Portugal

Portugal

Introduction

Background

Following its heyday as 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 its wealthiest colony of Brazil in 1822. 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 is a founding member of NATO and entered the EC (now the EU) in 1986. In January 2011, Portugal assumed a nonpermanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2011-12 term.

Geography

Location

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

Geographic coordinates

39 30 N, 8 00 W

Map references

Europe

Area

total: 92,090 sq km
country comparison to the world: 111 land:91,470 sq km
water:620 sq km
note:includes Azores and Madeira Islands

Area – comparative

slightly smaller than Indiana

Land boundaries

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

Coastline

1,793 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone:24 nm
exclusive economic zone:200 nm
continental shelf:200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Climate

maritime temperate

cool and rainy in north, warmer and drier in south

Terrain

mountainous north of the Tagus River, rolling plains in south

Elevation extremes

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

Natural resources

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

Land use

arable land: 17.29%
permanent crops:7.84%
other:74.87% (2005)

Irrigated land

5,840 sq km (2008)

Total renewable water resources

73.6 cu km (2005)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 11.09cu km/yr (10%/12%/78%)
per capita:1,056cu m/yr (1998)

Natural hazards

Azores subject to severe earthquakes
volcanism:Portugal experiences limited volcanic activity in the Azores Islands

Fayal or Faial (elev. 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

Environment – current issues

soil erosion

air pollution caused by industrial and vehicle emissions

water pollution, especially in coastal areas

Environment – international agreements

party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, 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, Whaling
signed, but not ratified:Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Environmental Modification

Geography – note

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

People and Society

Nationality

noun: Portuguese (singular and plural)
adjective:Portuguese

Ethnic groups

homogeneous Mediterranean stock

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

since 1990 East Europeans have entered Portugal

Languages

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

Religions

Roman Catholic 84.5%, other Christian 2.2%, other 0.3%, unknown 9%, none 3.9% (2001 census)

Population

10,760,305 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75

Age structure

0-14 years: 16.2% (male 910,012/female 835,025)
15-64 years:65.8% (male 3,539,457/female 3,541,989)
65 years and over:18% (male 791,950/female 1,141,872) (2011 est.)

Median age

total: 40 years
male:38 years
female:42.3 years (2011 est.)

Population growth rate

0.212% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 179

Birth rate

9.94 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194

Death rate

10.8 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42

Net migration rate

2.98 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29

Urbanization

urban population: 61% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization:1% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major cities – population

LISBON (capital) 2.808 million

Porto 1.344 million (2009)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.067 male(s)/female
under 15 years:1.09 male(s)/female
15-64 years:1 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.7 male(s)/female
total population:0.95 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Maternal mortality rate

7 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)
country comparison to the world: 158

Infant mortality rate

total: 4.66 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 188 male:5.11 deaths/1,000 live births
female:4.18 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 78.54 years
country comparison to the world: 49 male:75.28 years
female:82.01 years (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.5 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 185

Health expenditures

11.3% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 17

Physicians density

3.755 physicians/1,000 population (2009)
country comparison to the world: 17

Hospital bed density

3.37 beds/1,000 population (2008)
country comparison to the world: 63

Drinking water source

improved:
urban: 99% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 99% of population
unimproved:
urban: 1% of population
rural: 0% of population
total: 1% of population (2008)

Sanitation facility access

improved:
urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population (2008)

HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate

0.6% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63

HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS

42,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60

HIV/AIDS – deaths

fewer than 500 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96

Obesity – adult prevalence rate

14.2% (2005)
country comparison to the world: 40

Education expenditures

4.4% of GDP (2008)
country comparison to the world: 88

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population:93.3%
male:95.5%
female:91.3% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 16 years
male:16 years
female:16 years (2008)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 20%
country comparison to the world: 57 male:18.6%
female:21.6% (2009)

