Discover Fascinating Portugal Facts
Dive into the history, culture, and unique insights about Portugal.
Portugal
Background
๐ต๐น Portugal's Rich History ๐
Portugal was once a global maritime power during the 15th and 16th centuries, sailing the seas and discovering new lands! However, the country faced many challenges over the years.
๐ฑ In 1755, a devastating earthquake struck Lisbon, leading to the loss of much of its wealth and status.
โ๏ธ The Napoleonic Wars brought further troubles, and then in 1822, Brazil, its richest colony, gained independence. This was a tough time for Portugal!
Despite all this, Portugal is proud to be a founding member of NATO ๐ก๏ธ and joined the European Community (now the EU) in 1986. What a journey! ๐
Key Year of Lisbon Earthquake
1755
Year Brazil Gained Independence
1822
Year Portugal Joined the EU
1986
Exports - commodities
๐ Portugal is known for its diverse export products! In 2022, the country exported a mix of exciting commodities, including:
- Cars: The sleek vehicles that zoom on the roads!
- Garments: Stylish clothes that are loved around the world!
- Refined Petroleum: The fuel that keeps engines running!
- Vehicle Parts/Accessories: All the little bits that help cars work perfectly!
- Plastic Products: Handy items made from plastic that we use every day!
These exports showcase Portugal's strong manufacturing capabilities and its role in international trade! ๐
Export Commodities
Cars, Garments, Refined Petroleum, Vehicle Parts/Accessories, Plastic Products
Exports - partners
๐ต๐น Portugal is doing great in international trade! ๐ Let's take a closer look at its export partners in 2022. The biggest partner is Spain, taking a whopping 25% of Portugal's exports! ๐ Following Spain, we have France contributing 12%, Germany with 11%, the USA at 7%, and the UK with 5%. This shows how important these countries are to Portugal's economy! ๐โจ
Top Export Partner
Spain (25%)
Second Export Partner
France (12%)
Third Export Partner
Germany (11%)
Percentage of Exports to US
7%
Percentage of Exports to UK
5%
Portugal's Export Partners (2022)
Capital
๐ The capital of Portugal is Lisbon! This vibrant city is not only the political center of the country but also a cultural hub filled with history, beautiful architecture, and lively streets. Did you know Lisbon is one of the oldest cities in the world? It's a fantastic place to explore! ๐๏ธโจ
Imports - commodities
๐ Portugal plays a key role in the global trade network, and its imports reflect a diverse range of essential commodities! In 2022, the country imported the following major categories of items:
- Crude Petroleum
- Cars
- Refined Petroleum
- Natural Gas
- Vehicle Parts/Accessories
These commodities are vital for energy, transportation, and the overall economy, making Portugal's imports a fascinating topic! ๐โ๏ธ
Economically important commodities imported by Portugal in 2022
5
Climate
Portugal enjoys a maritime temperate climate ๐๐ค๏ธ. This means that the north is usually cool and rainy, making it a lovely spot for lush greenery ๐ฟ. In contrast, the southern part of Portugal is warmer and drier, perfect for those sunny beach days! ๐๏ธ So, whether you love the refreshing rain or the bright sunshine, Portugal has a bit of everything! ๐
Executive branch
In Portugal, the Executive Branch is led by some important figures! ๐๏ธ <br> The Chief of State is President Marcelo REBELO DE SOUSA, who has been in office since 9 March 2016. ๐ต๐น <br> Meanwhile, the Head of Government, known as the Prime Minister, is Antonio Luis MONTENEGRO, who took on this role on 2 April 2024. ๐๏ธ These leaders play a crucial role in shaping the country's policies and direction!
Current President
Marcelo REBELO DE SOUSA since 9 March 2016
Current Prime Minister
Antonio Luis MONTENEGRO since 2 April 2024
Legislative branch
๐ต๐น The Legislative branch of Portugal is a unicameral Assembly of the Republic, which means it has only one house! This Assembly has a total of 230 seats. ๐ Each seat plays a crucial role in making laws and representing the people of Portugal. Let's learn a bit more about how this Assembly works and what it means for Portuguese democracy! ๐โจ
Total Seats
230
Natural resources
๐ณ Portugal is blessed with a variety of natural resources! Here's what you can find:
- Fish ๐: Abundant in the Atlantic Ocean, a vital resource for food and economy.
