pico Alto) on Ilha do Pico in the Azores 2,351 m

lowest point

Atlantic Ocean 0 m

mean elevation

372 m

39 30 N, 8 00 W

Azores and Madeira Islands occupy strategic locations along western sea approaches to Strait of Gibraltar; they are two of the four North Atlantic archipelagos that make up Macaronesia; the others are the Canary Islands (Spain) and Cabo Verde

5,662 sq km (2019)

border countries

Spain 1,224 km

total

1,224 km

agricultural land

39.7% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 11.9% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 7.8% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 20% (2018 est.)

forest

37.8% (2018 est.)

other

22.5% (2018 est.)

Southwestern Europe, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Spain

Europe

contiguous zone

24 nm

continental shelf

200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Azores subject to severe earthquakesvolcanism: limited volcanic activity in the Azores Islands; Fayal or Faial (1,043 m) last erupted in 1958; most volcanoes have not erupted in centuries; historically active volcanoes include Agua de Pau, Furnas, Pico, Picos Volcanic System, San Jorge, Sete Cidades, and Terceira

fish, forests (cork), iron ore, copper, zinc, tin, tungsten, silver, gold, uranium, marble, clay, gypsum, salt, arable land, hydropower

concentrations are primarily along or near the Atlantic coast; both Lisbon and the second largest city, Porto, are coastal cities

the west-flowing Tagus River divides the country: the north is mountainous toward the interior, while the south is characterized by rolling plains

0-14 years

12.7% (male 662,419/female 631,284)

15-64 years

65% (male 3,264,766/female 3,371,087)

65 years and over

22.3% (2024 est.) (male 908,578/female 1,369,043)

beer

2.62 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols

0.37 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits

1.34 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total

10.37 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine

6.04 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

8 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

0.4% (2015/16)

73.9% (2014)

10.6% of GDP (2020)

52.6% (2023 est.)

10.9 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

elderly dependency ratio

35.2

potential support ratio

2.8 (2021 est.)

total dependency ratio

56

youth dependency ratio

20.8

improved: rural

rural: 99.7% of population

improved: total

total: 99.9% of population

improved: urban

urban: 100% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 0.3% of population

unimproved: total

total: 0.1% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0% of population

5% of GDP (2020 est.)

Portuguese 95%; citizens from Portugal’s former colonies in Africa, Asia (Han Chinese), and South America (Brazilian) and other foreign born 5%

0.71 (2024 est.)

3.5 beds/1,000 population (2018)

female

2.1 deaths/1,000 live births

male

2.8 deaths/1,000 live births

total

2.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

Portuguese (official), Mirandese (official, but locally used)

female

85.2 years

male

78.8 years

total population

81.9 years (2024 est.)

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

95.9% (2021)

male

97.8%

total population

95.9%

3.001 million LISBON (capital), 1.325 million Porto (2023)

12 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

female

48.3 years

male

44.3 years

total

46.4 years (2024 est.)

29.9 years (2020 est.)

adjective

Portuguese

noun

Portuguese (singular and plural)

1.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

20.8% (2016)

5.48 physicians/1,000 population (2019)

female

5,371,414 (2024 est.)

male

4,835,763

total

10,207,177

concentrations are primarily along or near the Atlantic coast; both Lisbon and the second largest city, Porto, are coastal cities

-0.14% (2024 est.)

Roman Catholic 79.7%, Protestant 2.2%, other Christian 2.5%, other non-Christian, 1.1%, none 14.5% (2021 est.)

note

note: data represent population 15 years of age and older

improved: rural

rural: 100% of population

improved: total

total: 99.9% of population

improved: urban

urban: 99.9% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 0% of population

unimproved: total

total: 0.1% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0.1% of population

female

17 years (2020)

male

17 years

total

17 years

0-14 years

1.05 male(s)/female

15-64 years

0.97 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.66 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

0.9 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

female

20.2% (2020 est.)

male

30.5% (2020 est.)

total

25.4% (2020 est.)