Government

Country name

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

Government type

republic

parliamentary democracy

Capital

name: Lisbon
geographic coordinates:38 43 N, 9 08 W
time difference:UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
daylight saving time:+1hr, begins last Sunday in March

ends last Sunday in October

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

Independence

1143 (Kingdom of Portugal recognized)

5 October 1910 (republic proclaimed)

National holiday

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

note – also called Camoes Day, the day that revered national poet Luis de Camoes (1524-80) died

Constitution

adopted 2 April 1976

subsequently revised
note:the revisions placed the military under strict civilian control, trimmed the powers of the president, and laid the groundwork for a stable, pluralistic liberal democracy

they allowed for the privatization of nationalized firms and government-owned communications media

Legal system

civil law system

Constitutional Tribunal review of legislative acts

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Suffrage

18 years of age

universal

Executive branch

chief of state: President Anibal CAVACO SILVA (since 9 March 2006)
head of government:Prime Minister Pedro Manuel Mamede PASSOS COELHO (since 21 June 2011)
cabinet:Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )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 (eligible for a second term)

election last held on 23 January 2011 (next to be held in January 2016)

following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the president
election results:Anibal CAVACO SILVA reelected president

percent of vote – Anibal CAVACO SILVA 53%, Manuel ALEGRE 19.8%, Fernando NOBRE 14.1%, Francisco LOPES 7.1%, Manuel COELHO 4.5%, Defensor MOURA 1.6%

Legislative branch

unicameral Assembly of the Republic or Assembleia da Republica (230 seats

members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections:last held on 5 June 2011 (next to be held in 2015)
election results:percent of vote by party – PPD/PSD 38%, PS 28%, CDS/PP 11%, PCP/PEV 7%, BE 5%

seats by party – PPD/PSD 108, PS 74, CDS/PP 24, PCP/PEV 16, BE 8

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (Supremo Tribunal de Justica)

judges appointed for life by the Conselho Superior da Magistratura

Political parties and leaders

Democratic and Social Center/Popular Party or CDS/PP [Paulo PORTAS]

Social Democratic Party or PSD [Pedro Manuel PASSOS COELHO]

Socialist Party or PS [Antonio de Almeida SANTOS]

The Left Bloc or BE

Unitarian Democratic Coalition or CDU [Jeronimo DE SOUSA] (includes Portuguese Communist Party or PCP and Ecologist Party (“The Greens”) or PEV)

Political pressure groups and leaders

the media

labor unions

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, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAIA (observer), MIGA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club (associate), PCA, Schengen Convention, SECI (observer), UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, Union Latina, UNMIT, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Nuno Filipe Alves Salvador e BRITO
chancery:2012 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone:[1] (202) 328-8610
FAX:[1] (202) 462-3726
consulate(s) general:Boston, New York, Newark (New Jersey), San Francisco
consulate(s):New Bedford (Massachusetts), Providence (Rhode Island)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Allan J. KATZ
embassy:Avenida das Forcas Armadas, 1600-081 Lisbon
mailing address:Apartado 43033, 1601-301 Lisboa

PSC 83, APO AE 09726
telephone:[351] (21) 727-3300
FAX:[351] (21) 726-9109
consulate(s):Ponta Delgada (Azores)

Flag description

two vertical bands of green (hoist side, two-fifths) and red (three-fifths) with the national coat of arms (armillary sphere and Portuguese shield) centered on the dividing line

explanations for the color meanings are ambiguous, but a popular interpretation has green symbolizing hope and red the blood of those defending the nation

National symbol(s)

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

National anthem

name: “A Portugesa” (The Song of the Portuguese)
lyrics/music:Henrique LOPES DE MENDOCA/Alfredo KEIL
note:adopted 1910

