Portugal

<p>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 revolution deposed the monarchy in 1910, and for most of the next six decades, repressive governments ran the country. In 1974, a left-wing military coup ushered in broad democratic reforms. The following year, Portugal granted independence to all its African colonies. Portugal is a founding member of NATO and entered the EC (now the EU) in 1986.</p>

Land

91,470 sq km

Note

<strong>note:</strong> includes Azores and Madeira Islands

Total

92,090 sq km

Water

620 sq km

slightly smaller than Virginia

maritime temperate; cool and rainy in north, warmer and drier in south

1,793 km

Europe

Highest point

Ponta do Pico (Pico or Pico Alto) on Ilha do Pico in the Azores 2,351 m

Lowest point

Atlantic Ocean 0 m

Mean elevation

372 m

39 30 N, 8 00 W

Azores and Madeira Islands occupy strategic locations along western sea approaches to Strait of Gibraltar; they are two of the four North Atlantic archipelagos that make up Macaronesia; the others are the Canary Islands (Spain) and Cabo Verde

5,662 sq km (2019)

Border countries

Spain 1,224 km

number of neighbors

1

Total

1,224 km

Agricultural land

43.3% (2023 est.)

Agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 10.1% (2023 est.)

Agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 9.6% (2023 est.)

Agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 23.6% (2023 est.)

arable land

10.12%

Forest

36.6% (2023 est.)

Other

5.7% (2023 est.)

permanent crops

9.61%

No

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

Google Maps

https://goo.gl/maps/BaTBSyc4GWMmbAKB8

OpenStreetMap

https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/295480

Europe

Contiguous zone

24 nm

Continental shelf

200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Exclusive economic zone

200 nm

Territorial sea

12 nm

Azores subject to severe earthquakes <br><br><strong>volcanism:</strong> 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, and Terceira

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

concentrations are primarily along or near the Atlantic coast; both Lisbon and the second largest city, Porto, are coastal cities

Southern Europe

the west-flowing Tagus River divides the country: the north is mountainous toward the interior, while the south is characterized by rolling plains

UTC-01:00, UTC

number of time zones

2

0-14 years

12.7% (male 662,419/female 631,284)

15-64 years

65% (male 3,264,766/female 3,371,087)

65 years and over

22.3% (2024 est.) (male 908,578/female 1,369,043)

Beer

2.62 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Other alcohols

0.37 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Spirits

1.34 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Total

10.37 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Wine

6.04 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

8.03 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

0.9% (2016 est.)

50.6% (2021 est.)

10.92 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

adult female

42 per 1,000

adult male

93 per 1,000

Elderly dependency ratio

35 (2025 est.)

Potential support ratio

2.9 (2025 est.)

Total dependency ratio

54.3 (2025 est.)

Youth dependency ratio

19.3 (2025 est.)

improved total

95.22%

Improved: rural

rural: 97.9% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: total

total: 99.3% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: urban

urban: 99.9% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: rural

rural: 2.1% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: total

total: 0.7% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: urban

urban: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)

Education expenditure (% GDP)

4.6% of GDP (2022 est.)

Education expenditure (% national budget)

10.4% national budget (2022 est.)

5 % of GDP

Portuguese 95%; citizens from Portugal&rsquo;s former colonies in Africa, Asia (Han Chinese), and South America (Brazilian) and other foreign born 5%

0.71 (2025 est.)

10 % of GDP

Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

10.6% of GDP (2022)

Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

14.8% of national budget (2022 est.)

0.17%

3.5 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)

Female

2.1 deaths/1,000 live births

Male

2.8 deaths/1,000 live births

neonatal

2 deaths/1,000 live births

Total

2.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

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

languages

Portuguese

number of languages

1

Female

85.2 years

Male

78.8 years

Total population

81.9 years (2024 est.)

3.001 million LISBON (capital), 1.325 million Porto (2023)

15 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Female

48.3 years

Male

44.3 years

Total

46.8 years (2025 est.)

29.9 years (2020 est.)

Adjective

Portuguese

Noun

Portuguese (singular and plural)

1.78 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

20.8% (2016)

5.85 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Female

5,363,111

Male

4,831,166

Total

10,194,277 (2025 est.)

-0.11% (2025 est.)

Catholic 68.1%, not applicable 12.9%, no religion 12.0%, no response 2.2%, Protestant 1.8%, other 1.0%; less than 1%: other Christians, Orthodox, Muslim (2021 est.)

note

<strong>note:</strong> data represent population 15 years of age and older

improved total

93.92%

Improved: rural

rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: total

total: 100% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: urban

urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: rural

rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: total

total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: urban

urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Female

18 years (2022 est.)

Male

17 years (2022 est.)

Total

18 years (2022 est.)

0-14 years

1.05 male(s)/female

15-64 years

0.97 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.66 male(s)/female

At birth

1.05 male(s)/female

Total population

0.9 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Female

15.9% (2025 est.)

Male

26.1% (2025 est.)

Total

20.7% (2025 est.)

1.46 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Rate of urbanization

0.44% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Urban population

67.9% of total population (2023)

measles

99%

18 districts (<em>distritos</em>, singular - <em>distrito</em>) and 2 autonomous regions* (<em>regioes autonomas</em>, singular - <em>regiao autonoma</em>); 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

Daylight saving time

+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Etymology

the origin of the name is unclear; some trace it back to the legendary Greek hero Ulysses; others claim a derivation from the Phoenician <em>alis-ubbo</em>, or "joyful bay"

Geographic coordinates

38 43 N, 9 08 W

Name

Lisbon

Time difference

UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Time zone note

Portugal has two time zones, including the Azores (UTC-1)

Citizenship by birth

no

Citizenship by descent only

at least one parent must be a citizen of Portugal

Dual citizenship recognized

yes

Residency requirement for naturalization

10 years; 6 years if from a Portuguese-speaking country

svg

https://mainfacts.com/media/images/coats_of_arms/pt.svg

Amendment process

proposed by the Assembly of the Republic; adoption requires two-thirds majority vote of Assembly members

History

several previous; latest adopted 2 April 1976, effective 25 April 1976

alternative spellings

PT, Portuguesa, Portuguese Republic, República Portuguesa

Conventional long form

Portuguese Republic

Conventional short form

Portugal

Etymology

name derives from the Roman designation "Portus Cale," meaning "Port of Cale;" Cale was located in present-day northern Portugal, and its name is said to come from the Latin word <em>calere </em>(to be warm) because the harbor never iced over

FIFA code

POR

Local long form

Republica Portuguesa

local long form (por)

República Portuguesa

Local short form

Portugal

Chief of mission

Ambassador John Joseph ARRIGO (since 30 September 2025)

Consulate(s)

Ponta Delgada (Azores)

Email address and website

<br>conslisbon@state.gov<br><br>https://pt.usembassy.gov/

Embassy

Avenida das Forcas Armadas, 1600-081 Lisboa

FAX

[351] (21) 726-9109

Mailing address

5320 Lisbon Place, Washington DC&nbsp; 20521-5320

Telephone

[351] (21) 727-3300

Chancery

2012 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036

Chief of mission

Ambassador Francisco Antonio DUARTE LOPES (since 7 June 2022)

Consulate(s)

New Bedford (MA), Providence (RI)

Consulate(s) general

Boston, Newark (NJ), New York, San Francisco

Email address and website

<br>info.washington@mne.pt<br><br>https://washingtondc.embaixadaportugal.mne.gov.pt/en/

FAX

[1] (202) 462-3726

Telephone

[1] (202) 350-5400

Cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister

Chief of state

President Marcelo REBELO DE SOUSA (since 9 March 2016)

