Portugal

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<p>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.</p>

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

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39 30 N, 8 00 W

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Europe

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<strong>note:</strong> includes Azores and Madeira Islands

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slightly smaller than Virginia

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1,793 km

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

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

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

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5,662 sq km (2019)

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

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Azores subject to severe earthquakes <br><br><strong>volcanism:</strong> 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

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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

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

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

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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.)

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<strong>note:</strong> data represent population 15 years of age and older

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-0.11% (2025 est.)

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

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

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

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

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

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29.9 years (2020 est.)

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

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1.46 children born/woman (2025 est.)

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0.71 (2025 est.)

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5.85 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

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

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20.8% (2016)

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0.9% (2016 est.)

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50.6% (2021 est.)

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

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

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7.6 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

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77.4 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

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semi-presidential republic

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18 districts (<em>distritos</em>, singular - <em>distrito</em>) and 2 autonomous regions* (<em>regioes autonomas</em>, singular - <em>regiao autonoma</em>); 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

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civil law system; Constitutional Court reviews legislative acts

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accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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18 years of age; universal

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<strong>note:</strong> there is also a Council of State that acts as a consultative body to the president

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

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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

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

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

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<strong>note:</strong> also called Camoes Day, the day that revered national poet Luis DE CAMOES (1524-80) died

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<strong>description:</strong> 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<br><br><strong>meaning:</strong> 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

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

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red, green

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<p>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</p>

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<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

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<b>note:</b> annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

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<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

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$308.683 billion (2024 est.)

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<b>note:</b> data in current dollars at official exchange rate

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<b>note:</b> annual % change based on consumer prices

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<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

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<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

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

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<b>note:</b> top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

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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

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1.2% (2024 est.)

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<b>note:</b> annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

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5.464 million (2024 est.)

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<b>note:</b> number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

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<b>note:</b> % of labor force seeking employment

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<b>note:</b> % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

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16.4% (2021 est.)

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<b>note:</b> % of population with income below national poverty line

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<b>note:</b> index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

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<b>note:</b> % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

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<b>note:</b> personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

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<b>note:</b> central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

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<strong>note:</strong> data cover general government debt and include debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intragovernmental debt; intragovernmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions

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22.8% (of GDP) (2023 est.)

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<b>note:</b> central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

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<b>note:</b> balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

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<b>note:</b> balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

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

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<b>note:</b> top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

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

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<b>note:</b> top five export commodities based on value in dollars

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<b>note:</b> balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

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

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<b>note:</b> top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

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

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<b>note:</b> top five import commodities based on value in dollars

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<b>note:</b> holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

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Radio e Televisao de Portugal, the publicly owned TV broadcaster, operates 4 domestic channels and external service channels to Africa;&nbsp; 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

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.pt

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CR, CS

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128 (2025)

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65 (2025)

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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)<br><br>Ministry of Internal Administration: Public Security Police (Polícia de Segurança Pública, PSP) , National Republican Guard (Guarda Nacional Republicana, GNR) (2025)

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<strong>note:</strong> the PSP has jurisdiction in cities while the GNR has jurisdiction in rural areas; the GNR is a national gendarmerie force comprised of military personnel with law enforcement, internal security, civil defense, disaster response, and coast guard duties; it is responsible to both the Ministry of Internal Administration and to the Ministry of National Defense; it is not part of the Armed Forces, but may be placed under its operational command in the event of a national emergency

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

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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<br><br>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)

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Portuguese Space Agency (Ag&ecirc;ncia Espacial Portuguesa; aka Portugal Space; established 2019) (2025)

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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)

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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)

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1993 - first technology demonstrator microsatellite (PoSat-1) launched on a European rocket<br><br>2000 - joined the ESA<br><br>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<br><br>2024 - first Portuguese communications satellite (PoSat-2) launched by US as part of a planned constellation of 12 ocean-monitoring/maritime communication satellites<br><br>2026 - signed US-led Artemis Accords outlining best practices for responsible space exploration

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Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)

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<strong>note:</strong> details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide