2020 Edition

Background

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.

Area

land

91,470 sq km

total

92,090 sq km

water

620 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Virginia

Climate

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

Coastline

1,793 km

Elevation

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

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; they are two of the four North Atlantic archipelagos that make up Macaronesia; the others are the Canary Islands (Spain) and Cabo Verde

Irrigated land

5,662 sq km (2019)

Land boundaries

border countries

Spain 1,224 km

total

1,224 km

Land use

agricultural land

43.3% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 10.1% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 9.6% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 23.6% (2023 est.)

forest

36.6% (2023 est.)

other

5.7% (2023 est.)

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

Natural hazards

Azores subject to severe earthquakes volcanism: 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

Natural resources

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

Population distribution

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

Terrain

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

Age structure

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)

Alcohol consumption per capita

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.)

Birth rate

8.03 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

0.9% (2016 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

50.6% (2021 est.)

Death rate

10.92 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

35 (2025 est.)

potential support ratio

2.9 (2025 est.)

total dependency ratio

54.3 (2025 est.)

youth dependency ratio

19.3 (2025 est.)

Drinking water source

improved: rural

rural: 97.9% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

total: 99.3% of population (2022 est.)

improved: urban

urban: 99.9% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

rural: 2.1% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 0.7% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)

Education expenditure

Education expenditure (% GDP)

4.6% of GDP (2022 est.)

Education expenditure (% national budget)

10.4% national budget (2022 est.)

Ethnic groups

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

Gross reproduction rate

0.71 (2025 est.)

Health expenditure

Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

10.6% of GDP (2022)

Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

14.8% of national budget (2022 est.)

Hospital bed density

3.5 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

2.1 deaths/1,000 live births

male

2.8 deaths/1,000 live births

total

2.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

female

85.2 years

male

78.8 years

total population

81.9 years (2024 est.)

Major urban areas - population

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

Maternal mortality ratio

15 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Median age

female

48.3 years

male

44.3 years

total

46.8 years (2025 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

29.9 years (2020 est.)

Nationality

adjective

Portuguese

noun

Portuguese (singular and plural)

Net migration rate

1.78 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

20.8% (2016)

Physician density

5.85 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Population

female

5,363,111

male

4,831,166

total

10,194,277 (2025 est.)

Population growth rate

-0.11% (2025 est.)

Religions

Catholic 68.1%, not applicable 12.9%, no religion 12.0%, no response 2.2%, Protestant 1.8%, other 1.0%; less than 1%: other Christians, Orthodox, Muslim (2021 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: rural

rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

total: 100% of population (2022 est.)

improved: urban

urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

18 years (2022 est.)

male

17 years (2022 est.)

total

18 years (2022 est.)

Sex ratio

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.)

Tobacco use

female

15.9% (2025 est.)

male

26.1% (2025 est.)

total

20.7% (2025 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.46 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

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

urban population

67.9% of total population (2023)

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

Capital

daylight saving time

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

etymology

the origin of the name is unclear; some trace it back to the legendary Greek hero Ulysses; others claim a derivation from the Phoenician alis-ubbo, or "joyful bay"

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

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

Constitution

amendment process

proposed by the Assembly of the Republic; adoption requires two-thirds majority vote of Assembly members

history

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

Country name

conventional long form

Portuguese Republic

conventional short form

Portugal

etymology

name derives from the Roman designation "Portus Cale," meaning "Port of Cale;" Cale was located in present-day northern Portugal, and its name is said to come from the Latin word calere (to be warm) because the harbor never iced over

local long form

Republica Portuguesa

local short form

Portugal

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador John Joseph ARRIGO (since 30 September 2025)

consulate(s)

Ponta Delgada (Azores)

email address and website

conslisbon@state.gov https://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

Diplomatic representation in the US

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.pt https://washingtondc.embaixadaportugal.mne.gov.pt/en/

FAX

[1] (202) 462-3726

telephone

[1] (202) 350-5400

Executive branch

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%

election/appointment process

president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); following legislative elections, the president usually appoints the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as prime minister

expected date of next election

January 2026

head of government

Prime Minister Antonio Luis MONTENEGRO (since 2 April 2024)

most recent election date

24 January 2021

Flag

description: two vertical bands of green (left side, two-fifths) and red (three-fifths), with the national coat of arms (armillary sphere and national shield) centered on the dividing line meaning: explanations for the color meanings are ambiguous, but a popular interpretation says that green symbolizes hope and red the blood of those defending the nation

Government type

semi-presidential republic

Independence

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

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

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

Judicial branch

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

Legal system

civil law system; Constitutional Court reviews legislative acts

Legislative branch

electoral system

proportional representation

expected date of next election

September 2029

legislative structure

unicameral

legislature name

Assembly of the Republic (Assembleia da Republica)

most recent election date

5/18/2025

number of seats

230 (all directly elected)

parties elected and seats per party

Social Democratic Party (PPD/PSD) - Democratic and Social Centre - People's Party (CDS-PP) (88); Chega (CH) (60); Socialist Party (PS) (58); Other (24)

percentage of women in chamber

35.7%

scope of elections

full renewal

term in office

4 years

National anthem(s)

history

adopted 1911; originally written to protest the Portuguese monarchy's acquiescence to the 1890 British ultimatum forcing Portugal to give up areas of Africa

lyrics/music

Henrique LOPES DE MENDOCA/Alfredo KEIL

title

"A Portugesa" (The Song of the Portuguese)

National color(s)

red, green

National heritage

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)

National holiday

Portugal Day (Dia de Portugal), 10 June (1580)

National symbol(s)

armillary sphere (a spherical astrolabe for modeling objects in the sky)

Political parties

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-PP Ecologist Party "The Greens" or "Os Verdes" (Partido Ecologista-Os Verdes) or PEV Enough (Chega) Liberal Initiative (Iniciativa Liberal) or IL LIVRE or L People-Animals-Nature Party (Pessoas-Animais-Natureza) or PAN People's Monarchist Party or PPM Portuguese Communist Party (Partido Comunista Portugues) or PCP Social Democratic Party (Partido Social Democrata) or PSD (formerly the Partido Popular Democratico or PPD) Socialist Party (Partido Socialista) or PS The Left Bloc (Bloco de Esquerda) or BE or O Bloco Unitary Democratic Coalition (Coligacao Democratica Unitaria) or CDU (includes PCP and PEV) (2024)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agricultural products

milk, tomatoes, olives, grapes, maize, pork, potatoes, chicken, apples, oranges (2023)

Average household expenditures

on alcohol and tobacco

3.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

on food

17.3% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$109.044 billion (2023 est.)

revenues

$112.802 billion (2023 est.)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2022

-$5.356 billion (2022 est.)

Current account balance 2023

$1.624 billion (2023 est.)

Current account balance 2024

$6.708 billion (2024 est.)

Economic overview

high-income EU and eurozone economy; strong services sector led by tourism and banking; tight labor market; growth driven by private consumption, trade surplus, and public investment from EU funds; declining public debt

Exchange rates

Currency

euros (EUR) per US dollar -

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.)

Exchange rates 2024

0.924 (2024 est.)

Exports

Exports 2022

$126.953 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$137.934 billion (2023 est.)

Exports 2024

$144.237 billion (2024 est.)

Exports - commodities

cars, garments, vehicle parts/accessories, unpackaged medicine, refined petroleum (2023)

Exports - partners

Spain 21%, France 11%, Germany 10%, USA 8%, UK 5% (2023)

GDP - composition, by end use

exports of goods and services

47.5% (2023 est.)

government consumption

16.8% (2023 est.)

household consumption

62% (2023 est.)

imports of goods and services

-46.4% (2023 est.)

investment in fixed capital

20.1% (2023 est.)

investment in inventories

0.4% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

2% (2024 est.)

industry

18.4% (2024 est.)

services

66.4% (2024 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$308.683 billion (2024 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022

36.3 (2022 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

28.8% (2022 est.)

lowest 10%

2.5% (2022 est.)

Imports

Imports 2022

$132.193 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$133.617 billion (2023 est.)

Imports 2024

$136.976 billion (2024 est.)

Imports - commodities

cars, crude petroleum, vehicle parts/accessories, refined petroleum, garments (2023)

Imports - partners

Spain 33%, Germany 11%, France 7%, Netherlands 5%, China 5% (2023)

Industrial production growth rate

1.2% (2024 est.)

Industries

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)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

7.8% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

4.3% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

2.4% (2024 est.)

Labor force

5.464 million (2024 est.)

Population below poverty line

16.4% (2021 est.)

Public debt

Public debt 2017

125.7% of GDP (2017 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$428.547 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$439.745 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

$448.226 billion (2024 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2022

7% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

2.6% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2024

1.9% (2024 est.)

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2022

$41,100 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$41,600 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2024

$41,900 (2024 est.)

Remittances

Remittances 2022

0.6% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

0.6% of GDP (2023 est.)

Remittances 2024

0.6% of GDP (2024 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$32.232 billion (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$35.243 billion (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024

$42.434 billion (2024 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

22.8% (of GDP) (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2022

6.1% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

6.6% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2024

6.4% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

20.7% (2024 est.)

male

21.6% (2024 est.)

total

21.2% (2024 est.)