“A Portuguesa” was originally written to protest the Portuguese monarchy’s acquiescence to the 1890 British ultimatum forcing Portugal to give up areas of Africa

the lyrics refer to the “insult” that resulted from the event

Economy

Economy – overview

Portugal has become a diversified and increasingly service-based economy since joining the European Community – the EU’s predecessor – in 1986. Over the past two decades, successive governments have privatized many state-controlled firms and liberalized key areas of the economy, including the financial and telecommunications sectors. The country qualified for the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) in 1998 and began circulating the euro on 1 January 2002 along with 11 other EU members. The economy had grown by more than the EU average for much of the 1990s, but fell back in 2001-08, and contracted 2.6% in 2009, before growing 1% in 2010. GDP per capita stands at roughly two-thirds of the EU-27 average. A poor educational system and a rigid labor market have been obstacles to greater productivity and growth. Portugal also has been increasingly overshadowed by lower-cost producers in Central Europe and Asia as a destination for foreign direct investment. Portugal’s low competitiveness, low growth prospects, and high levels of public debt have made it vulnerable to bond market turbulence. The government is implementing austerity measures, including a 5% public salary cut which went into effect on January 1, 2011 and a 2% increase in the value-added tax, to reduce the budget deficit from 9.3% of GDP in 2009 to 4.6% in 2011, but some investors have expressed concern about the government’s ability to achieve these targets and cover its sovereign debt. Without the option for stimulus measures, the government is focusing instead on boosting exports and implementing labor market reforms to try to raise GDP growth and increase Portugal’s competitiveness – which, over time, may help mitigate investor concerns.

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$247 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50 $243.6 billion (2009 est.)
$249.8 billion (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate)

$229.3 billion (2010 est.)

GDP – real growth rate

1.4% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162 -2.5% (2009 est.)
0% (2008 est.)

GDP – per capita (PPP)

$23,000 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57 $22,800 (2009 est.)
$23,400 (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP – composition by sector

agriculture: 2.5%
industry:22.9%
services:74.7% (2010 est.)

Labor force

5.581 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66

Labor force – by occupation

agriculture: 11.7%
industry:28.5%
services:59.8% (2009 est.)

Unemployment rate

10.8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117 9.5% (2009 est.)

Population below poverty line

18% (2006)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 3.1%
highest 10%:28.4% (1995 est.)

Distribution of family income – Gini index

38.5 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 73 35.6 (1995)

Investment (gross fixed)

19% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130

Budget

revenues: $95.4 billion
expenditures:$116.5 billion (2010 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

41.6% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-9.2% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 193

Public debt

93% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13 83% of GDP (2009 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.4% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42 -0.8% (2009 est.)

Central bank discount rate

1.75% (31 December 2010)
country comparison to the world: 125 1.75% (31 December 2009)
note:this is the European Central Bank’s rate on the marginal lending facility, which offers overnight credit to banks in the euro area

Commercial bank prime lending rate

4.225% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166 4.694% (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$95.9 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31 $103.8 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
note:see entry for the European Union for money supply in the euro area

the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for the 17 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU)

individual members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money circulating within their own borders

Stock of broad money

$319.4 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26 $311 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$556.3 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25 $490.8 billion (31 December 2008 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$82 billion (31 December 2010)
country comparison to the world: 41 $98.65 billion (31 December 2009)
$68.71 billion (31 December 2008)

Agriculture – products

grain, potatoes, tomatoes, olives, grapes

sheep, cattle, goats, pigs, poultry, dairy products

fish

Industries

textiles, clothing, footwear, wood and cork, paper, chemicals, auto-parts manufacturing, base metals, dairy products, wine and other foods, porcelain and ceramics, glassware, technology, telecommunications

ship construction and refurbishment

tourism

Industrial production growth rate

1.6% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138

Electricity – production

46.53 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51

Electricity – consumption

48.27 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47

Electricity – exports

2.822 billion kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity – imports

4.776 billion kWh (2009 est.)

Oil – production

4,721 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95

Oil – consumption

277,400 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49

Oil – exports

49,650 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80

Oil – imports

294,600 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37

Oil – proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 179

Natural gas – production

0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114

Natural gas – consumption

5.161 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59

Natural gas – exports

0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161

Natural gas – imports

5.122 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33

Natural gas – proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 181

Current account balance

-$22.61 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187 -$25.6 billion (2009 est.)

