Portugal
Country Guide

Explore Portugal

Portugal with its capital Lisbon is located in Europe (Southwestern Europe, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean). It covers some 92,091 square kilometers (slightly smaller than Virginia) with a population of 10,839,500. Portuguese is the official language spoken by people in Portugal. As an interesting fact, Spain is the only bordering country.

Portugalin Southern Europe, shares the Iberian peninsula at the western tip of Europe with Spain. Geographically and culturally somewhat isolated from its neighbor, Portugal has a rich, unique culture, lively cities and beautiful countryside. Portugal is one of the warmest European countries. In mainland Portugal, yearly temperature averages are about 15°C (55°F) in the north and 18°C (64°F) in the south. Surrounded by sea in almost its entirety, the Portuguese beaches are well worth visiting. A lot of activities are offered, from surfing, to kite-surfing, and during the summer months the most frequented beaches offer sand based activities such as aerobics. If you're not the type of breaking into a sweat during holidays, almost every single public beach will have a bar where locals sit. There are several Fairs, specially in the Summer months, particularly in Northern Portugal. During the summer, music festivals are also very common. In the north of the country two of the oldest festivals such as Paredes de Coura and Vilar de Mouros.

Popular Destinations in Portugal

Administrative regions of Portugal

• Aveiro District
• Azores
• Beja
• Braga
• Braganza District
• Castelo Branco
• Coimbra
• Evora
• Faro
• Guarda
• Leiria
• Lisbon District
• Madeira
• Portalegre
• Porto
• Santarem
• Setubal
• Viana do Castelo
• Vila Real
• Viseu

About the country

The topography is the west-flowing Tagus River divides the country: the north being mountainous toward the interior, while the south being characterized by rolling plains. The average density of population is about 118 per km². The climate in Portugal can be described as maritime temperate with cool and rainy in north, warmer and drier in south. Potential natural disasters are Azores subject to severe earthquakes 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,

To reach someone Portugal dial +351 prior to a number. The local cellular networks are operated on 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 3G, 4G. Websites typically end with the top level domain ".pt". If you want to bring electric appliances (e.g. battery chaarger), keep in min the local 230 V - 50 Hz (plugs: C, F). The sign for the locally used currency Euro is EUR.

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.

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. 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.

Geography

Area
Total (World Rank: 112)	92,090	sq km
Land (World Rank: 109)	91,470	sq km
Water (World Rank: 118)	620	sq km
Forest (World Rank: 89)	20.00	%
Comparative	slightly smaller than Virginia
Note	includes Azores and Madeira Islands
Coastline
1793
Landborder
1224
Elevation
Highest point (World Rank: 110)	2,351	m
Agricultural land
Total (World Rank: 107)	39.70	%
Arable (World Rank: 94)	11.90	%
Permanent crops (World Rank: 42)	7.80	%
Permanent pastures (World Rank: 89)	20.00	%
Irrigated land (World Rank: 55)	5,400	sq km
Map reference
Europe
Environment
Issues	- air pollution caused by industrial and vehicle emissions - especially in coastal areas - soil erosion - water pollution
Agreement party	- 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
Agreement signed	- Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants - Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds - Environmental Modification
Hazzards	- Azores subject to severe earthquakes - 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,
Location
Southwestern Europe, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Spain
Climate
maritime temperate; cool and rainy in north, warmer and drier in south
Terrain
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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People

