2000 Edition

Background

Following its heyday as a world 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 loss of its Brazilian colony 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 entered the EC in 1985.

Area

land

91,951 sq km

note

includes Azores and Madeira Islands

total

92,391 sq km

water

440 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Indiana

Climate

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

Coastline

1,793 km

Elevation extremes

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

Environment - current issues

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

Environment - international agreements

party to

Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, 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 signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Environmental Modification, Nuclear Test Ban

Geographic coordinates

39 30 N, 8 00 W

Geography - note

Azores and Madeira Islands occupy strategic locations along western sea approaches to Strait of Gibraltar

Irrigated land

6,300 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries

border countries

Spain 1,214 km

total

1,214 km

Land use

arable land

26%

forests and woodland

36%

other

20% (1993 est.)

permanent crops

9%

permanent pastures

9%

Location

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

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

continental shelf

200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural hazards

Azores subject to severe earthquakes

Natural resources

fish, forests (cork), tungsten, iron ore, uranium ore, marble, arable land, hydro power

Terrain

mountainous north of the Tagus River, rolling plains in south

Age structure

0-14 years: 17% (male 880,501; female 834,062) 15-64 years: 68% (male 3,319,143; female 3,468,009) 65 years and over: 15% (male 628,101; female 918,416) (2000 est.)

Birth rate

11.49 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate

10.2 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Ethnic groups

homogeneous Mediterranean stock; citizens of black African descent who immigrated to mainland during decolonization number less than 100,000

Infant mortality rate

6.05 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Languages

Portuguese

Life expectancy at birth

female

79.49 years (2000 est.)

male

72.24 years

total population

75.75 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

NA%

male

NA%

total population

87.4%

Nationality

adjective

Portuguese

noun

Portuguese (singular and plural)

Net migration rate

0.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Population

10,048,232 (July 2000 est.)

Population growth rate

0.18% (2000 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 94%, Protestant (1995)

Sex ratio

at birth

1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female

total population

0.92 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.47 children born/woman (2000 est.)

Administrative divisions

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, Madeira*, Portalegre, Porto, Santarem, Setubal, Viana do Castelo, Vila Real, Viseu

Capital

Lisbon

Constitution

25 April 1976, revised 30 October 1982, 1 June 1989, 5 November 1992, and 3 September 1997

Country name

conventional long form

Portuguese Republic

conventional short form

Portugal

local long form

Republica Portuguesa

local short form

Portugal

Data code

PO

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Gerald S. MCGOWAN

embassy

Avenida das Forcas Armadas, 1600 Lisbon

mailing address

PSC 83, APO AE 09726

telephone

(21) 727-3300

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2125 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Joao Alberto Bacelar DA ROCKA PARIS

telephone

(202) 328-8610

Executive branch

cabinet

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

chief of state

President Jorge SAMPAIO (since 9 March 1996)

election results

Jorge SAMPAIO elected president; percent of vote - Jorge SAMPAIO (Socialist) 53.8%, Anibal CAVACO SILVA (Social Democrat) 46.2%

elections

president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 14 January 1996 (next to be held NA January 2001); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the president

head of government

Prime Minister Antonio Manuel de Oliviera GUTERRES (since 28 October 1995)

note

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

FAX

(202) 462-3726

(21) 726-9109

consulate(s)

Los Angeles, New Bedford (Massachusetts), Providence (Rhode Island)

consulate(s)

Ponta Delgada (Azores)

consulate(s) general

Boston, New York, Newark (New Jersey), and San Francisco

Flag description

two vertical bands of green (hoist side, two-fifths) and red (three-fifths) with the Portuguese coat of arms centered on the dividing line

Government type

parliamentary democracy

Independence

1140 (independent republic proclaimed 5 October 1910)

International organization participation

AfDB, Australia Group, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ECLAC, EIB, EMU, EU, FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAIA (observer), MINURSO, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOP, UPU, WCL, WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC

Judicial branch

Supreme Court or Supremo Tribunal de Justica, judges appointed for life by the Conselho Superior da Magistratura

Legal system

civil law system; the Constitutional Tribunal reviews the constitutionality of legislation; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Legislative branch

unicameral Assembly of the Republic or Assembleia da Republica (230 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - PSP 43.9%, PSD 32.3%, CDU 9%, PP 8.3%, The Left Bloc 2.4%; seats by party - PSP 113, PSD 83, CDU 17, PP 15, The Left Bloc 2

elections

last held 10 October 1999 (next to be held by NA October 2003)

National holiday

Day of Portugal, 10 June (1580)

Political parties and leaders

Popular Party or PP ; Portuguese Communist Part/United Democratic Coalition or PCP/CDU ; Portuguese Socialist Party or PSP [Antonio GUTERRES]; Social Democratic Party or PSD ; The Left Bloc

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

grain, potatoes, olives, grapes; sheep, cattle, goats, poultry, beef, dairy products

Budget

expenditures

$52 billion, including capital expenditures of $7.4 billion (1996 est.)

revenues

$48 billion

Currency

1 Portuguese escudo (Esc) = 100 centavos

Debt - external

$13.1 billion (1997 est.)