Election results

<br><em>2021:</em> Marcelo REBELO DE SOUSA reelected president in the first round; percent of vote - Marcelo REBELO DE SOUSA (PSD) 60.7%, Ana GOMES (ran as an independent but is a member of PS) 13%, Andre VENTURA (CH) 11.9%, João FERREIRA (PCP-PEV) 4.3%, other 10.1%<br><br><em>2016:</em> Marcelo REBELO DE SOUSA elected president in the first round; percent of vote - Marcelo REBELO DE SOUSA (PSD) 52%, António SAMPAIO DA NOVOA (independent) 22.9%, Marisa MATIAS (BE) 10.1%, Maria DE BELEM ROSEIRA (PS) 4.2%, other 10.8%

Election/appointment process

president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); following legislative elections, the president usually appoints the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as prime minister

Expected date of next election

January 2026

Head of government

Prime Minister Antonio Luis MONTENEGRO (since 2 April 2024)

Most recent election date

24 January 2021

Note

<strong>note:</strong> there is also a Council of State that acts as a consultative body to the president

<strong>description:</strong> two vertical bands of green (left side, two-fifths) and red (three-fifths), with the national coat of arms (armillary sphere and national shield) centered on the dividing line<br><br><strong>meaning:</strong> explanations for the color meanings are ambiguous, but a popular interpretation says that green symbolizes hope and red the blood of those defending the nation

The flag of Portugal is composed of two vertical bands of green and red in the ratio of 2:3, with the coat of arms of Portugal centered over the two-color boundary.

svg

https://flagcdn.com/pt.svg

semi-presidential republic

1143 (Kingdom of Portugal recognized); 1 December 1640 (independence reestablished after 60 years of Spanish rule); 5 October 1910 (republic proclaimed)

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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 (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAIA (observer), MIGA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club (associate), PCA, Schengen Convention, SELEC (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Highest court(s)

Supreme Court or Supremo Tribunal de Justica (consists of 12 justices); Constitutional Court or Tribunal Constitucional (consists of 13 judges)

Judge selection and term of office

Supreme Court justices nominated by the president and appointed by the Assembly of the Republic; judges can serve for life; Constitutional Court judges - 10 elected by the Assembly and 3 elected by the other Constitutional Court judges; judges elected for 6-year nonrenewable terms

Subordinate courts

Supreme Administrative Court (Supremo Tribunal Administrativo); Audit Court (Tribunal de Contas); appellate, district, and municipal courts

civil law system; Constitutional Court reviews legislative acts

Electoral system

proportional representation

Expected date of next election

September 2029

Legislative structure

unicameral

Legislature name

Assembly of the Republic (Assembleia da Republica)

Most recent election date

5/18/2025

Number of seats

230 (all directly elected)

Parties elected and seats per party

Social Democratic Party (PPD/PSD) - Democratic and Social Centre - People's Party (CDS-PP) (88); Chega (CH) (60); Socialist Party (PS) (58); Other (24)

Percentage of women in chamber

35.7%

Scope of elections

full renewal

Term in office

4 years

red, green

Selected World Heritage Site locales

Historic Évora (c); Central Zone of the Town of Angra do Heroismo in the Azores (c); Cultural Landscape of Sintra (c); Laurisilva of Madeira (n); Historic Guimarães (c); Monastery of the Hieronymites and Tower of Belém in Lisbon (c); Convent of Christ in Tomar (c); Prehistoric Rock Art Sites in the Côa Valley and Siega Verde (c); University of Coimbra – Alta and Sofia (c); Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Monte in Braga (c)

Total World Heritage Sites

17 (16 cultural, 1 natural)

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

note

<strong>note:</strong> also called Camoes Day, the day that revered national poet Luis DE CAMOES (1524-80) died

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

Democratic Alliance or AD (2024 electoral alliance in the Azores, includes PSD, CDS-PP, PPM)<br>Democratic and Social Center/People's Party (Partido do Centro Democratico Social-Partido Popular) or CDS-PP<br>Ecologist Party "The Greens" or "Os Verdes" (Partido Ecologista-Os Verdes) or PEV<br>Enough (Chega)<br>Liberal Initiative (Iniciativa Liberal) or IL<br>LIVRE or L<br>People-Animals-Nature Party (Pessoas-Animais-Natureza) or PAN<br>People's Monarchist Party or PPM<br>Portuguese Communist Party (Partido Comunista Portugues) or PCP<br>Social Democratic Party (Partido Social Democrata) or PSD (formerly the Partido Popular Democratico or PPD)<br>Socialist Party (Partido Socialista) or PS<br>The Left Bloc (Bloco de Esquerda) or BE or O Bloco<br>Unitary Democratic Coalition (Coligacao Democratica Unitaria) or CDU (includes PCP and PEV) (2024)

Monday

18 years of age; universal

Yes

milk, tomatoes, olives, grapes, maize, pork, potatoes, chicken, apples, oranges (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

On alcohol and tobacco

3.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

On food

17.3% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Expenditures

$109.044 billion (2023 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Revenues

$112.802 billion (2023 est.)

code

EUR

name

euro (EUR) [€]

$6.51 billion

Current account balance 2022

-$5.356 billion (2022 est.)

Current account balance 2023

$1.624 billion (2023 est.)

Current account balance 2024

$6.708 billion (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

<p>high-income EU and eurozone economy; strong services sector led by tourism and banking; tight labor market; growth driven by private consumption, trade surplus, and public investment from EU funds; declining public debt</p>

Currency

euros (EUR) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2020

0.876 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

0.845 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

0.95 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

0.925 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2024

0.924 (2024 est.)

$143.39 billion

Exports 2022

$126.953 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$137.934 billion (2023 est.)

Exports 2024

$144.237 billion (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

cars, garments, vehicle parts/accessories, unpackaged medicine, refined petroleum (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Spain 21%, France 11%, Germany 10%, USA 8%, UK 5% (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

net inflows

$13.49 billion

Exports of goods and services

47.5% (2023 est.)

Government consumption

16.8% (2023 est.)

Household consumption

62% (2023 est.)

Imports of goods and services

-46.4% (2023 est.)

Investment in fixed capital

20.1% (2023 est.)

Investment in inventories

0.4% (2023 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Agriculture

2% (2024 est.)

Industry

18.4% (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Services

66.4% (2024 est.)

$308.683 billion (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> data in current dollars at official exchange rate

$29,292

33.5 (2018)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022

36.3 (2022 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

$307.37 billion

$26,910

20 % of GDP

Highest 10%

28.8% (2022 est.)

Lowest 10%

2.5% (2022 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

$137.6 billion

Imports 2022

$132.193 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$133.617 billion (2023 est.)

Imports 2024

$136.976 billion (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

cars, crude petroleum, vehicle parts/accessories, refined petroleum, garments (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Spain 33%, Germany 11%, France 7%, Netherlands 5%, China 5% (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

1.2% (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

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

2.42%

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

7.8% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

4.3% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

2.4% (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> annual % change based on consumer prices

5.464 million (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

total

5.42 million persons

agriculture

2.78%

industry

24.55%

services

72.67%

16.4% (2021 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> % of population with income below national poverty line

Note

<strong>note:</strong> data cover general government debt and include debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intragovernmental debt; intragovernmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions

Public debt 2017

125.7% of GDP (2017 est.)

$552.7 billion

Note

<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$428.547 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$439.745 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

$448.226 billion (2024 est.)

2.14%

Note

<b>note:</b> annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP growth rate 2022

7% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

2.6% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2024

1.9% (2024 est.)

$51,680

Note

<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2022

$41,100 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$41,600 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2024

$41,900 (2024 est.)

$1.84 billion

Note

<b>note:</b> personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Remittances 2022

0.6% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

0.6% of GDP (2023 est.)

Remittances 2024

0.6% of GDP (2024 est.)

$42.43 billion

Note

<b>note:</b> holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$32.232 billion (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$35.243 billion (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024

$42.434 billion (2024 est.)

