Discover Fascinating Portugal Facts

Dive into the history, culture, and unique insights about Portugal.

Portugal

Background

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น Portugal's Rich History ๐ŸŒŠ

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.

๐Ÿ˜ฑ In 1755, a devastating earthquake struck Lisbon, leading to the loss of much of its wealth and status.

โš”๏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 ๐Ÿ›ก๏ธ and joined the European Community (now the EU) in 1986. What a journey! ๐Ÿš€

Key Year of Lisbon Earthquake

1755

Year Brazil Gained Independence

1822

Year Portugal Joined the EU

1986

Exports - commodities

๐Ÿš— 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! ๐ŸŒ

Export Commodities

Cars, Garments, Refined Petroleum, Vehicle Parts/Accessories, Plastic Products

Exports - partners

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น Portugal is doing great in international trade! ๐ŸŒ 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! ๐ŸŽ‰ 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! ๐Ÿ“Šโœจ

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

๐ŸŒ 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! ๐Ÿ›๏ธโœจ

Imports - commodities

๐ŸŒ 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! ๐Ÿš—โš“๏ธ

Economically important commodities imported by Portugal in 2022

5

Climate

Portugal enjoys a maritime temperate climate ๐ŸŒŠ๐ŸŒค๏ธ. This means that the north is usually cool and rainy, making it a lovely spot for lush greenery ๐ŸŒฟ. In contrast, the southern part of Portugal is warmer and drier, perfect for those sunny beach days! ๐Ÿ–๏ธ So, whether you love the refreshing rain or the bright sunshine, Portugal has a bit of everything! ๐ŸŒˆ

Executive branch

In Portugal, the Executive Branch is led by some important figures! ๐Ÿ›๏ธ <br> The Chief of State is President Marcelo REBELO DE SOUSA, who has been in office since 9 March 2016. ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น <br> Meanwhile, the Head of Government, known as the Prime Minister, is Antonio Luis MONTENEGRO, who took on this role on 2 April 2024. ๐Ÿ—“๏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

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น 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. ๐Ÿ“Š 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! ๐ŸŒโœจ

Total Seats

230

Natural resources

๐ŸŒณ Portugal is blessed with a variety of natural resources! Here's what you can find:

  • Fish ๐ŸŸ: Abundant in the Atlantic Ocean, a vital resource for food and economy.
  • Forests ๐ŸŒฒ (notably cork): Portugal is the world's largest producer of cork, which is harvested sustainably!
  • Minerals:
    • Iron ore ๐Ÿชจ
    • Copper ๐Ÿ”ง
    • Zinc โš™๏ธ
    • Tin โœจ
    • Tungsten ๐Ÿ’Ž
    • Silver ๐Ÿ’ฐ
    • Gold ๐Ÿฅ‡
    • Uranium โ˜ข๏ธ
  • Building materials:
    • Marble ๐Ÿ›๏ธ: Famous for its beautiful quality.
    • Clay ๐Ÿบ: Used in pottery and other crafts.
    • Gypsum ๐Ÿ—๏ธ: Important for construction.
    • Salt ๐Ÿง‚: Used in culinary and industrial applications.
  • Arable land ๐ŸŒพ: Perfect for farming delicious crops!
  • Hydropower ๐Ÿ’ง: A source of renewable energy that takes advantage of Portugal's rivers!

These resources play a crucial role in Portugalโ€™s economy and environment! ๐ŸŒ

Major Natural Resources

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

Economic overview

๐ŸŒ Portugal's Economic Snapshot ๐ŸŒŸ

Portugal is considered a high-income country within the European Union (EU) and eurozone! ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ’ฐ Its economy has a strong services sector, primarily driven by tourism and banking. The tourism sector ๐Ÿ–๏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. ๐Ÿ‘ Private consumption and the recovery of exports are helping the country bounce back after inflation. ๐Ÿ“ˆ๐Ÿฆ

A key player in supporting public investments is the EU Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP), which provides essential funds for various projects. ๐Ÿ’ช๐Ÿ’ผ Despite having high public debt, Portugalโ€™s fiscal position is improving! ๐Ÿ“Š๐Ÿ’ต

Overall, Portugal's economy is robust and showing promising signs of recovery! ๐ŸŽ‰๐Ÿ’ช

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

๐ŸŒ 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? ๐Ÿค”๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น

Ethnic groups

In Portugal, the population is mainly composed of ethnic Portuguese, making up a whopping 95% of the demographics! ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น 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! ๐ŸŒโœจ

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! ๐Ÿ˜‡ 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! ๐ŸŽ‰

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

๐ŸŒ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น 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? ๐Ÿ—ฃ๏ธโœจ

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! ๐ŸŒ๐Ÿ›’ Hereโ€™s how it breaks down by country:

  • Spain: 31% ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ
  • Germany: 11% ๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช
  • France: 6% ๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท
  • China: 5% ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ
  • Italy: 5% ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น

Isn't it interesting to see where all the goods come from? Spain takes the lead with a whopping 31% share! ๐Ÿ“Š

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! ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น Isn't that exciting? That's a lot of different stories and cultures coming together in one beautiful country! ๐ŸŒโœจ

Total Population of Portugal

10,207,177

Area

Portugal's Area ๐ŸŒ

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. Thereโ€™s 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! ๐Ÿ“Š

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! ๐Ÿž๏ธ๐ŸŒŠ

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)

๐Ÿ’ฐ 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. Hereโ€™s 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! ๐ŸŽ‰ Each year, the numbers are getting bigger, which is a great sign for Portugal's economy! ๐Ÿ“ˆ

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

๐Ÿ“ˆ 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. Hereโ€™s 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! ๐Ÿฅณ

We can visualize this growth in a chart. ๐Ÿ“Š

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

๐Ÿ“Š 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. ๐Ÿ“ˆ 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

๐Ÿ“ˆ Portugal's exports are like a thrilling rollercoaster ride! ๐ŸŽข 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

๐ŸŒ 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%. ๐Ÿ“‰ This means that the number of people in Portugal is slightly decreasing. Itโ€™s an interesting trend and could have many reasons behind it, such as an aging population or lower birth rates. Letโ€™s keep an eye on how this changes in the future!

2024 Estimated Population Growth Rate

-0.14%