2007 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: 16.5% (male 915,604/female 839,004) 15-64 years: 66.3% (male 3,484,545/female 3,544,674) 65 years and over: 17.2% (male 751,899/female 1,070,144) (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products

grain, potatoes, tomatoes, olives, grapes; sheep, cattle, goats, swine, poultry, dairy products; fish

Airports

66 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways

over 3,047 m

5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 13

total

43

under 914 m

11 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

23 914 to 1,523 m: 1

under 914 m

22 (2006)

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 is a founding member of NATO and entered the EC (now the EU) in 1986. Geography Portugal

Birth rate

10.72 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$93.09 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA (2006 est.)

revenues

$83.89 billion

Capital

daylight saving time

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

geographic coordinates

38 43 N, 9 08 W

name

Lisbon

time difference

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

Climate

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

Coastline

1,793 km

Constitution

25 April 1976; revised many times

Country name

conventional long form

Portuguese Republic

conventional short form

Portugal

local long form

Republica Portuguesa

local short form

Portugal

Currency (code)

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

Current account balance

$-16.75 billion (2006 est.)

Death rate

10.5 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Debt - external

$310.8 billion (30 June 2006 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Alfred J. HOFFMAN Jr.

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2012 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036

chief of mission

Ambassador Joao DE VALLERA

telephone

[1] (202) 350-5400

Disputes - international

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

Distribution of family income - Gini index

38.5 (1997)

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 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 2001-06. GDP per capita stands at roughly 70% of the EU-25 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 was reduced to 4.6% in 2006. The government faces tough choices in its attempts to boost Portugal's economic competitiveness while keeping the budget deficit within the eurozone's 3%-of-GDP ceiling.

Electricity - consumption

46.05 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports

2.1 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports

8.6 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production

42.52 billion kWh (2004)

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, Whaling

signed, but not ratified

Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Environmental Modification

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 - 0.79669 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002)

Executive branch

cabinet

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

chief of state

President Anibal CAVACO SILVA (since 9 March 2006)

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%

elections

president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 22 January 2006 (next to be held January 2011); 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 SOCRATES Carvalho Pinto de Sousa (since 12 March 2005)

note

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

Exports

$46.77 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Spain 25.9%, France 13.1%, Germany 11.9%, UK 8%, US 5.4%, Italy 4.3% (2005)

FAX

[1] (202) 462-3726

[351] (21) 726-9109

consulate(s)

New Bedford (Massachusetts), Providence (Rhode Island)

consulate(s)

Ponta Delgada (Azores)

consulate(s) general

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

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 - composition by sector

agriculture

6.6%

industry

28.6%

services

64.9% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$19,100 (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

1.2% (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$176.6 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$203.1 billion (2006 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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.4% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

less than 1,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

22,000 (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 (especially from Brazil); transshipment point for hashish from North Africa to Europe; consumer of Southwest Asian heroin This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

Imports

$67.74 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

Spain 29%, Germany 13.4%, France 8.5%, Italy 5.2%, Netherlands 4.3%, UK 4.2% (2005)

Independence

1143 (Kingdom of Portugal recognized); 5 October 1910 (independent republic proclaimed)

Industrial production growth rate

0.9% (2006 est.)

Industries

textiles and footwear; wood pulp, paper, and cork; metals and metalworking; oil refining; chemicals; fish canning; rubber and plastic products; ceramics; electronics and communications equipment; rail transportation equipment; aerospace equipment; ship construction and refurbishment; wine; tourism

Infant mortality rate

female

4.48 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

male

5.45 deaths/1,000 live births

total

4.98 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.7% (2006 est.)

International organization participation

AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, LAIA (observer), MIGA, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, ONUB, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, SECI (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Internet country code

.pt

Internet hosts

845,980 (2005)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

16 (2000)

Internet users

7,782,700 (2006) Transportation Portugal

Investment (gross fixed)

20.9% of GDP (2006 est.)

Irrigated land

6,500 sq km (2003)

Judicial branch

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

Labor force

5.57 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

10%

industry

30%

services

60% (1999 est.)