37 % of GDP

23 % of GDP

22.8% (of GDP) (2023 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

6.16%

Note

<b>note:</b> % of labor force seeking employment

Unemployment rate 2022

6.1% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

6.6% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2024

6.4% (2024 est.)

Female

20.7% (2024 est.)

Male

21.6% (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Total

21.2% (2024 est.)

Consumption

7,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Exports

1 metric tons (2023 est.)

Imports

6,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Proven reserves

3 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Consumption

50.317 billion kWh (2023 est.)

consumption per capita

5,146 kWh

Exports

3.422 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Imports

13.656 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Installed generating capacity

25.409 million kW (2023 est.)

Transmission/distribution losses

5.129 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

Biomass and waste

7.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Fossil fuels

25.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Geothermal

0.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

hydroelectric

30.32%

Hydroelectricity

24.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

nuclear

0%

renewable

64.91%

Solar

12.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Wind

29% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

1,853 kg of oil equivalent

Total energy consumption per capita 2023

73.285 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Consumption

4.325 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Imports

4.251 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Refined petroleum consumption

204,000 bbl/day (2024 est.)

Total petroleum production

8,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

32.3%

per 100 inhabitants

44 per 100

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

44 (2023 est.)

Total

4.6 million (2023 est.)

Radio e Televisao de Portugal, the publicly owned TV broadcaster, operates 4 domestic channels and external service channels to Africa;&nbsp; roughly 40 domestic TV stations; widespread access to international broadcasters, with more than half of households connected to multi-channel cable or satellite TV systems; publicly owned radio operates 3 national networks and provides regional and external services; several privately owned national radio stations and about 300 regional and local commercial radio stations

.pt

Percent of population

86% (2023 est.)

####-###

+351

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

53 (2023 est.)

Total subscriptions

5.505 million (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100

123 per 100

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

124 (2024 est.)

Total subscriptions

12.9 million (2024 est.)

passengers carried

18.29 million passengers

registered carrier departures

178,916 departures

128 (2025)

CR, CS

Right

65 (2025)

By type

bulk carrier 110, container ship 299, general cargo 191, oil tanker 29, other 259

Total

888 (2023)

Key ports

Aveiro, Funchal, Lagos, Lisboa, Sines

Large

3

Medium

2

Ports with oil terminals

5

Small

4

Total ports

18 (2024)

Very small

9

Total

2,526 km (2020) 1,696 km electrified

P

armored vehicles

tanks

the Portuguese military is responsible for external defense, humanitarian operations, and fulfilling Portugal’s commitments to European and international security; maritime security has long been a key component of the military's portfolio, and Portugal has one of the world's oldest navies<br><br>Portugal was one of the original signers of the North Atlantic Treaty (also known as the Washington Treaty) in 1949 establishing NATO, and the Alliance forms a key pillar of Portugal’s defense policy; Portugal is also a signatory of the EU’s Common Security and Defense Policy, and it regularly participates in a variety of EU and NATO, as well as UN deployments around the world; the military’s largest commitments include air, ground, and naval forces under NATO-led missions and standing task forces in the Baltics, Eastern Europe, and the Mediterranean Sea; the military also participates in exercises with NATO partners (2025)

Portuguese Armed Forces (Forças Armadas Portuguesa): Portuguese Army (Exercito Portuguesa), Portuguese Navy (Marinha Portuguesa; includes Marine Corps, aka Corpo de Fuzileiros or Corps of Fusiliers), Portuguese Air Force (Forca Aerea Portuguesa, FAP)<br><br>Ministry of Internal Administration: Public Security Police (Polícia de Segurança Pública, PSP) , National Republican Guard (Guarda Nacional Republicana, GNR) (2025)

active duty personnel

52,000

note

<strong>note:</strong> the PSP has jurisdiction in cities while the GNR has jurisdiction in rural areas; the GNR is a national gendarmerie force comprised of military personnel with law enforcement, internal security, civil defense, disaster response, and coast guard duties; it is responsible to both the Ministry of Internal Administration and to the Ministry of National Defense; it is not part of the Armed Forces, but may be placed under its operational command in the event of a national emergency

