Communications
Internet users (Internet Service Providers (ISPs)) [time series]
16 (2000)
Internet country code [time series]
.pt
Internet users [time series]
700,000 (2000)
Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]
AM 47, FM 172 (many are repeaters), shortwave 2 (1998)
Radios [time series]
3.02 million (1997)
Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]
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% domestic: 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 - main lines in use) [time series]
5.3 million (end 1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]
3,074,194 (1999)
Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]
62 (plus 166 repeaters) note: includes Azores and Madeira Islands (1995)
Televisions [time series]
3.31 million (1997)
Economy
Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]
grain, potatoes, olives, grapes; sheep, cattle, goats, poultry, beef, dairy products
Budget [time series]
revenues: $48.6 billion expenditures: $50.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $7.7 billion (2000 est.)
Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]
Portuguese escudo (PTE); euro (EUR) note: on 1 January 1999, the EU introduced the euro as a common currency that is now being used by financial institutions in Portugal at a fixed rate of 200.482 Portuguese escudos per euro and will replace the local currency for all transactions in 2002
Exchange rates (Currency code) [time series]
PTE; EUR
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 is an upcoming capitalist economy with a per capita GDP two-thirds that of the four big West European economies. 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. The year 2000 was marked by moderation in growth, inflation, and unemployment. The country continues to run a sizable trade deficit. The government is working to reform the tax system, to modernize capital plant, and to increase the country's competitiveness in the increasingly integrated world markets. Growth is expected to fall off slightly in 2001. Improvement in the education sector is critical to the long-run catch-up process.
Electricity - consumption [time series]
37.915 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports [time series]
4.49 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports [time series]
3.628 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - production [time series]
41.696 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - production by source [time series]
fossil fuel: 79.97% hydro: 17.25% nuclear: 0% other: 2.78% (1999)
Exchange rates [time series]
euros per US dollar - 1.0659 (January 2001), 1.0854 (2000), 0.9386 (1999); Portuguese escudos per US dollar - 180.10 (1998), 175.31 (1997), 154.24 (1996)
Exports [time series]
$26.1 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
Exports - commodities [time series]
clothing and footwear, machinery, chemicals, cork and paper products, hides
Exports - partners [time series]
EU 83% (Germany 20%, Spain 18%, France 14%, UK 12%, Netherlands 5%, Benelux 5%, Italy), US 5% (1999)
Fiscal year [time series]
calendar year
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]
purchasing power parity - $159 billion (2000 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]
agriculture: 4% industry: 36% services: 60% (1999 est.)
Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita) [time series]
purchasing power parity - $15,800 (2000 est.)
Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]
2.7% (2000 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]
lowest 10%: 3.1% highest 10%: 28.4% (1995 est.)
Imports [time series]
$41 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
Imports - commodities [time series]
machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, petroleum, textiles, agricultural products
Imports - partners [time series]
EU 78% (Spain 25%, Germany 15%, France 11%, Italy 8%, UK 7%, Netherlands 5%), US 3%, Japan 3% (1998)
Industrial production growth rate [time series]
2.9% (1999 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% (2000 est.)
Labor force [time series]
5 million (1999)
Labor force - by occupation [time series]
services 60%, industry 30%, agriculture 10% (1999 est.)
Population below poverty line [time series]
NA%
Unemployment rate [time series]
4.3% (2000 est.)