1.45 children born/woman (2024 est.)

rate of urbanization

0.44% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

67.9% of total population (2023)

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

daylight saving time

+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

etymology

Lisbon is one of Europe's oldest cities (the second oldest capital city after Athens) and the origin of the name is lost in time; it may have been founded as an ancient Celtic settlement that subsequently maintained close commercial relations with the Phoenicians (beginning about 1200 B.C.); the name of the settlement may have been derived from the pre-Roman appellation for the Tagus River that runs through the city, Lisso or Lucio; the Romans named the city "Olisippo" when they took it from the Carthaginians in 205 B.C.; under the Visigoths the city name became "Ulixbona," under the Arabs it was "al-Ushbuna"; the medieval version of "Lissabona" became today's Lisboa

geographic coordinates

38 43 N, 9 08 W

name

Lisbon

time difference

UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

time zone note

Portugal has two time zones, including the Azores (UTC-1)

citizenship by birth

no

citizenship by descent only

at least one parent must be a citizen of Portugal

dual citizenship recognized

yes

residency requirement for naturalization

10 years; 6 years if from a Portuguese-speaking country

amendments

proposed by the Assembly of the Republic; adoption requires two-thirds majority vote of Assembly members; amended several times, last in 2005

history

several previous; latest adopted 2 April 1976, effective 25 April 1976

conventional long form

Portuguese Republic

conventional short form

Portugal

etymology

name derives from the Roman designation "Portus Cale" meaning "Port of Cale"; Cale was an ancient Celtic town and port in present-day northern Portugal

local long form

Republica Portuguesa

local short form

Portugal

chief of mission

Ambassador Randi Charno LEVINE (since 22 April 2022)

consulate(s)

Ponta Delgada (Azores)

email address and website

conslisbon@state.govhttps://pt.usembassy.gov/

embassy

Avenida das Forcas Armadas, 1600-081 Lisboa

FAX

[351] (21) 726-9109

mailing address

5320 Lisbon Place, Washington DC  20521-5320

telephone

[351] (21) 727-3300

chancery

2012 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036

chief of mission

Ambassador Francisco Antonio DUARTE LOPES (since 7 June 2022)

consulate(s)

New Bedford (MA), Providence (RI)

consulate(s) general

Boston, Newark (NJ), New York, San Francisco

email address and website

info.washington@mne.pthttps://washingtondc.embaixadaportugal.mne.gov.pt/en/

FAX

[1] (202) 462-3726

telephone

[1] (202) 350-5400

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister

chief of state

President Marcelo REBELO DE SOUSA (since 9 March 2016)

election results

2021: Marcelo REBELO DE SOUSA reelected president in the first round; percent of vote - Marcelo REBELO DE SOUSA (PSD) 60.7%, Ana GOMES (ran as an independent but is a member of PS) 13%, Andre VENTURA (CH) 11.9%, João FERREIRA (PCP-PEV) 4.3%, other 10.1%2016: Marcelo REBELO DE SOUSA elected president in the first round; percent of vote - Marcelo REBELO DE SOUSA (PSD) 52%, António SAMPAIO DA NOVOA (independent) 22.9%, Marisa MATIAS (BE) 10.1%, Maria DE BELEM ROSEIRA (PS) 4.2%, other 10.8%  

elections/appointments

president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 24 January 2021 (next to be held in January 2026); following legislative elections the leader of the majority party or majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the president

head of government

Prime Minister Antonio Luis MONTENEGRO (since 2 April 2024)

note

note: there is also a Council of State that acts as a consultative body to the president

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

semi-presidential republic

1143 (Kingdom of Portugal recognized); 1 December 1640 (independence reestablished following 60 years of Spanish rule); 5 October 1910 (republic proclaimed)

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Australia Group, BIS, CD, CE, CERN, CPLP, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAIA (observer), MIGA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club (associate), PCA, Schengen Convention, SELEC (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

highest court(s)

Supreme Court or Supremo Tribunal de Justica (consists of 12 justices); Constitutional Court or Tribunal Constitucional (consists of 13 judges)

judge selection and term of office

Supreme Court justices nominated by the president and appointed by the Assembly of the Republic; judges can serve for life; Constitutional Court judges - 10 elected by the Assembly and 3 elected by the other Constitutional Court judges; judges elected for 6-year nonrenewable terms

subordinate courts

Supreme Administrative Court (Supremo Tribunal Administrativo); Audit Court (Tribunal de Contas); appellate, district, and municipal courts

civil law system; Constitutional Court review of legislative acts

description

unicameral Assembly of the Republic or Assembleia da Republica (230 seats; 226 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by closed-list proportional representation vote and 4 members - 2 each in 2 constituencies representing Portuguese living abroad - directly elected by proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - AD (PSD, CDS-PP, PPM) 28.8%, PS, 28%, Enough 18.1%, IL 4.9%, BE 4.4%, L 3.2%, CDU 3.2%, other 9.4%; seats by party - AD (PSD, CDS-PP, PPM) 80, PS 78, Enough 50, IL 8, BE 5, L 4, CDU 4, other 1; composition - men 155, women 75, percentage women 32.6%

elections

last held on 10 March 2024 (next to be held on 30 September 2028); note - early elections were called after Prime Minister Antonio Luis Santos da COSTA resigned on 7 November 2023

lyrics/music

Henrique LOPES DE MENDOCA/Alfredo KEIL

name

"A Portugesa" (The Song of the Portuguese)

note

note: adopted 1910; "A Portuguesa" was originally written to protest the Portuguese monarchy's acquiescence to the 1890 British ultimatum forcing Portugal to give up areas of Africa; the lyrics refer to the "insult" that resulted from the event

selected World Heritage Site locales

Historic Évora (c); Central Zone of the Town of Angra do Heroismo in the Azores (c); Cultural Landscape of Sintra (c); Laurisilva of Madeira (n); Historic Guimarães (c); Monastery of the Hieronymites and Tower of Belém in Lisbon (c); Convent of Christ in Tomar (c); Prehistoric Rock Art Sites in the Côa Valley and Siega Verde (c); University of Coimbra – Alta and Sofia (c); Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Monte in Braga (c)

total World Heritage Sites

17 (16 cultural, 1 natural)

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

armillary sphere (a spherical astrolabe modeling objects in the sky and representing the Republic); national colors: red, green

Democratic Alliance or AD (2024 electoral alliance in the Azores, includes PSD, CDS-PP, PPM)Democratic and Social Center/People's Party (Partido do Centro Democratico Social-Partido Popular) or CDS-PPEcologist Party "The Greens" or "Os Verdes" (Partido Ecologista-Os Verdes) or PEVEnough (Chega)Liberal Initiative (Iniciativa Liberal) or ILLIVRE or LPeople-Animals-Nature Party (Pessoas-Animais-Natureza) or PANPeople's Monarchist Party or PPMPortuguese Communist Party (Partido Comunista Portugues) or PCPSocial Democratic Party (Partido Social Democrata) or PSD (formerly the Partido Popular Democratico or PPD)Socialist Party (Partido Socialista) or PSThe Left Bloc (Bloco de Esquerda) or BE or O BlocoUnitary Democratic Coalition (Coligacao Democratica Unitaria) or CDU (includes PCP and PEV) (2024)

18 years of age; universal

milk, tomatoes, grapes, olives, maize, oranges, pork, potatoes, chicken, apples (2022)

note

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

on alcohol and tobacco

3.4% of household expenditures (2022 est.)

on food

17.6% of household expenditures (2022 est.)

expenditures

$100.796 billion (2022 est.)

note

note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

revenues

$99.473 billion (2022 est.)

Fitch rating

BBB (2007)

Moody's rating

Baa3 (2018)

note

note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.

Standard & Poors rating

BBB (2019)

Current account balance 2021

-$2.987 billion (2021 est.)

Current account balance 2022

-$3.108 billion (2022 est.)

