Portugal

Portuguese RepublicRepublica Portuguesa

parliamentary democracy

Portugal as the 1997 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 100 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalLisbon

Position39 30 N, 8 00 W

Area92,391 sq km

LocationSouthwestern Europe, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean,

Populationas each edition published it

9.93 million July 1997 est. · 10.35m in 1990

Population growth% a year

-0.01% 1997 est. · 0.36% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 37.6 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

75.42 years 1997 est. · 74.89 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

1.36 children per woman 1997 est. · 1.5 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

7 deaths per 1,000 live births 1997 est. · 14 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$12,400 1996 est. · $9,000 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

2.5% 1996 est. · 1.1% in 1993

Geography

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

18 fields

Area

92,391sq km

land: 91,951 sq kmwater: 440 sq kmnote: includes Azores and Madeira Islandsslightly smaller than Indiana

Coastline

1,793km

continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitationexclusive economic zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm

Highest point

2,351m

Ponta do Pico in Azoreslowest point : Atlantic Ocean 0 m

Land boundaries

1,214km

border countries: Spain 1,214 km

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

mountainous north of the Tagus, rolling plains in south

Natural resources

fish, forests (cork), tungsten, iron ore, uranium ore, marble

Land use

arable land :: 26%
permanent crops:: 9%
permanent pastures:: 9%
forests and woodland:: 36%
other :: 20% (1993 est.)

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, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified :: Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Tropical Timber 94

Geography - note

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

People

15 fields

Population

9,931,045

(July 1997 est.)growth rate: -0.01% (1997 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1997 est.)

Birth

10.75Death

10.3Net migration

-0.5

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (1997 est.)75.42

72.02 · 79.04

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy (1990 est.)85%

89% · 82%

MaleFemaleLiteracy definition : age 15 and over can read and write

Religions

Roman Catholic 97%Protestant denominations 1%other 2%

Age structure

0-14 years:: 17% (male 895,294; female 848,133)
15-64 years:: 68% (male 3,280,015; female 3,429,007)
65 years and over:: 15% (male 605,074; female 873,522) (July 1997 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years:: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years:: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over : 0.69 male(s)/female
total population:: 0.93 male(s)/female (1997 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Portuguese (singular and plural)
adjective:: Portuguese

Ethnic groups

homogeneous Mediterranean stock in mainland, Azores, Madeira Islands;
citizens of black African descent who immigrated to mainland during decolonization number less than 100,000

Government

Parliamentary democracy; President Jorge SAMPAIO (since 9 March 1996); Prime Minister Antonio Manuel de Oliviera GUTERRES (since 28 October 1995)

21 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

53.8%

Jorge SAMPAIO (Socialist) 53.8%Anibal CAVACO SILVA (Conservative) 46.2%election last held 14 January 1996 (next to be held NA January 2001)

Legislature, 230 seatsone dot, one seat

PSD 88PS 112CDU 15CDS/PP 15

Percent of vote

PSD 34.0%PS 43.8%CDU 8.6%CDS/PP 9.1%

Country name

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

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, Madeira*, Portalegre, Porto, Santarem, Setubal, Viana do Castelo, Vila Real, Viseu

Dependent areas

Macau (scheduled to become a Special Administrative Region of China on 20 December 1999)

Independence

1140 (independent republic proclaimed 5 October 1910)

Constitution

25 April 1976, revised 30 October 1982, 1 June 1989, and 5 November 1992

Legal system

civil law system;
the Constitutional Tribunal reviews the constitutionality of legislation;
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Executive branch

chief of state:: President Jorge SAMPAIO (since 9 March 1996)
head of government:: Prime Minister Antonio Manuel de Oliviera GUTERRES (since 28 October 1995)
cabinet :: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister

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;
election last held 14 January 1996 (next to be held NA January 2001);
following assembly elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the president
election results:: Jorge SAMPAIO elected president; percent of vote - Jorge SAMPAIO (Socialist) 53.8%, Anibal CAVACO SILVA (Conservative) 46.2%

Legislative branch

unicameral Assembly of the Republic or Assembleia da Republica (230 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)

elections :: last held 1 October 1995 (next to be held by NA October 1999)
election results:: percent of vote by party - PSD 34.0%, PS 43.8%, CDU 8.6%, CDS/PP 9.1%; seats by party - PSD 88, PS 112, CDU 15, CDS/PP 15

