

Topic: 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.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.

Topic: 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

Topic: 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.)

Topic: 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)

Topic: 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 producerhigh-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)Page last updated: Friday, May 13, 2022