2003 Edition

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 16.8% (male 874,198; female 825,742) 15-64 years: 67.2% (male 3,326,957; female 3,461,425) 65 years and over: 16% (male 651,697; female 962,003) (2003 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Airports

66 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways

over 3,047 m

5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 15

total

40

under 914 m

7 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

26 914 to 1,523 m: 1

under 914 m

25 (2002) Military Portugal

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

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 independence in 1822 of Brazil as a colony. 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 (now the EU) in 1986. Geography Portugal

Birth rate

11.45 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$48 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2001 est.)

revenues

$45 billion

Capital

Lisbon

Climate

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

Coastline

1,793 km

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

Currency

euro (EUR)

note

on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced the euro as a common currency to be used by financial institutions of member countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro became the sole currency for everyday transactions within the member countries

Currency code

EUR

Death rate

10.21 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Debt - external

$13.1 billion (1997 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador John N. PALMER

embassy

Avenida das Forcas Armadas, 1600-081 Lisbon

mailing address

PSC 83, APO AE 09726

telephone

[351] (21) 727-3300

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Pedro Manuel Dos Reis Alves CATARINO

consulate(s)

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

consulate(s) general

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

Disputes - international

Portugal has periodically reasserted claims to territories around the town of Olivenza, Spain

Distribution of family income - Gini index

35.6 (1994-95)

Economic aid - donor

ODA, $271 million (1995)

Economy - overview

Portugal has become a diversified and increasingly service-based economy since joining the European Community in 1986. Over the past decade, 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 has been above the EU average for much of the past decade, but fell back in 2001-03. GDP per capita stands at 70% of that of the leading EU economies. 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 coalition government faces tough choices in its attempts to boost Portugal's economic competitiveness and to keep the budget deficit within the 3% EU ceiling.

Electricity - consumption

41.48 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports

3.479 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports

3.743 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - production

44.32 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

64.5%

hydro

31.3%

nuclear

0%

other

4.1% (2001)

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, 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

signed, but not ratified

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

Ethnic groups

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

Exchange rates

euros per US dollar - 1.06 (2002), 1.12 (2001), 1.09 (2000), 0.94 (1999)

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 reelected president; percent of vote - Jorge SAMPAIO (Socialist) 55.8%, Joaquim FERREIRA Do Amaral (Social Democrat) 34.5%, Antonio ABREU (Communist) 5.1%

elections

president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 14 January 2001 (next to be held NA January 2006); 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 Jose Manuel DURAO BARROSO (since 6 April 2002)

note

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

Exports

$25.9 billion f.o.b. (2001)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Spain 20.3%, Germany 18.4%, France 12.6%, UK 10.5%, US 5.8%, Italy 4.8%, Belgium 4.5% (2002)

FAX

[1] (202) 462-3726

[351] (21) 726-9109

chancery

2125 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008

consulate(s)

Ponta Delgada (Azores)

telephone

[1] (202) 328-8610

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications Portugal

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 Economy Portugal

GDP

purchasing power parity - $195.2 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

3.6%

industry

28.7%

services

67.7% (2001)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $19,400 (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

0.4% (2002 est.)

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 People Portugal

Government type

parliamentary democracy

Highways

paved

59,110 km (including 1441 km of expressways)

total

68,732 km

unpaved

9,622 km (2000)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.5% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

1,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

27,000 (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

28.4% (1995 est.)

lowest 10%

3.1%

Illicit drugs

gateway country for Latin American cocaine and Southwest Asian heroin entering the European market; transshipment point for hashish from North Africa to Europe; consumer of Southwest Asian heroin This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

Imports

$39 billion f.o.b. (2001)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

Spain 28.1%, Germany 15%, France 10.2%, Italy 6.5%, UK 5.2%, Netherlands 4.5% (2002)

Independence

1143 (independent republic proclaimed 5 October 1910)

Industrial production growth rate

1.5% (2002 est.)

Industries

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

Infant mortality rate

female

5.17 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)

male

6.26 deaths/1,000 live births

total

5.73 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3.7% (2002 est.)

International organization participation

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

Internet country code

.pt

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

16 (2000)

Internet users

4.4 million (2002) Transportation Portugal

Irrigated land

6,320 sq km (1998 est.)

Judicial branch

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

Labor force

5.1 million (2000)

Labor force - by occupation

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

Land boundaries

border countries

Spain 1,214 km

total

1,214 km

Land use

arable land

20.57%

other

71.69% (1999 est.)

permanent crops

7.74%

Languages

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

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 - PSD 40.1%, PS 37.8%, PP 8.7%, PCP/PEV 6.9%, The Left Bloc 2.7%; seats by party - PSD 105, PS 96, PP 14, PCP/PEV 12, The Left Bloc 3

elections

last held 17 March 2002 (next to be held NA 2006)

Life expectancy at birth

female

80.07 years (2003 est.)

male

72.86 years

total population

76.35 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

91.3% (2003 est.) Government Portugal

male

95.5%

total population

93.3%

Location

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

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

contiguous zone

24 NM

continental shelf

200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

exclusive economic zone

200 NM

territorial sea

12 NM

Median age

female

39.3 years (2002)

male

35.8 years

total

37.6 years

Merchant marine

convenience

Belgium 1, British Virgin Islands 1, Cyprus 1, Denmark 6, Germany 20, Greece 1, Iceland 1, Italy 16, Lebanon 1, Liberia 1, Monaco 2, Norway 5, Panama 5, Spain 22, Switzerland 8, UK 1, Virgin Islands (UK) 1 (2002 est.)

note

includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of

ships by type

bulk 11, cargo 62, chemical tanker 18, container 7, liquefied gas 8, multi-functional large-load carrier 1, passenger 4, petroleum tanker 10, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 5, short-sea passenger 3, vehicle carrier 2

total

132 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 993,325 GRT/1,533,255 DWT

Military branches

Army, Navy (PON) (includes Marines), Air Force, Republican Guard (includes Fiscal Guard)

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$1.286 billion (FY99/00)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

2.2% (FY99/00) Transnational Issues Portugal

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49

2,520,852 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49

2,017,678 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - military age

20 years of age (2003 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males

67,816 (2003 est.)

National holiday

Portugal Day, 10 June (1580)

Nationality

adjective

Portuguese

noun

Portuguese (singular and plural)

Natural gas - consumption

2.542 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports

2.553 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural hazards

Azores subject to severe earthquakes

Natural resources

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

Net migration rate

0.49 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption

339,800 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

28,830 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports

357,300 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Pipelines

gas 482 km (2003)

Political parties and leaders

The Greens or PEV [no leader]; Popular Party or PP [Paulo PORTAS]; Portuguese Communist Party/The Greens or PCP/PEV [Carlos CARVALHAS]; Portuguese Socialist Party or PS [Eduardo Ferro RODRIGUES]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Jose Manuel DURAO BARROSO]; United Democratic Coalition or CDU [Carlos CARVALHAS]; The Left Bloc [no leader]

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Population

10,102,022 (July 2003 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Population growth rate

0.17% (2003 est.)

Ports and harbors

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

Radio broadcast stations

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

Radios

3.02 million (1997)

Railways

broad gauge

2,576 km 1.668-m gauge (623 km electrified)

narrow gauge

274 km 1.000-m gauge (2002)

total

2,850 km

Religions

Roman Catholic 94%, Protestant (1995)

Sex ratio

at birth

1.07 male(s)/female

total population

0.92 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Telephone system

domestic

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

general assessment

undergoing rapid development in recent years, Portugal's telephone system, by the end of 1998, achieved a state-of-the-art network with broadband, high-speed capabilities and a main line telephone density of 53%

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

5.3 million (yearend 1998)

Telephones - mobile cellular

3,074,194 (1999)

Television broadcast stations

62 (plus 166 repeaters)

note

includes Azores and Madeira Islands (1995)

Televisions

3.31 million (1997)

Terrain

mountainous north of the Tagus River, rolling plains in south

Total fertility rate

1.49 children born/woman (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate

4.7% (2002 est.)

Waterways

820 km

note

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