Coal

consumption

7,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

exports

1 metric tons (2023 est.)

imports

6,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

proven reserves

3 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Electricity

consumption

50.317 billion kWh (2023 est.)

exports

3.422 billion kWh (2023 est.)

imports

13.656 billion kWh (2023 est.)

installed generating capacity

25.409 million kW (2023 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

5.129 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

Electricity generation sources

biomass and waste

7.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

fossil fuels

25.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

geothermal

0.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

hydroelectricity

24.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

solar

12.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

wind

29% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2023

73.285 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Natural gas

consumption

4.325 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

imports

4.251 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Petroleum

refined petroleum consumption

204,000 bbl/day (2024 est.)

total petroleum production

8,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

44 (2023 est.)

total

4.6 million (2023 est.)

Broadcast media

Radio e Televisao de Portugal, the publicly owned TV broadcaster, operates 4 domestic channels and external service channels to Africa; roughly 40 domestic TV stations; widespread access to international broadcasters, with more than half of 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 about 300 regional and local commercial radio stations

Internet country code

.pt

Internet users

percent of population

86% (2023 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

53 (2023 est.)

total subscriptions

5.505 million (2023 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

124 (2024 est.)

total subscriptions

12.9 million (2024 est.)

Airports

128 (2025)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

CR, CS

Heliports

65 (2025)

Merchant marine

by type

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

total

888 (2023)

Ports

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

Railways

total

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

Military - note

the Portuguese military is responsible for 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 navies Portugal 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 and NATO, as well as 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 in exercises with NATO partners (2025)

Military and security forces

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: Public Security Police (Polícia de Segurança Pública, PSP) , National Republican Guard (Guarda Nacional Republicana, GNR) (2025)

Military and security service personnel strengths

approximately 25,000 active-duty military personnel (2025)

Military deployments

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 under the UN and about 350 troops supporting NATO's forward presence in Lithuania and Romania; it also participates in NATO air policing and maritime patrolling operations (2025)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the military's inventory includes mostly European- and US-origin weapons systems along with smaller amounts of domestically produced equipment; Portugal's defense industry is noted for its shipbuilding (2025)

Military expenditures

Military Expenditures 2021

1.5% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military Expenditures 2022

1.4% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military Expenditures 2023

1.3% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military Expenditures 2024

1.6% of GDP (2024 est.)

Military Expenditures 2025

2% of GDP (2025 est.)

Military service age and obligation

18-30 years of age for voluntary or contract military service for men and women (upper age limit varies by military branch, position, role); no compulsory military service (abolished 2004) but conscription possible if insufficient volunteers available; 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 (2025)

Refugees and internally displaced persons

IDPs

21 (2024 est.)

refugees

71,166 (2024 est.)

stateless persons

31 (2024 est.)

Key space-program milestones

1993 - first technology demonstrator microsatellite (PoSat-1) launched on a European rocket 2000 - joined the ESA 2020 - launched strategic plan for space development (Portugal Space 2030), which included building a spaceport, developing a reusable rocket/satellite launch vehicle, growing the country's domestic commercial space sector, and establishing an Earth observation/remote sensing satellite constellation 2024 - first Portuguese communications satellite (PoSat-2) launched by US as part of a planned constellation of 12 ocean-monitoring/maritime communication satellites 2026 - signed US-led Artemis Accords outlining best practices for responsible space exploration

Space agency/agencies

Portuguese Space Agency (Agência Espacial Portuguesa; aka Portugal Space; established 2019) (2025)

Space launch site(s)

in August 2025, Portugal granted a license to a commercial consortium to build and operate a space launch center on the island of Santa Maria in the Azores; the first orbital launches are expected in 2027 (2025)

Space program overview

largely focuses on the acquisition and operation of satellites; researches and develops a range of space-related technologies with an emphasis on small satellites for remote sensing (RS), navigational, science/technology, and telecommunications, as well as satellite launch services; space program is integrated with the ESA and involved in a variety of ESA and EU space programs; works with the space agencies and industries of a range of countries, including Algeria, Angola, Brazil, China, India, Japan, Morocco, South Korea, and the US; also cooperates with international organizations and projects such as the Europe South Observatory and the Square Kilometer Array; one of the objectives of the country's national space strategy is to expand its commercial space sector (2025)

Terrorist group(s)

Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)

Carbon dioxide emissions

from coal and metallurgical coke

20,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from consumed natural gas

8.727 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

29.525 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

total emissions

38.272 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Environmental issues

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

Geoparks

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)

International environmental agreements

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

Particulate matter emissions

7.6 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Total renewable water resources

77.4 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal

agricultural

3.419 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

industrial

1.83 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

municipal

920.03 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

5.268 million tons (2024 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled

23.5% (2022 est.)