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Communications

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 57, FM 66 (repeaters 22), shortwave 0

Radios [time series]

2.2 million (1993 est.)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

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 - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]

3.7 million (1996 est.)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

36 (in addition, there are 62 repeaters) (1997)

Televisions [time series]

2,970,892 (1993 est.)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture--products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $48 billion expenditures: $52 billion, including capital expenditures of $7.4 billion (1996 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 Portuguese escudo (Esc) = 100 centavos

Debt - external (Debt--external) [time series]

$13.1 billion (1997 est.)

Economic aid (Economic aid--donor) [time series]

ODA, $271 million (1995)

Economic overview (Economy--overview) [time series]

Portugal, in 1998, continued to see strong 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 1998, 2.8%, was low but higher than most of its European partners. 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 slow to 3% in 1999 because of a slowdown in public investment and sluggish demand for exports.

Electricity - consumption (Electricity--consumption) [time series]

31.92 billion kWh (1997)

Electricity - exports (Electricity--exports) [time series]

3 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity - imports (Electricity--imports) [time series]

4.2 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity - production (Electricity--production) [time series]

32.839 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity - production by source (Electricity--production by source) [time series]

fossil fuel: 55% hydro: 45% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998 est.)

Exchange rates [time series]

Portuguese escudos (Esc) per US$1--172.78 (January 1999), 180.10 (1998), 175.31 (1997), 154.24 (1996), 151.11 (1995), 165.99 (1994) note: on 1 January 1999, the European Union introduced a common currency that is now being used by financial institutions in some member countries at the rate of 0.8597 euros per US$ and 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 [time series]

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

Exports - commodities (Exports--commodities) [time series]

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

Exports - partners (Exports--partners) [time series]

EU 81% (Germany 20%, Spain 15%, France 14%, UK 12% Netherlands 5%, Benelux 5%, Italy 4%), US 5% (1997)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

purchasing power parity--$144.8 billion (1998 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP--composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 4% industry: 36% services: 60% (1998 est.)

Real GDP per capita (GDP--per capita) [time series]

purchasing power parity?$14,600 (1998 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP--real growth rate) [time series]

4.2% (1998 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

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

Imports - commodities (Imports--commodities) [time series]

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

Imports - partners (Imports--partners) [time series]

EU 76% (Spain 24%, Germany 15%, France 11%, Italy 8%, UK 7%, Netherlands 5%), US 3%, Japan 2% (1997)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

4.1% (1998 est.)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

2.8% (1998 est.)

Labor force [time series]

4.75 million (1998 est.)

Labor force - by occupation (Labor force--by occupation) [time series]

services 56%, manufacturing 22%, agriculture, forestry, fisheries 12%, construction 9%, mining 1% (1998 est.)

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Unemployment rate [time series]

5% (August 1998)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 92,391 sq km land: 91,951 sq km water: 440 sq km note: includes Azores and Madeira Islands

Area - comparative (Area--comparative) [time series]

slightly smaller than Indiana

Climate [time series]

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

Coastline [time series]

1,793 km

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Ponta do Pico (Pico or Pico Alto) on Ilha do Pico in the Azores 2,351 m

Environment - current issues (Environment--current issues) [time series]

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

International environmental agreements (Environment--international agreements) [time series]

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, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Environmental Modification, Nuclear Test Ban, Tropical Timber 94

Geographic coordinates [time series]

39 30 N, 8 00 W

Geography - note (Geography--note) [time series]

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

Irrigated land [time series]

6,300 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 1,214 km border countries: Spain 1,214 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 26% permanent crops: 9% permanent pastures: 9% forests and woodland: 36% other: 20% (1993 est.)

