Portugal Travel Podcast with Inês Carvalho

Location

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

Terrain

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

Climate

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

Elevation

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

Area

Total

92,090 sq km

Land

91,470 sq km

Water

620 sq km

Size comparison

Slightly smaller than Virginia

Coastline

1,793 km

Land borders

Total

1,224 km

Border countries

Spain 1,224 km

Natural resources

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

Land use

Agricultural land

43.3% (2023 est.)

Arable land

10.1% (2023 est.)

Permanent crops

9.6% (2023 est.)

Permanent pasture

23.6% (2023 est.)

Forest

36.6% (2023 est.)

Other

5.7% (2023 est.)

Natural hazards

Azores subject to severe earthquakes

Volcanism: 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

Note

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

Population

Total

10,194,277 (2025 est.)

Male

4,831,166

Female

5,363,111

Nationality

Noun

Portuguese (singular and plural)

Adjective

Portuguese

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

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.)

Median age

Total

46.8 years (2025 est.)

Male

44.3 years

Female

48.3 years

Life expectancy

Total population

81.9 years (2024 est.)

Male

78.8 years

Female

85.2 years

Urbanisation

Urban population

67.9% of total population (2023)

Rate of urbanization

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

Where people live

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

Largest cities

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

Background

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.

Government

Semi-presidential republic

Capital

Lisbon

Time zone

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

Local name

Republica Portuguesa

Independence

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

National day

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

Overview

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

GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2024

$41,900 (2024 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$41,600 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2022

$41,100 (2022 est.)

Inflation

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

2.4% (2024 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

4.3% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

7.8% (2022 est.)

Unemployment

Unemployment rate 2024

6.4% (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

6.6% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2022

6.1% (2022 est.)

Exchange rate

Currency

Euros (EUR) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2024

0.924 (2024 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

0.925 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

0.95 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

0.845 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

0.876 (2020 est.)

Main 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

Agriculture

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

Airports

128 (2025)

Railways

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

Ports

Total ports

18 (2024)

Large

3

Medium

2

Small

4

Very small

9

Ports with oil terminals

5

Key ports

Aveiro, Funchal, Lagos, Lisboa, Sines

Internet domain

.pt

Internet users

Percent of population 86% (2023 est.)

Mobile subscriptions

Total subscriptions

12.9 million (2024 est.)

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

124 (2024 est.)

Environmental issues

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

Fresh water

77.4 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

UNESCO Global Geoparks

Total global geoparks and regional networks

6 (2024)

Global geoparks and regional networks

Açores; Arouca; Estrela; Naturtejo da Meseta Meridional; Oeste; Terras de Cavaleiros (2024)