Current account balance 2023

$3.974 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

high-income EU and eurozone economy; strong services sector led by tourism and banking; tight labor market; private consumption and export recovery driving post-inflation rebound; EU Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP) funds a key driver of public investment; high public debt but improving fiscal position

Currency

euros (EUR) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2019

0.893 (2019 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

0.876 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

0.845 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

0.95 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

0.925 (2023 est.)

Exports 2021

$105.648 billion (2021 est.)

Exports 2022

$126.541 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$136.589 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

cars, garments, refined petroleum, vehicle parts/accessories, plastic products (2022)

note

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Spain 25%, France 12%, Germany 11%, US 7%, UK 5% (2022)

note

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

exports of goods and services

47.4% (2023 est.)

government consumption

17% (2023 est.)

household consumption

62.6% (2023 est.)

imports of goods and services

-46.6% (2023 est.)

investment in fixed capital

19.4% (2023 est.)

investment in inventories

0.2% (2023 est.)

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

agriculture

2% (2023 est.)

industry

18% (2023 est.)

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

services

67% (2023 est.)

$287.08 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021

34.6 (2021 est.)

note

note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

highest 10%

27.6% (2021 est.)

lowest 10%

2.8% (2021 est.)

note

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Imports 2021

$112.413 billion (2021 est.)

Imports 2022

$131.627 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$133.006 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

crude petroleum, cars, refined petroleum, natural gas, vehicle parts/accessories (2022)

note

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Spain 31%, Germany 11%, France 6%, China 5%, Italy 5% (2022)

note

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

-1.13% (2023 est.)

note

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

textiles, clothing, footwear, wood and cork, paper and pulp, chemicals, fuels and lubricants, automobiles and auto parts, base metals, minerals, porcelain and ceramics, glassware, technology, telecommunications; dairy products, wine, other foodstuffs; ship construction and refurbishment; tourism, plastics, financial services, optics

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021

1.27% (2021 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

7.83% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

4.31% (2023 est.)

note

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

5.419 million (2023 est.)

note

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

16.4% (2021 est.)

note

note: % of population with income below national poverty line

note

note: data cover general government debt and include debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intragovernmental debt; intragovernmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions

Public debt 2017

125.7% of GDP (2017 est.)

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021

$401.863 billion (2021 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$429.3 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$439.008 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP growth rate 2021

5.74% (2021 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2022

6.83% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

2.26% (2023 est.)

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2021

$38,800 (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2022

$41,200 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$41,700 (2023 est.)

note

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Remittances 2021

0.3% of GDP (2021 est.)

Remittances 2022

0.38% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

0.47% of GDP (2023 est.)

note

note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021

$32.535 billion (2021 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$32.232 billion (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$35.243 billion (2023 est.)

23.05% (of GDP) (2022 est.)

note

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

note

note: % of labor force seeking employment

Unemployment rate 2021

6.58% (2021 est.)

Unemployment rate 2022

6.01% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

6.49% (2023 est.)

female

19.9% (2023 est.)

male

20.6% (2023 est.)

note

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

total

20.2% (2023 est.)

from coal and metallurgical coke

40,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

from consumed natural gas

11.128 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

31.394 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

total emissions

42.562 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

consumption

9,000 metric tons (2022 est.)

exports

200 metric tons (2022 est.)

imports

23,000 metric tons (2022 est.)

proven reserves

3 million metric tons (2022 est.)

consumption

50.255 billion kWh (2022 est.)

exports

3.062 billion kWh (2022 est.)

imports

12.314 billion kWh (2022 est.)

installed generating capacity

23.316 million kW (2022 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

4.54 billion kWh (2022 est.)

electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

biomass and waste

8.6% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

fossil fuels

42.1% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

geothermal

0.4% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

hydroelectricity

12.8% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

solar

7.4% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

wind

28.8% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

Total energy consumption per capita 2022

80.316 million Btu/person (2022 est.)

consumption

5.515 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

imports

5.97 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

refined petroleum consumption

212,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

total petroleum production

8,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

41 (2020 est.)

total

4,160,795 (2020 est.)