Location [time series]

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

Map references [time series]

Europe

Maritime claims [time series]

continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Natural hazards [time series]

Azores subject to severe earthquakes

Natural resources [time series]

fish, forests (cork), tungsten, iron ore, uranium ore, marble

Terrain [time series]

mountainous north of the Tagus River, rolling plains in south

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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 [time series]

Lisbon

Constitution [time series]

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

Country name [time series]

conventional long form: Portuguese Republic conventional short form: Portugal local long form: Republica Portuguesa local short form: Portugal

Data code [time series]

Dependent areas [time series]

Macau (scheduled to revert to China on 20 December 1999)

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Gerald S. MCGOWAN embassy: Avenida das Forcas Armadas, 1600 Lisbon mailing address: PSC 83, APO AE 09726 consulate(s): Ponta Delgada (Azores)

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Fernando Antonio de Lacerda ANDRESEN GUIMARAES chancery: 2125 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008 consulate(s) general: Boston, New York, Newark (New Jersey), New Bedford (Massachusetts), Providence (Rhode Island), and San Francisco consulate(s): Los Angeles

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Jorge SAMPAIO (since 9 March 1996) head of government: Prime Minister Antonio Manuel de Oliviera GUTERRES (since 28 October 1995) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister note: there is also a Council of State that acts as a consultative body to the president 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 election results: Jorge SAMPAIO elected president; percent of vote--Jorge SAMPAIO (Socialist) 53.8%, Anibal CAVACO SILVA (Social Democrat) 46.2%

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

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 [time series]

parliamentary democracy

Independence [time series]

1140 (independent republic proclaimed 5 October 1910)

International organization participation [time series]

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), MINURCA, MINURSO, MONUA, MTCR, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIBH, UNMOP, UNPREDEP, UPU, WCL, WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC

Judicial branch [time series]

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

Legal system [time series]

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

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral Assembly of the Republic or Assembleia da Republica (230 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 1 October 1995 (next to be held by 1 October 1999) election results: percent of vote by party--PSD 34.0%, PS 43.8%, CDU 8.6%, CDS/PP 9.1%; seats by party--PSD 88, PS 112, CDU 15, CDS/PP 15

National holiday [time series]

Day of Portugal, 10 June (1580)

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

Social Democratic Party or PSD Popular Party or PP (formerly known as Center Democratic Party or SERGIO]; United Democratic Coalition or CDU (communists; includes

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Military

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

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

Military expenditures - dollar figure (Military expenditures--dollar figure) [time series]

$2.458 billion (1997)

Military expenditures (Military expenditures--percent of GDP) [time series]

2.6% (1997)

Military manpower - availability (Military manpower--availability) [time series]

males age 15-49: 2,542,188 (1999 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service (Military manpower--fit for military service) [time series]

males age 15-49: 2,042,730 (1999 est.)

Military manpower - military age (Military manpower--military age) [time series]

20 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually (Military manpower--reaching military age annually) [time series]

males: 73,405 (1999 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 17% (male 866,115; female 820,438) 15-64 years: 68% (male 3,283,345; female 3,428,427) 65 years and over: 15% (male 619,086; female 900,629) (1999 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

10.49 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate [time series]

10.25 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

Infant mortality rate [time series]

6.73 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Languages [time series]

Portuguese

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 75.88 years male: 72.51 years female: 79.46 years (1999 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 85% male: 89% female: 82% (1990 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Portuguese (singular and plural) adjective: Portuguese

Net migration rate [time series]

-1.51 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Population [time series]

9,918,040 (July 1999 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

-0.13% (1999 est.)

Religions [time series]

Roman Catholic 97%, Protestant denominations 1%, other 2%

Sex ratio [time series]

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: 0.69 male(s)/female total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.34 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international (Disputes--international) [time series]

as former colonial power, Portugal plays a key role in the issue of Indonesia's sovereignty over Timor Timur (East Timor Province), which has not been recognized by the UN

Illicit drugs [time series]

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

Transportation

Airports [time series]

66 (1998 est.)

Airports - with paved runways (Airports--with paved runways) [time series]

total: 40 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 18 under 914 m: 5 (1998 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways (Airports--with unpaved runways) [time series]

total: 26 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 25 (1998 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 68,732 km paved: 59,110 km (including 687 km of expressways) unpaved: 9,622 km (1995 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 132 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 894,640 GRT/1,366,955 DWT ships by type: bulk 13, cargo 72, chemical tanker 14, container 7, liquefied gas tanker 7, oil tanker 9, refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 3, short-sea passenger 4, vehicle carrier 2 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.)

Pipelines [time series]

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 (Ports and harbors) [time series]

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

Railways [time series]

total: 3,072 km broad gauge: 2,769 km 1.668-m gauge (528 km electrified; 426 km double track) narrow gauge: 303 km 1.000-m gauge (1996)

Waterways [time series]

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