Land boundaries

border countries

Spain 1,214 km

total

1,214 km

Land use

arable land

17.29%

other

74.87% (2005)

permanent crops

7.84%

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 - PS 45.1%, PSD 28.7%, CDU 7.6%, PP 7.3%, BE 6.4%; seats by party - PS 121, PSD 75, CDU 14, PP 12, BE 8

elections

last held 20 February 2005 (next to be held February 2009)

Life expectancy at birth

female

81.2 years (2006 est.)

male

74.43 years

total population

77.7 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

Manpower available for military service

females age 18-49

2,405,816 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

2,435,042

Manpower fit for military service

females age 18-49

1,977,264 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

1,952,819

Manpower reaching military service age annually

females age 18-49

60,626 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

67,189

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

40.6 years (2006 est.)

male

36.4 years

total

38.5 years

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 11, cargo 27, chemical tanker 15, container 7, liquefied gas 11, passenger 9, passenger/cargo 10, petroleum tanker 8, roll on/roll off 4, vehicle carrier 9

foreign-owned

82 (Australia 1, Belgium 8, Cyprus 1, Denmark 4, Germany 17, Greece 4, Italy 12, Japan 9, Malta 1, Mexico 1, Netherlands 1, Norway 4, Spain 15, Switzerland 3, US 1)

registered in other countries

16 (Cyprus 2, Hong Kong 1, Malta 3, Panama 10) (2006)

total

111 ships (1000 GRT or over) 1,077,300 GRT/1,363,435 DWT

Military branches

Army, Navy (Marinha Portuguesa; includes Marine Corps), Air Force (Forca Aerea Portuguesa, FAP), National Republican Guard (Guarda Nacional Republicana) (2005)

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$3,497.8 million (2003)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

2.3% (2003) Transnational Issues Portugal

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service; compulsory military service was ended in 2004; women serve in the armed forces, on naval ships since 1993, but are prohibited from serving in some combatant specialties (2005)

National holiday

Portugal Day (Day of Portugal), 10 June (1580); note - also called Camoes Day, the day that revered national poet Luis de Camoes (1524-80) died

Nationality

adjective

Portuguese

noun

Portuguese (singular and plural)

Natural gas - consumption

3.737 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports

3.76 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural hazards

Azores subject to severe earthquakes

Natural resources

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

Net migration rate

3.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Oil - consumption

332,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports

28,830 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports

357,300 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - production

3,849 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Pipelines

gas 1,099 km; oil 8 km; refined products 174 km (2006)

Political parties and leaders

Green Ecologist Party or PEV [Heloisa Augusta Baiao de Brito APOLONIA]; Popular Party or PP [Jose Ribeiro e CASTRO]; Portuguese Communist Party or PCP [Jeronimo DE SOUSA]; Portuguese Socialist Party or PS [Jose SOCRATES Carvalho Pinto de Sousa]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Luis Manuel Goncalves Marques MENDES]; The Left Bloc or BE [Franciso Anacleto LOUCA]; Unitarian Democratic Coalition or CDU (includes PEV and PCP) [Jeronimo DE SOUSA]

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Population

10,605,870 (July 2006 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Population growth rate

0.36% (2006 est.)

Ports and terminals

Leixoes, Lisbon, Setubal, Sines Military Portugal

Public debt

65.7% of GDP (2006 est.)

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 (2005)

total

2,850 km

Religions

Roman Catholic 94%, Protestant (1995)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$10.7 billion (2006 est.)

Roadways

paved

67,484 km (including 2,002 km of expressways)

total

78,470 km

unpaved

10,986 km (2004)

Sex ratio

at birth

1.07 male(s)/female

total population

0.95 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

under 15 years

1.09 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.7 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

Portugal's telephone system has achieved a state-of-the-art network with broadband, high-speed capabilities

international

country code - 351; 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

4.234 million (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular

11.448 million (2005)

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

1.47 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Unemployment rate

7.5% (2006 est.)

Waterways

210 km (on Douro River from Porto) (2003)