Economic aid - donor

ODA, $271 million (1995)

Economy - overview

Portugal is an upcoming capitalist economy with a per capita GDP two-thirds that of the four big West European economies. In 1999, it continued to enjoy sturdy economic growth, falling interest rates, and low unemployment. The country qualified for the European Monetary Union (EMU) in 1998 and joined with 10 other European countries in launching the euro on 1 January 1999. Portugal's inflation rate for 1999, 2.4%, was comfortably low. The country continues to run a trade deficit and a balance of payments deficit. The government is working to modernize capital plant and increase the country's competitiveness in the increasingly integrated world markets. Growth is expected to remain stable in 2000 as the economic integration of Europe proceeds. Improvement in the education sector is critical to the catch-up process.

Electricity - consumption

36.18 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - exports

3.7 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - imports

4 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - production

38.581 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

63.14%

hydro

33.46%

nuclear

0%

other

3.4% (1998)

Exchange rates

euros per US$1 - 0.9867 (January 2000), 0.9386 (1999); Portuguese escudos (Esc) per US$1 - 172.78 (January 1999), 180.10 (1998), 175.31 (1997), 154.24 (1996), 151.11 (1995)

note

on 1 January 1999, the EU introduced a common currency that is now being used by financial institutions in some member countries at a fixed rate of 200.482 escudos per euro; the euro will replace the local currency in consenting countries for all transactions in 2002

Exports

$25 billion (f.o.b., 1998)

Exports - commodities

clothing and footwear, machinery, chemicals, cork and paper products, hides

Exports - partners

EU 82% (Germany 20%, Spain 16%, France 14%, UK 12% Netherlands 5%, Benelux 5%, Italy), US 5% (1998)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $151.4 billion (1999 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

4%

industry

36%

services

60% (1999 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $15,300 (1999 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

3.2% (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports

$34.9 billion (f.o.b., 1998)

Imports - commodities

machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, petroleum, textiles, agricultural products

Imports - partners

EU 77% (Spain 24%, Germany 15%, France 11%, Italy 8%, UK 7%, Netherlands 5%), US, Japan (1998)

Industrial production growth rate

2.9% (1999 est.)

Industries

textiles and footwear; wood pulp, paper, and cork; metalworking; oil refining; chemicals; fish canning; wine; tourism

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.4% (1999 est.)

Labor force

4.75 million (1998 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

services 60%, industry 30%, agriculture 10% (1999 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Unemployment rate

4.6% (1999 est.)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

20 (1999)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 47, FM 172 (many are repeaters), shortwave 2 (1998)

Radios

3.02 million (1997)

Telephone system

domestic

generally adequate integrated network of coaxial cables, open wire, microwave radio relay, and domestic satellite earth stations

international

6 submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), NA Eutelsat; tropospheric scatter to Azores; note - an earth station for Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean region) is planned

Telephones - main lines in use

3.724 million (1996)

Telephones - mobile cellular

887,216 (1999)

Television broadcast stations

36 (plus 62 repeaters) (1997)

Televisions

3.31 million (1997)

Airports

66 (1999 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total

40 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 8 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 18 under 914 m: 5 (1999 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

26 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 25 (1999 est.)

Highways

paved

59,110 km (including 797 km of expressways)

total

68,732 km

unpaved

9,622 km (1999 est.)

Merchant marine

note

Portugal has created a captive register on Madeira for Portuguese-owned ships; ships on the Madeira Register (MAR) will have taxation and crewing benefits of a flag of convenience (1998 est.)

ships by type

bulk 13, cargo 80, chemical tanker 14, container 8, liquified gas 8, multi-functional large load carrier 1, petroleum tanker 10, refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off 6, short-sea passenger 5, vehicle carrier 5 (1999 est.)

total

151 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,061,202 GRT/1,601,267 DWT

Pipelines

crude oil 22 km; petroleum products 58 km; natural gas 700 km

note

the secondary lines for the natural gas pipeline that will be 300 km long have not yet been built

Ports and harbors

Aveiro, Funchal (Madeira Islands), Horta (Azores), Leixoes, Lisbon, Porto, Ponta Delgada (Azores), Praia da Vitoria (Azores), Setubal, Viana do Castelo

Railways

broad gauge

2,576 km 1.668-m gauge (623 km electrified; 426 km double track)

narrow gauge

274 km 1.000-m gauge (1998)

total

2,850 km

Waterways

820 km navigable; relatively unimportant to national economy, used by shallow-draft craft limited to 300 metric-ton or less cargo capacity

Military branches

Army, Navy (includes Marines), Air Force, National Republican Guard

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$2.458 billion (FY97)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

2.6% (FY97)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 2,534,872 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 2,036,712 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - military age

20 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males

74,050 (2000 est.)

Illicit drugs

important gateway country for Latin American cocaine entering the European market; transshipment point for hashish from North Africa to Europe; consumer of Southwest Asian heroin

PUERTO RICO