Exports

$48.91 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57 $44.67 billion (2009 est.)

Exports – commodities

agricultural products, food products, wine, oil products, chemical products, plastics and rubber, hides, leather, wood and cork, wood pulp and paper, textile materials, clothing, footwear, machinery and tools

Exports – partners

Spain 26.8%, Germany 13.1%, France 11.9%, UK 5.5%, Angola 5.2% (2010)

Imports

$72.67 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38 $69.5 billion (2009 est.)

Imports – commodities

agricultural products, chemical products, vehicles and other transport material, and optical and precision instruments, computer accessories and parts, semi-conductors and related devices

Imports – partners

Spain 31.3%, Germany 13.8%, France 7.3%, Italy 5.7%, Netherlands 5.2% (2010)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$21 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57 $16.03 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Debt – external

$548.3 billion (30 June 2011)
country comparison to the world: 21 $497.8 billion (30 June 2010)

Stock of direct foreign investment – at home

$110.2 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32 $114.7 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment – abroad

$64.25 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31 $68.47 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Exchange rates

euros (EUR) per US dollar -
0.755 (2010)
0.7198 (2009)
0.6827 (2008)
0.7345 (2007)
0.7964 (2006)

Transportation

Airports

65 (2010)
country comparison to the world:75

Airports – with paved runways

total: 43
over 3,047 m:5
2,438 to 3,047 m:8
1,524 to 2,437 m:7
914 to 1,523 m:13
under 914 m:10 (2010)

Airports – with unpaved runways

total: 22
914 to 1,523 m:1
under 914 m:21 (2010)

Pipelines

gas 1,307 km

oil 11 km

refined products 188 km (2010)

Railways

total: 3,319 km
country comparison to the world: 53 broad gauge:2,700 km 1.668-m gauge (1,436 km electrified)
narrow gauge:192 km 1.000-m gauge

427 km 0.760-m gauge (2010)

Roadways

total: 82,900 km
country comparison to the world: 56 paved:71,294 km (includes 2,613 km of expressways)
unpaved:11,606 km (2008)

Waterways

210 km (on Douro River from Porto) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 96

Merchant marine

total: 111
country comparison to the world: 47 by type:bulk carrier 8, cargo 33, carrier 1, chemical tanker 17, container 8, liquefied gas 9, passenger 13, passenger/cargo 5, petroleum tanker 7, roll on/roll off 1, vehicle carrier 9
foreign-owned:80 (Belgium 8, Denmark 4, Germany 13, Greece 5, Italy 10, Japan 9, Mexico 1, Netherlands 1, Norway 1, Spain 15, Sweden 6, Switzerland 3, US 4)
registered in other countries:14 (Cyprus 2, Malta 3, Panama 9) (2010)

Ports and terminals

Leixoes, Lisbon, Setubal, Sines

Military

Military branches

Portuguese Army (Exercito Portuguesa), Portuguese Navy (Marinha Portuguesa

includes Marine Corps), Portuguese Air Force (Forca Aerea Portuguesa, FAP) (2011)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service

no compulsory military service

women serve in the armed forces, on naval ships since 1993, but are prohibited from serving in some combatant specialties

reserve obligation to age 35 (2010)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 2,566,264
females age 16-49:2,458,297 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 2,103,080
females age 16-49:2,018,004 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 62,208
female:54,786 (2010 est.)

Military expenditures

2.3% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65

Transnational Issues

Disputes – international

Portugal does not recognize Spanish sovereignty over the territory of Olivenza based on a difference of interpretation of the 1815 Congress of Vienna and the 1801 Treaty of Badajoz

Illicit drugs

seizing record amounts of Latin American cocaine destined for Europe

a European gateway for Southwest Asian heroin

transshipment point for hashish from North Africa to Europe

consumer of Southwest Asian heroin