Portugal

Location

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

Population

Notable Population Centers

City	Population	Note
Lisbon	517,802	Capital
Porto	249,633
Amadora	178,858
Braga	121,394
Setúbal	117,110
Coimbra	106,582
Queluz	103,399
Funchal	100,847
Cacém	93,982
Vila Nova de Gaia	70,811

Size

• 35,672 square miles
• 92,391 square kilometers
• slightly smaller than Virginia

History

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.

Climate

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

Terrain

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

Languages

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

Religions

Roman Catholic 79.7%, Protestant 2.2%, other Christian 2.5%, other non-Christian, 1.1%, none 14.5% (2021 est.)note: data represent population 15 years of age and older

Government

semi-presidential republic

• Constitution: history: several previous; latest adopted 2 April 1976, effective 25 April 1976amendment process: proposed by the Assembly of the Republic; adoption requires two-thirds majority vote of Assembly members
• Political Parties and Leaders: n/a
• Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
• Legal System: civil law system; Constitutional Court reviews legislative acts
• Executive Branch: chief of state: President Marcelo REBELO DE SOUSA (since 9 March 2016)head of government: Prime Minister Antonio Luis MONTENEGRO (since 2 April 2024)cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime ministerelection/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 ministermost recent election date: 24 January 2021election 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%expected date of next election: January 2026note: there is also a Council of State that acts as a consultative body to the president
• 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 termssubordinate courts: Supreme Administrative Court (Supremo Tribunal Administrativo); Audit Court (Tribunal de Contas); appellate, district, and municipal courts
• Legislative Branch: legislature name: Assembly of the Republic (Assembleia da Republica)legislative structure: unicameralnumber of seats: 230 (all directly elected)electoral system: proportional representationscope of elections: full renewalterm in office: 4 yearsmost recent election date: 5/18/2025parties 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: 33.5%expected date of next election: September 2029

Demographic Profile

n/a

Economy

• 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
• Budget: revenues: $99.473 billion (2022 est.)expenditures: $100.796 billion (2022 est.)note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
• Credit Rating: n/a
• Natural Resources: fish, forests (cork), iron ore, copper, zinc, tin, tungsten, silver, gold, uranium, marble, clay, gypsum, salt, arable land, hydropower
• 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
• Agricultural Products: milk, tomatoes, olives, grapes, maize, pork, potatoes, chicken, apples, oranges (2023)note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
• Land Use: agricultural land: 42.8% (2022 est.)arable land: 10.2% (2022 est.)permanent crops: 9.5% (2022 est.)permanent pasture: 23.1% (2022 est.)forest: 36.2% (2022 est.)other: 21.1% (2022 est.)
• Labor Force by Occupation: n/a
• Imports
• Imported Commodities: cars, crude petroleum, vehicle parts/accessories, refined petroleum, garments (2023)note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
• Import Partners: Spain 33%, Germany 11%, France 7%, Netherlands 5%, China 5% (2023)note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
• Exports
• Exported Commodities: cars, garments, vehicle parts/accessories, unpackaged medicine, refined petroleum (2023)note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
• Export Partners: Spain 21%, France 11%, Germany 10%, USA 8%, UK 5% (2023)note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports