PROFILE

OFFICIAL NAME:
Portuguese Republic

Geography
Area: 92,391 sq. km., including the Azores and Madeira Islands; slightly smaller than the State of Indiana.
Cities: Lisbon (capital, metropolitan area pop. 1.9 million), Porto (metro. area 1.7 million), Faro.
Terrain: Mountainous in the north; rolling plains in the central south.
Climate: Maritime temperate, average annual temperature is 16°C (61°F).

People
Nationality: Noun and adjective--Portuguese (singular and plural).
Population (2004): 10.56 million.
Population density: 113 per sq. km. (275 per sq. mi.).
Annual growth rate (2003): -1.3%.
Ethnic groups: Homogeneous Mediterranean stock with small black African and Eastern European minorities.
Religion: Roman Catholic, 97%.
Language: Portuguese.
Education: Years compulsory--9. Literacy (2004)--93.3%.
Health (2004 est.): Birth rate--10.82/1,000. Death rate--10.43/1,000. Infant mortality rate--5/1,000. Life expectancy--77.53 years.
Work force (5.48 million): Government and services--60%; industry--30%; agriculture--10%.

Government
Type: Republic.
Constitution: Effective April 25, 1976; revised October 30, 1982, June 1, 1989, November 5, 1992, and September 3, 1997.
Branches: Executive--president (head of state), Council of State (presidential advisory body), prime minister (head of government), Council of Ministers. Legislative--unicameral Assembly of the Republic (230 deputies). Judicial--Supreme Court, district courts, appeals courts, Constitutional Tribunal.
Administrative subdivisions: 18 districts, 2 autonomous regions.
Major political parties: Social Democratic Party (PSD), Socialist Party (PS), Popular Party (CDS/PP), Portuguese Communist Party (PCP), Left Bloc (BE).

Economy
GDP (2005): €147.8 billion (approx. $175 billion).
Annual growth rate: 1.4%.
Per capita GDP (2005): €14,100 (approx. $16,700).
Avg. inflation rate (2006): 2.5%.
Natural resources: Fish, tungsten, iron, copper, tin, and uranium ores. Agriculture: Products--forestry, fisheries, cork, wine.
Industry: Types--textiles, clothing, footwear, wood and cork, paper, chemicals, manufacturing, food and beverages.
Services: Commerce, government, housing, banking and finance.
Trade (2005): Exports--$38.14 billion: vehicles (not railway), electrical machinery, machinery, knit apparel, mineral fuel/oil, footwear. Imports--$61.17 billion: mineral fuel/oil, vehicles (not railway), electrical machinery, machinery, plastics, iron and steel. Export partners--Spain (25.8%), France (13.0%), Germany (11.7%), U.K. (7.9%), United States (5.4%), Italy (4.2%), Netherlands (4%). Import partners--Spain (28.9%), Germany (13.4%), France (8.5%), Italy (5.2%), Netherlands (4.3%), U.K. (4.6%).
U.S. trade (2005): Exports--$1.13 billion: aircraft/spacecraft, electrical machinery, grains, seeds, fruits, optical/medical, wood. Imports--$2.34 billion: machinery, electrical machinery, mineral fuel/oil, textiles, cork, beverages, footwear.

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICAL CONDITIONS
Portugal moved from authoritarian rule to parliamentary democracy following the 1974 military coup against dictator Marcello Caetano, himself a continuation of the long-running dictatorship of Antonio Salazar. After a period of instability and communist agitation, Portugal ratified a new Constitution in 1976. Subsequent revisions of the Constitution placed the military under strict civilian control; trimmed the powers of the president; and laid the groundwork for a stable, pluralistic liberal democracy, as well as privatization of nationalized firms and the government-owned communications media. Portugal joined the European Union in 1986, and has moved toward greater political and economic integration with Europe ever since.