Geography
total: 92,391 sq km land: 91,951 sq km water: 440 sq km note: includes Azores and Madeira Islands
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 [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, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Environmental Modification, Nuclear Test Ban
Geographic coordinates [time series]
39 30 N, 8 00 W
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]
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 [time series]
Azores subject to severe earthquakes
Natural resources [time series]
fish, forests (cork), tungsten, iron ore, uranium ore, marble, arable land, hydro power
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
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 telephone: [351] (21) 727-3300
Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador Joao Alberto Bacelar ROCHA PARIS chancery: 2125 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 328-8610
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 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 election results: Jorge SAMPAIO re-elected president; percent of vote - Jorge SAMPAIO (Socialist) 55.8%, Joaquim FERREIRA Do Amaral (Social Democrat) 34.5%, Antonio ABREU (Communist) 5.1%
Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]
[1] (202) 462-3726 consulate(s) general: Boston, New York, Newark (New Jersey), and San Francisco consulate(s): Los Angeles, New Bedford (Massachusetts), Providence (Rhode Island)
Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]
[351] (21) 726-9109 consulate(s): Ponta Delgada (Azores)
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, ESA, 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), MINURSO, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOP, UNTAET, 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 10 October 1999 (next to be held by NA October 2003) election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PS 115, PSD 81, PCP 15, PP 15, PEV 2, The Left Bloc 2
National holiday [time series]
Portugal Day, 10 June (1580)
Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]
The Greens or PEV [leader NA]; Popular Party or PP [Paulo PORTAS]; Portuguese Communist Party/United Democratic Coalition or PCP/CDU [Carlos CARVALHAS]; Portuguese Socialist Party or PS [Antonio GUTERRES]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [leader vacant]; The Left Bloc [no leader]
Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]
NA
Suffrage [time series]
18 years of age; universal
Introduction
Background [time series]
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 in 1985.
Military
Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]
Army, Navy (includes Marines), Air Force, National Republican Guard
Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]
$2.458 billion (FY97)
Military expenditures (Military expenditures - percent of GDP) [time series]
2.6% (FY97)
Military manpower - availability [time series]
males age 15-49: 2,530,466 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]
males age 15-49: 2,030,759 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - military age [time series]
20 years of age
Military manpower - reaching military age annually [time series]
males: 71,404 (2001 est.)
People
Age structure [time series]
0-14 years: 16.96% (male 877,379; female 830,242) 15-64 years: 67.42% (male 3,321,473; female 3,465,481) 65 years and over: 15.62% (male 637,207; female 934,471) (2001 est.)
Birth rate [time series]
11.51 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Death rate [time series]
10.21 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Ethnic groups [time series]
homogeneous Mediterranean stock; citizens of black African descent who immigrated to mainland during decolonization number less than 100,000
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]
0.74% (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]
280 (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]
36,000 (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate [time series]
5.94 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Languages [time series]
Portuguese
Life expectancy at birth [time series]
total population: 75.94 years male: 72.44 years female: 79.68 years (2001 est.)
Literacy [time series]
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 87.4% male: NA% female: NA%
Nationality [time series]
noun: Portuguese (singular and plural) adjective: Portuguese
Net migration rate [time series]
0.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Population [time series]
10,066,253 (July 2001 est.)
Population growth rate [time series]
0.18% (2001 est.)
Religions [time series]
Roman Catholic 94%, Protestant (1995)
Sex ratio [time series]
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female 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 total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
Total fertility rate [time series]
1.48 children born/woman (2001 est.)
Transnational Issues
Illicit drugs [time series]
important 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
Transportation
Airports [time series]
66 (2000 est.)
Airports - with paved runways [time series]
total: 40 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 17 under 914 m: 5 (2000 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]
total: 26 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 25 (2000 est.)
Roadways (Highways) [time series]
total: 68,732 km paved: 59,110 km (including 797 km of expressways) unpaved: 9,622 km (1999)
Merchant marine [time series]
total: 158 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,053,586 GRT/1,611,238 DWT ships by type: bulk 14, cargo 84, chemical tanker 16, container 10, liquefied gas 7, multi-functional large-load carrier 1, petroleum tanker 11, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 6, short-sea passenger 4, vehicle carrier 4 note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Spain 1 (2000 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: 2,850 km broad gauge: 2,576 km 1.668-m gauge (623 km electrified; 426 km double track) narrow gauge: 274 km 1.000-m gauge (1998)
Waterways [time series]
820 km note: relatively unimportant to national economy, used by shallow-draft craft limited to 300 metric-ton or less cargo capacity