- Forests ๐ฒ (notably cork): Portugal is the world's largest producer of cork, which is harvested sustainably!
- Minerals:
- Iron ore ๐ชจ
- Copper ๐ง
- Zinc โ๏ธ
- Tin โจ
- Tungsten ๐
- Silver ๐ฐ
- Gold ๐ฅ
- Uranium โข๏ธ
- Building materials:
- Marble ๐๏ธ: Famous for its beautiful quality.
- Clay ๐บ: Used in pottery and other crafts.
- Gypsum ๐๏ธ: Important for construction.
- Salt ๐ง: Used in culinary and industrial applications.
- Arable land ๐พ: Perfect for farming delicious crops!
- Hydropower ๐ง: A source of renewable energy that takes advantage of Portugal's rivers!
These resources play a crucial role in Portugalโs economy and environment! ๐
Major Natural Resources
Fish, forests (cork), iron ore, copper, zinc, tin, tungsten, silver, gold, uranium, marble, clay, gypsum, salt, arable land, hydropower
Economic overview
๐ Portugal's Economic Snapshot ๐
Portugal is considered a high-income country within the European Union (EU) and eurozone! ๐ช๐บ๐ฐ Its economy has a strong services sector, primarily driven by tourism and banking. The tourism sector ๐๏ธ attracts millions, making it one of the top places to visit!
Recently, Portugal has shown a tight labor market, meaning there are plenty of job opportunities for its people. ๐ Private consumption and the recovery of exports are helping the country bounce back after inflation. ๐๐ฆ
A key player in supporting public investments is the EU Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP), which provides essential funds for various projects. ๐ช๐ผ Despite having high public debt, Portugalโs fiscal position is improving! ๐๐ต
Overall, Portugal's economy is robust and showing promising signs of recovery! ๐๐ช
Economic classification
High-income EU and eurozone economy
Key economic sectors
Strong services sector led by tourism and banking
Labor market status
Tight labor market
Post-inflation recovery drivers
Private consumption and export recovery
Key investment driver
EU Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP) funds
Public debt status
High but improving fiscal position
Government type
๐ Portugal is a semi-presidential republic! This means that the country has both a President and a Prime Minister who share the powers of the government. It's a special way of organizing how the country is run, ensuring that there are checks and balances in place. This system helps keep power balanced, allowing for democratic governance. Isn't that interesting? ๐ค๐ต๐น
Ethnic groups
In Portugal, the population is mainly composed of ethnic Portuguese, making up a whopping 95% of the demographics! ๐ต๐น However, the multicultural charm of Portugal is highlighted by 5% of citizens who hail from former colonies in Africa, Asia, and South America (including the Han Chinese and Brazilians). This blend of cultures enriches Portuguese society and showcases its global connections! ๐โจ
Percentage of Ethnic Portuguese
95%
Percentage of Other Foreign Born
5%
Ethnic Composition of Portugal
Religions
In Portugal, religion plays an interesting role in the culture! ๐ The breakdown looks like this:
- Roman Catholic: 79.7% - The majority of the population identifies with this faith!
- Protestant: 2.2% - A smaller group, but still an essential part of the religious tapestry.
- Other Christian: 2.5% - This includes various Christian denominations beyond Catholic and Protestant.
- Other non-Christian: 1.1% - A tiny segment of the population embraces other faiths.
- None: 14.5% - This number shows that many people in Portugal identify as having no religion at all!