Radio e Televisao de Portugal, the publicly owned TV broadcaster, operates 4 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

.pt

percent of population

82% (2021 est.)

total

8.2 million (2021 est.)

domestic

fixed-lineis 52 per 100 persons and mobile-cellular is 121 per 100 persons (2021)

general assessment

Portugal has a medium-sized telecom market with a strong mobile sector and a growing broadband customer base; before the pandemic, the country had seen improving economic growth, following several years of austerity measures; revenue among some operators remains under pressure, though investments in network upgrades are continuing in an effort to attract customers to high-end services; Portugal’s broadband services have grown steadily in recent years, largely the result of joint efforts between the regulator and the key market operators which have invested in significant infrastructure upgrades; these operators are focused on fiber-based services, resulting in a migration of subscribers from digital subscriber line DSL infrastructure; the government has also supported open-access wholesale networks; the mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) market remains largely undeveloped, partly because network operators have their own low-cost brands; collectively, MVNOs have about 2.9% share of the market; population coverage by 3G infrastructure is universal, and most investment in the sector is being directed to LTE and 5G technologies; the MNOs have trialed 5G and are looking to launch commercial services (2021)

international

country code - 351; landing points for the Ella Link, BUGIO, EIG, SAT-3/WASC, SeaMeWe-3, Equino, MainOne, Tat TGN-Western Europe, WACS, ACE, Atlantis2 and Columbus-III submarine cables provide connectivity to Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Southeast Asia, Australia, South America and the US; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), NA Eutelsat; tropospheric scatter to Azores (2019)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

53 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

5.437 million (2022 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

125 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

12.792 million (2022 est.)

130 (2024)

CR, CS

63 (2024)

by type

bulk carrier 110, container ship 299, general cargo 191, oil tanker 29, other 259

total

888 (2023)

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers

454.21 million (2018) mt-km

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers

17,367,956 (2018)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

168

number of registered air carriers

10 (2020)

1,344 km gas, 11 km oil, 188 km refined products (2013)

key ports

Aveiro, Funchal, Lagos, Lisboa, Sines

large

3

medium

2

ports with oil terminals

5

small

4

total ports

18 (2024)

very small

9

total

2,526 km (2020) 1,696 km electrified

total

11,217 km (2022)

210 km (2011) (on Douro River from Porto)

the Portuguese military is an all-volunteer force with the primary responsibilities of external defense, humanitarian operations, and fulfilling Portugal’s commitments to European and international security; maritime security has long been a key component of the military's portfolio, and Portugal has one of the world's oldest naviesPortugal was one of the original signers of the North Atlantic Treaty (also known as the Washington Treaty) in 1949 establishing NATO, and the Alliance forms a key pillar of Portugal’s defense policy; Portugal is also a signatory of the EU’s Common Security and Defense Policy, and it regularly participates in a variety of EU, NATO, and UN deployments around the world; the military’s largest commitments include air, ground, and naval forces under NATO-led missions and standing task forces in the Baltics, Eastern Europe, and the Mediterranean Sea; the military also participates regularly in exercises with NATO partners (2024)

Portuguese Armed Forces (Forças Armadas Portuguesa): Portuguese Army (Exercito Portuguesa), Portuguese Navy (Marinha Portuguesa; includes Marine Corps, aka Corpo de Fuzileiros or Corps of Fusiliers), Portuguese Air Force (Forca Aerea Portuguesa, FAP)Ministry of Internal Administration: Foreigners and Borders Service, Public Security Service, National Republican Guard (Guarda Nacional Republicana, GNR) (2024)

note

note: the Foreigners and Borders Service has jurisdiction over immigration and border matters, the Public Security Police has jurisdiction in cities, and the GNR has jurisdiction in rural areas; the GNR is a national gendarmerie force comprised of military personnel with law enforcement, internal security, civil defense, disaster response, and coast guard duties; it is responsible to both the Ministry of Internal Administration and to the Ministry of National Defense; it is not part of the Armed Forces, but may be placed under the operational command of the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces in the event of a national emergency; the GNR describes itself as a hinge between the Armed Forces and the police forces and other security services