percent of total labor force

1.01 %

approximately 25,000 active-duty military personnel (2025)

the Portuguese Armed Forces have more than 1,100 military personnel deployed around the world engaged in missions supporting the EU, NATO, the UN, and partner nations; key deployments include 225 troops in the Central African Republic under the UN and about 350 troops supporting NATO's forward presence in Lithuania and Romania; it also participates in NATO air policing and maritime patrolling operations (2025)

the military's inventory includes mostly European- and US-origin weapons systems along with smaller amounts of domestically produced equipment; Portugal's defense industry is noted for its shipbuilding (2025)

2 % of GDP

current USD

$4,641,618,585

Military Expenditures 2021

1.5% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military Expenditures 2022

1.4% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military Expenditures 2023

1.3% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military Expenditures 2024

1.6% of GDP (2024 est.)

Military Expenditures 2025

2% of GDP (2025 est.)

percent of central government expenditure

3.57 %

percent of GDP

1.53 % of GDP

18-30 years of age for voluntary or contract military service for men and women (upper age limit varies by military branch, position, role); no compulsory military service (abolished 2004) but conscription possible if insufficient volunteers available; contract service lasts for an initial period of 2-6 years, and can be extended to a maximum of 20 years of service; initial voluntary military service lasts 12 months; reserve obligation to age 35 (2025)

PowerIndex score

0.6659

IDPs

21 (2024 est.)

Refugees

71,166 (2024 est.)

Stateless persons

31 (2024 est.)

1993 - first technology demonstrator microsatellite (PoSat-1) launched on a European rocket<br><br>2000 - joined the ESA<br><br>2020 - launched strategic plan for space development (Portugal Space 2030), which included building a spaceport, developing a reusable rocket/satellite launch vehicle, growing the country's domestic commercial space sector, and establishing an Earth observation/remote sensing satellite constellation<br><br>2024 - first Portuguese communications satellite (PoSat-2) launched by US as part of a planned constellation of 12 ocean-monitoring/maritime communication satellites<br><br>2026 - signed US-led Artemis Accords outlining best practices for responsible space exploration

Portuguese Space Agency (Ag&ecirc;ncia Espacial Portuguesa; aka Portugal Space; established 2019) (2025)

in August 2025, Portugal granted a license to a commercial consortium to build and operate a space launch center on the island of Santa Maria in the Azores; the first orbital launches are expected in 2027 (2025)

largely focuses on the acquisition and operation of satellites; researches and develops a range of space-related technologies with an emphasis on small satellites for remote sensing (RS), navigational, science/technology, and telecommunications, as well as satellite launch services; space program is integrated with the ESA and involved in a variety of ESA and EU space programs; works with the space agencies and industries of a range of countries, including Algeria, Angola, Brazil, China, India, Japan, Morocco, South Korea, and the US; also cooperates with international organizations and projects such as the Europe South Observatory and the Square Kilometer Array; one of the objectives of the country's national space strategy is to expand its commercial space sector (2025)

Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)

note

<strong>note:</strong> details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide

From coal and metallurgical coke

20,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

From consumed natural gas

8.727 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

From petroleum and other liquids

29.525 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Total emissions

38.272 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

soil erosion; air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution, especially in urban centers and coastal areas

Global geoparks and regional networks

A&ccedil;ores; Arouca; Estrela; Naturtejo da Meseta Meridional; Oeste; Terras de Cavaleiros (2024)

Total global geoparks and regional networks

6 (2024)

Party to

Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling

Signed, but not ratified

Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Environmental Modification, Nuclear Test Ban

7.6 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

17 % of total land area

39 % of total

77.4 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

16 % of internal resources

Agricultural

3.419 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Industrial

1.83 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Municipal

920.03 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Municipal solid waste generated annually

5.268 million tons (2024 est.)

Percent of municipal solid waste recycled

23.5% (2022 est.)