Judicial branch

Supreme Court or Supremo Tribunal de Justica, judges appointed for life by the Conselho Superior da Magistratura

Political parties and leaders

Social Democratic Party or PSD [Marcelo Rebelo DE SOUSA];
Portuguese Socialist Party or PS [Antonio GUTERRES];
Portuguese Communist Party or PCP [Carlos CARVALHAS];
Popular Party or PP [Manuel MONTEIRO], may have joined the CDS for the election;
National Solidarity Party or PSN [Manuel SERGIO];
Center Democratic Party or CDS;
United Democratic Coalition or CDU (communists)

International organization participation

AfDB, Australia Group, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, EBRD, ECE, ECLAC, EIB, EU, FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAIA (observer), MINURSO, MTCR, NACC, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OSCE, PCA, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNAVEM III, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIBH, UNMOP, UPU, WCL, WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Fernando Antonio de Lacerda ANDRESEN GUIMARAES
chancery:: 2125 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone :: [1] (202) 328-8610

FAX

[1] (202) 462-3726

consulate(s) general:: Boston, New York, Newark (New Jersey), and San Francisco
consulate(s):: Los Angeles, New Bedford (Massachusetts), Providence (Rhode Island), Washington, DC

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Elizabeth Frawley BAGLEY
embassy:: Avenida das Forcas Armadas, 1600 Lisbon
mailing address :: PSC 83, APO AE 09726
telephone:: [351] (1) 7266600, 7266659, 7268670, 7268880

FAX

[351] (1) 7269109; consulate(s): Ponta Delgada (Azores)

Flag description

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

Economy

Portugal's short-term economic fundamentals remain | strong: the economy has grown by more than 2% during the past two | years, with similar growth expected in 1997.

22 fields

Real growth rate

2.5%

(1996 est.)industrial production growth: 2.2% (1996 est.)

Inflation, consumer prices

3.4%

(1996 est.)

Unemployment rate

(1996 est.)

Labor force

4.53million

(1996 est.)by occupation : services 54.5%, manufacturing 24.4%, agriculture, forestry, fisheries 11.2%, construction 8.3%, utilities 1.0%, mining 0.5% (1992)

GDP - composition by sector(1995 est.)

agriculture 6%industry 36%services 58% (1995 est.)

Budget

Revenues

$48 billionExpenditures

$52 billion (1996 est.)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $7.4 billion

Economy - overview

Portugal's short-term economic fundamentals remain; strong: the economy has grown by more than 2% during the past two years, with similar growth expected in 1997. The Socialist government's primary economic goal is to place Portugal in the first group of countries adopting the single European currency, and it has instituted a disciplined 1997 budget to bolster Lisbon's chances. Portuguese government forecasts suggest that it is likely to meet partially the Maastricht monetary convergence criteria by lowering its budget deficit from 4% of GDP in 1996 to 2.9% in 1997, although the government predicts that government debt will be cut only to 68% of GDP, overshooting Maastricht's 60% target. Social programs - a priority for the Socialists - will still grow slightly faster than GDP in 1997, mandating strict budget discipline in other areas. As for the long run, Portugal is increasing its infrastructure spending - much of it in anticipation of hosting the world's International Exposition in 1998 - while working to modernize its capital plant and increase competitiveness in hopes of increasing Portugal's GDP, which remains below 65% of the EU's average GDP per capita.

GDP

purchasing power parity - $122.1 billion (1996 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $12,400 (1996 est.)

Industries

textiles and footwear;
wood pulp, paper, and cork;
metalworking;
oil refining;
chemicals;
fish canning;
wine;
tourism

Electricity - capacity

8.83 million kW (1994)

Electricity - production

33.1 billion kWh (1995)

Electricity - consumption per capita

2,863 kWh (1995 est.)

Agriculture - products

grain, potatoes, olives, grapes; sheep, cattle, goats, poultry, meat, dairy products

Exports

total value:: $25.8 billion (f.o.b., 1996)
commodities:: clothing and footwear, machinery, cork and paper products, hides
partners :: EU 80%, other developed countries 9% (US 4.5%)

Imports

total value:: $34.2 billion (c.i.f., 1996)
commodities:: machinery and transport equipment, agricultural products, chemicals, petroleum, textiles
partners:: EU 72%, other developed countries 8% (US 3%), less developed countries 17%

Debt - external

$13.6 billion (1996 est.)