approximately 28,000 active-duty personnel (15,000 Army; 7,000 Navy, including about 1,000 marines; 6,000 Air Force); 24,500 National Republican Guard (military personnel) (2024)

the Portuguese Armed Forces have more than 1,100 military personnel deployed around the world engaged in missions supporting the EU, NATO, the UN, and partner nations; key deployments include 225 troops in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), approximately 220 in Lithuania (NATO), and approximately 150 in Romania (NATO); it also participates in NATO air policing and maritime patrolling operations (2024)

the military's inventory includes mostly European- and US-origin weapons systems along with a smaller mix of domestically produced equipment; in recent years, leading foreign suppliers have included Germany and the US; Portugal's defense industry is noted for its shipbuilding (2024)

note

note: in 2023, Portugal announced a modernization program that included the acquisition of land, naval, air, cyber security, and space capabilities, as well as emerging disruptive technologies

Military Expenditures 2020

1.4% of GDP (2020)

Military Expenditures 2021

1.5% of GDP (2021)

Military Expenditures 2022

1.4% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military Expenditures 2023

1.5% of GDP (2023)

Military Expenditures 2024

1.6% of GDP (2024 est.)

18-30 years of age for voluntary or contract military service; no compulsory military service (abolished 2004) but conscription possible if insufficient volunteers available; women serve in the armed forces but are prohibited from serving in some combatant specialties; contract service lasts for an initial period of 2-6 years, and can be extended to a maximum of 20 years of service; initial voluntary military service lasts 12 months; reserve obligation to age 35 (2023)

note

note: as of 2023, women made up about 14% of the military's full-time personnel

a European gateway for Southwest Asian heroin; transshipment point for hashish from North Africa to Europe; consumer of Southwest Asian heroin  

refugees (country of origin)

59,920 (Ukraine) (as of 31 January 2024)

stateless persons

55 (2022)

Portuguese Space Agency (Agência Espacial Portuguesa; aka Portugal Space; established 2019); Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT; government agency that funds space research established in 2009) (2024)

developing a commercial space port on Santa Maria Island in the Azores (first anticipated launch, 2025) (2024)

has a national space program which is is integrated within the framework of the European Space Agency (ESA); builds and operates satellites; researches and develops a range of space-related technologies with an emphasis on small/micro/nano satellites for remote sensing (RS), navigational, science/technology, and telecommunications, as well as satellite launch services; in addition to the ESA/EU and their member states, cooperates with the space agencies and industries of a variety of countries, including those of Algeria, Angola, Brazil, China, India, Japan, Morocco, South Korea, and the US, as well as such international organizations and projects as the Europe South Observatory (ESO) and the Square Kilometer Array (SKA) Observatory project; one of the objectives of the country's national space strategy (Portugal Space 2030) is to increase the annual outcome of space related activities in the country to about $500 million by 2030 (2024)

note

note: further details about the key activities, programs, and milestones of the country’s space program, as well as government spending estimates on the space sector, appear in the Space Programs reference guide

Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)

note

note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide

carbon dioxide emissions

48.74 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions

10.93 megatons (2020 est.)

particulate matter emissions

7.34 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

maritime temperate; cool and rainy in north, warmer and drier in south

soil erosion; air pollution caused by industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution, especially in urban centers and coastal areas

party to

Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified

Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Environmental Modification, Nuclear Test Ban

global geoparks and regional networks

Açores; Arouca; Estrela; Naturtejo da Meseta Meridional; Oeste; Terras de Cavaleiros (2024)

total global geoparks and regional networks

6 (2024)

agricultural land

39.7% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 11.9% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 7.8% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 20% (2018 est.)

forest

37.8% (2018 est.)

other

22.5% (2018 est.)

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

0.13% of GDP (2018 est.)

77.4 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

agricultural

3.42 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

industrial

1.83 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

municipal

880 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

rate of urbanization

0.44% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

67.9% of total population (2023)

municipal solid waste generated annually

4.71 million tons (2014 est.)

municipal solid waste recycled annually

764,433 tons (2014 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled

16.2% (2014 est.)