Country Summary
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 Brazil, its wealthiest colony, in 1822. Portugal is a founding member of NATO and entered the EC (now the EU) in 1986.
Geography
Area
total: 92,090 sq km
land: 91,470 sq km
water: 620 sq km
Climate
maritime temperate; cool and rainy in north, warmer and drier in south
Natural resources
fish, forests (cork), iron ore, copper, zinc, tin, tungsten, silver, gold, uranium, marble, clay, gypsum, salt, arable land, hydropower
People and Society
Population
10,242,081 (2022 est.)
Ethnic groups
Portuguese 95%; citizens from Portugal’s former colonies in Africa, Asia (Han Chinese), and South America (Brazilian) and other foreign born 5%
Languages
Portuguese (official), Mirandese (official, but locally used)
Religions
Roman Catholic 81%, other Christian 3.3%, other (includes Jewish, Muslim) 0.6%, none 6.8%, unspecified 8.3% (2011 est.)
Population growth rate
-0.2% (2022 est.)
Government
Government type
semi-presidential republic
Capital
name: Lisbon
Executive branch
chief of state: President Marcelo REBELO DE SOUSA (since 9 March 2016)
head of government: Prime Minister Antonio Luis Santos da COSTA (since 24 November 2015)
Legislative branch
description: unicameral Assembly of the Republic or Assembleia da Republica (230 seats; 226 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by closed-list proportional representation vote and 4 members - 2 each in 2 constituencies representing Portuguese living abroad - directly elected by proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms)
Economy
Economic overview
high-income European economy; EU and NATO member; recently blocked Chinese utility takeover; major tourism, banking, and telecommunications sectors; very high public debt and bureaucracy; major renewable energy producer
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$331.64 billion (2020 est.)
Real GDP per capita
$32,200 (2020 est.)
Agricultural products
milk, tomatoes, olives, grapes, maize, potatoes, pork, apples, oranges, poultry
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
Exports
$85.28 billion (2020 est.)
Exports - partners
Spain 23%, France 13%, Germany 12%, United Kingdom 6%, United States 5% (2019)
Exports - commodities
cars and vehicle parts, refined petroleum, leather footwear, paper products, tires (2019)
Imports
$89.31 billion (2020 est.)
Imports - partners
Spain 29%, Germany 13%, France 9%, Italy 5%, Netherlands 5% (2019)
Imports - commodities
cars and vehicle parts, crude petroleum, aircraft, packaged medicines, refined petroleum, natural gas (2019)
Exchange rates
euros (EUR) per US dollar -
Page last updated: Friday, May 13, 2022