Economic aid

donor:: ODA, $248 million (1993)
recipient :: ODA, $70 million (1993)

Currency

1 Portuguese escudo (Esc) = 100 centavos

Exchange rates

Portuguese escudos (Esc) per US$1 - 160.35 (January 1997), 154.24 (1996), 151.11 (1995), 165.99 (1994), 160.80 (1993), 135.00 (1992)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

6 fields

Fixed lines

3,444,300

(1994 est.)

Telephone system

domestic:: generally adequate integrated network of coaxial cables, open wire, microwave radio relay, and domestic satellite earth stations
international:: 6 submarine cables;
satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), NA Eutelsat;
tropospheric scatter to Azores;
note - an earth station for Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean Region) is planned

Radio broadcast stations

AM 57, FM 66 (repeaters 22), shortwave 0

Radios

2.2 million (1993 est.)

Television broadcast stations

66 (repeaters 23)

Televisions

2,970,892 (1993 est.)

Transportation

9 fields

Merchant marine, 84 ships by typeone square, one ship · ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 556,069 GRT/906,790 DWT

bulk 9cargo 47chemical tanker 6container 5liquefied gas tanker 4oil tanker 7passenger-cargo 1refrigerated cargo 1roll-on/roll-off cargo 2short-sea passenger 2note: Portugal has created a captive register on Madeira for Portuguese-owned ships; ships on the Madeira Register (MAR) will have taxation and crewing benefits of a flag of convenience; Portugal owns an additional 10 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 322,887 DWT operating under the registries of Cyprus, Liberia, and Panama (1996 est.)

Airports by runway lengthpaved only

total

66under 914 m

over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 8 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 18

Networkskm

Highways

68,732Railways

3,068Waterways

820

Highways: paved: 59,110 km (including 587 km of expressways) · unpaved: 9,622 km (1995 est.) · Railways: broad gauge: 2,761 km 1.668-m gauge (464 km electrified; 426 km double track) · narrow gauge: 307 km 1.000-m gauge note : in 1994, Portugal had 3,520 km of track of which 464 km were electrified · Waterways: ; relatively unimportant to national economy, used by shallow-draft craft limited to 300 metric-ton cargo capacity

Railways

total:: 3,068 km
broad gauge:: 2,761 km 1.668-m gauge (464 km electrified; 426 km double track)
narrow gauge:: 307 km 1.000-m gauge

note : in 1994, Portugal had 3,520 km of track of which 464 km were electrified

Highways

total:: 68,732 km
paved:: 59,110 km (including 587 km of expressways)
unpaved:: 9,622 km (1995 est.)

Waterways

820 km navigable; relatively unimportant to national economy, used by shallow-draft craft limited to 300 metric-ton cargo capacity

Pipelines

crude oil 22 km; petroleum products 58 km note: there is a 700 km natural gas pipeline which connects with one in Spain carrying Algerian natural gas which is to open in 1997; the secondary lines that will be 300 km long have not yet been built

Ports and harbors

Aveiro, Funchal (Madeira Islands), Horta (Azores), Leixoes, Lisbon, Porto, Ponta Delgada (Azores), Praia da Vitoria (Azores), Setubal, Viana do Castelo

Airports

67 (1996 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1996 est.)

Military

Army, Navy (includes Marines), Air Force, National | Republican Guard, Fiscal Guard, Public Security Police

7 fields

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

1.9%

(1996)

Military branches

Army, Navy (includes Marines), Air Force, National Republican Guard, Fiscal Guard, Public Security Police

Military manpower - military age

20 years of age

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 2,543,502 (1997 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males: 2,049,806 (1997 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males: 80,494 (1997 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$2.07 billion (1996)

Transnational Issues

2 fields

Disputes - international

sovereignty over Timor Timur (East Timor province) disputed with Indonesia and not recognized by the UN

Illicit drugs

important gateway country for Latin American cocaine entering the European market;
transshipment point for hashish from North Africa to Europe;
consumer of Southwest Asian heroin PUERTO RICO (commonwealth associated with the US)

Central Intelligence Agency. “Portugal.” The World Factbook 1997. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/portugal/1997.

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