With such diverse beliefs, it shows how vibrant and varied Portuguese culture can be! ๐
Percentage of Roman Catholic population
79.7%
Percentage of Protestant population
2.2%
Percentage of Other Christian population
2.5%
Percentage of Other non-Christian population
1.1%
Percentage of population with no religion
14.5%
Religious Composition in Portugal
Languages
๐๐ต๐น In Portugal, the official language is Portuguese. It is spoken by the majority of the population. Another fascinating language is Mirandese, which is also recognized as an official language but is primarily used in specific local areas. Isn't it amazing how languages can tell the story of a place? ๐ฃ๏ธโจ
Official Languages in Portugal
2
Portuguese (official)
100%
Mirandese (official, local use)
Locally used
Imports - partners
Portugal gets a lot of its imports from its friends in Europe! ๐๐ Hereโs how it breaks down by country:
- Spain: 31% ๐ช๐ธ
- Germany: 11% ๐ฉ๐ช
- France: 6% ๐ซ๐ท
- China: 5% ๐จ๐ณ
- Italy: 5% ๐ฎ๐น
Isn't it interesting to see where all the goods come from? Spain takes the lead with a whopping 31% share! ๐
Total Percentage of Top Five Import Partners
58%
Imports Partners for Portugal (2022)
Population
Portugal is home to a vibrant community with a total population of 10,207,177 people! ๐ต๐น Isn't that exciting? That's a lot of different stories and cultures coming together in one beautiful country! ๐โจ
Total Population of Portugal
10,207,177
Area
Portugal's Area ๐
Did you know that Portugal covers a total area of 92,090 square kilometers? That's quite a chunk of land! Out of this, the majority is land, making up 91,470 square kilometers. Thereโs also a small part of the country that is made up of water, totaling 620 square kilometers.
Let's take a closer look at how Portugal's land and water areas compare! ๐
Total Area Breakdown:
- Land Area: 91,470 sq km
- Water Area: 620 sq km
That's a large portion dedicated to land compared to water! ๐๏ธ๐
Total Area of Portugal
92090 sq km
Land Area of Portugal
91470 sq km
Water Area of Portugal
620 sq km
Portugal's Area Composition
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
๐ฐ Let's take a look at the Real GDP for Portugal over a few years! Real GDP shows how much the country is producing, adjusted for cost of living. Hereโs what we found:
- In 2023, Portugal's Real GDP is $439.008 billion.
- In 2022, it was a bit lower at $429.3 billion.
- Back in 2021, the Real GDP was $401.863 billion.
As we can see, the economy is growing! ๐ Each year, the numbers are getting bigger, which is a great sign for Portugal's economy! ๐
Real GDP in 2023
439.008 billion $
Real GDP in 2022
429.3 billion $
Real GDP in 2021
401.863 billion $
Real GDP Growth in Portugal (PPP)
Real GDP per capita
๐ Let's take a look at how Portugal's economy is doing with its Real GDP per capita! This figure shows us the economic output per person in Portugal, and it gives us a glimpse of the country's prosperity over the years. Hereโs what we found:
- In 2021, the Real GDP per capita was $38,800.
- By 2022, it rose to $41,200.
- And in 2023, the estimate is a solid $41,700!
It looks like Portugal is on the rise! ๐ฅณ
We can visualize this growth in a chart. ๐
Real GDP per Capita in 2021
38,800
Real GDP per Capita in 2022
41,200
Real GDP per Capita in 2023 Estimate
41,700
Real GDP per Capita in Portugal Over Time
Imports
๐ Let's dive into the imports of Portugal! In 2023, Portugal imported a whopping $133.006 billion worth of goods! This shows a slight increase from $131.627 billion in 2022 and a significant rise from $112.413 billion in 2021. ๐ It's clear that Portugal's economy is bustling with activity, welcoming all kinds of products from around the world!
2023 Imports Estimate
$133.006 billion
2022 Imports Estimate
$131.627 billion
2021 Imports Estimate
$112.413 billion
Portugal's Imports Over the Years
Exports
๐ Portugal's exports are like a thrilling rollercoaster ride! ๐ข In 2023, they reached a whopping $136.589 billion! That's a fantastic increase from $126.541 billion in 2022 and a big jump from $105.648 billion in 2021. How awesome is that? Let's take a closer look at how these numbers have changed over the last few years!
Exports in 2023
$136.589 billion
Exports in 2022
$126.541 billion
Exports in 2021
$105.648 billion
Portugal's Export Growth Over the Years
Population growth rate
๐ Let's dive into the fascinating world of Portugal's population growth! As of 2024, the population growth rate in Portugal is predicted to be -0.14%. ๐ This means that the number of people in Portugal is slightly decreasing. Itโs an interesting trend and could have many reasons behind it, such as an aging population or lower birth rates. Letโs keep an eye on how this changes in the future!
2024 Estimated Population Growth Rate
-0.14%