Population
Total (World Rank: 84)	10,839,500
Deathrate (World Rank: 29)	1.11	%
Birthrate (World Rank: 202)	0.90	%
Growthrate (World Rank: 186)	0.04	%
Migration rate (World Rank: 36)	0.25	%
Fertility rate (World Rank: 190)	1.53	%
Median age
Male (World Rank: 32)	40.20
Female (World Rank: 21)	44.40
Age structure
0 14 male (World Rank: 103)	866,004
0 14 female (World Rank: 104)	797,004
15 24 male (World Rank: 95)	653,672
15 24 female (World Rank: 99)	577,800
25 54 male (World Rank: 75)	2,298,920
25 54 female (World Rank: 78)	2,223,180
55 64 male (World Rank: 59)	617,036
55 64 female (World Rank: 56)	702,992
65 x male (World Rank: 46)	861,270
65 x female (World Rank: 41)	1,241,630
Health
Infant mortality rate (World Rank: 182)	0.43	%
Life expectancy total (World Rank: 48)	79	years
Life expectancy female (World Rank: 42)	83	years
Life expectancy male (World Rank: 54)	76	years
Physicians per 1000 (World Rank: 8)	4.43
Hospital bed per 1000 (World Rank: 67)	3.40
Sanitation access total (World Rank: 22)	99.70	%
Obesity adult (World Rank: 95)	20.80	%
Drinking water access (World Rank: 9)	100.00	%

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Energy

Electricity
Production (World Rank: 52)	49,660,000,000	kWh
Consumption (World Rank: 52)	47,030,000,000	kWh
Export (World Rank: 23)	9,701,000,000	kWh
Import (World Rank: 41)	4,616,000,000	kWh
Source fossil (World Rank: 169)	37.90	%
Source nuclear (World Rank: 80)	22.30	%
Source renew (World Rank: 10)	32.50	%
Crude oil
Imports (World Rank: 27)	270,600	bbl / day
Refined products
Production (World Rank: 39)	308,700	bbl / day
Consumption (World Rank: 51)	234,700	bbl / day
Export (World Rank: 38)	128,800	bbl / day
Import (World Rank: 68)	71,920	bbl / day
Natural gas
Consumption (World Rank: 57)	8,371,000,000	m³
Import (World Rank: 20)	0	m³
Carbon footprint
43980000

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Nation

Budget
Education (World Rank: 50)	5	% of GDP
Military (World Rank: 58)	2	% of GDP
Health (World Rank: 31)	10	% of GDP
Surplus (World Rank: 84)	-2	% of GDP
National symbol
armillary sphere
National colours
red
Adjective
Portuguese
Noun
Portuguese (singular and plural)
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. 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.
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

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Economy

Gdp
Purchasing power parity (World Rank: 56)	298,600,000,000	USD
Real growth rate (World Rank: 161)	1.40	%
Per capita purchasing power parity (World Rank: 64)	28,900	USD
Source agriculture (World Rank: 171)	2.30	%
Source industry (World Rank: 129)	22.40	%
Source service (World Rank: 39)	75.40	%
Labourforce
Total (World Rank: 79)	5,178,000
In poverty (World Rank: 113)	19.00	%
Products
Industries	- auto parts - automobiles - base metals - ceramics - chemicals - clothing - cork - dairy products - financial services - footwear - fuels - glassware - lubricants - minerals - optics - other foodstuffs - paper - plastics - porcelain - pulp - refurbishment - ship construction - technology - telecommunications - textiles - tourism - wine - wood
Agriculture	- cattle - dairy products - fish - goats - grain - grapes - olives - pigs - potatoes - poultry - sheep - tomatoes
Exports	- agricultural products - base metals - chemical products - clothing - cork - foodstuffs - footwear - hides - leather - machinery - oil products - paper - plastics - rubber - textile materials - tools - wine - wood - wood pulp
Imports	- agricultural products - base metals - chemical products - computer accessories - food products - oil products - optical - other transport material - parts - precision instruments - related devices - semiconductors - textile materials - vehicles

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Communication

Phone
Landline total (World Rank: 29)	4,787,680
Landline per 100 (World Rank: 30)	44.00
Mobile per 100 (World Rank: 118)	107.00
Assessment	0
Internet
Users (World Rank: 56)	7,629,560
Population (World Rank: 72)	70.40	%

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Transport

Air
Airports paved (World Rank: 46)	43.00
Airports unpaved (World Rank: 99)	21.00
Rail
Total length (World Rank: 59)	3,075
Road
Total length (World Rank: 60)	82,900
Paved length (World Rank: 39)	71,294
Unpaved length (World Rank: 76)	11,606
Water
Total length (World Rank: 97)	210.00

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