Introduction :: PORTUGAL
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Following its heyday as 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 1910 revolution deposed the monarchy; for most of the next six decades, repressive governments ran the country. In 1974, a left-wing military coup installed broad democratic reforms. The following year, Portugal granted independence to all of its African colonies. Portugal is a founding member of NATO and entered the EC (now the EU) in 1986.
Geography :: PORTUGAL
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Southwestern Europe, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Spain
39 30 N, 8 00 W
Europe
total: 92,090 sq km
land: 91,470 sq km
water: 620 sq km
note: includes Azores and Madeira Islands
country comparison to the world: 112
slightly smaller than Virginia
total: 1,224 km
border countries (1): Spain 1,224 km
1,793 km
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
maritime temperate; cool and rainy in north, warmer and drier in south
the west-flowing Tagus River divides the country: the north is mountainous toward the interior, while the south is characterized by rolling plains
mean elevation: 372 m
elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Ponta do Pico (Pico or Pico Alto) on Ilha do Pico in the Azores 2,351 m
fish, forests (cork), iron ore, copper, zinc, tin, tungsten, silver, gold, uranium, marble, clay, gypsum, salt, arable land, hydropower
agricultural land: 39.7%
arable land 11.9%; permanent crops 7.8%; permanent pasture 20%
forest: 37.8%
other: 22.5% (2011 est.)
5,400 sq km (2012)
concentrations are primarily along or near the Atlantic coast; both Lisbon and the second largest city, Porto, are coastal cities
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
soil erosion; air pollution caused by industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution, especially in coastal areas
party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Environmental Modification
Azores and Madeira Islands occupy strategic locations along western sea approaches to Strait of Gibraltar
People and Society :: PORTUGAL
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10,839,514 (July 2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
noun: Portuguese (singular and plural)
adjective: Portuguese
homogeneous Mediterranean population; citizens of black African descent who immigrated to mainland during decolonization number less than 100,000; since 1990, East Europeans have migrated to Portugal
Portuguese (official), Mirandese (official, but locally used)
Roman Catholic 81%, other Christian 3.3%, other (includes Jewish, Muslim, other) 0.6%, none 6.8%, unspecified 8.3%
note: represents population 15 years of age and older (2011 est.)
0-14 years: 15.34% (male 866,004/female 797,004)
15-24 years: 11.36% (male 653,672/female 577,800)
25-54 years: 41.72% (male 2,298,920/female 2,223,184)
55-64 years: 12.18% (male 617,036/female 702,992)
65 years and over: 19.4% (male 861,270/female 1,241,632) (2017 est.)
population pyramid:
Europe
::PORTUGAL
Population Pyramid
A population pyramid illustrates the age and sex structure of a country's population and may provide insights about political and social stability, as well as economic development. The population is distributed along the horizontal axis, with males shown on the left and females on the right. The male and female populations are broken down into 5-year age groups represented as horizontal bars along the vertical axis, with the youngest age groups at the bottom and the oldest at the top. The shape of the population pyramid gradually evolves over time based on fertility, mortality, and international migration trends.
For additional information, please see the entry for Population pyramid on the Definitions and Notes page under the References tab.
total dependency ratio: 53.4
youth dependency ratio: 21.6
elderly dependency ratio: 31.8
potential support ratio: 3.1 (2015 est.)
total: 42.2 years
male: 40.2 years
female: 44.4 years (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30
0.04% (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189
9 births/1,000 population (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 207
11.1 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29
2.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
concentrations are primarily along or near the Atlantic coast; both Lisbon and the second largest city, Porto, are coastal cities
urban population: 65.2% of total population (2018)
rate of urbanization: 0.47% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)
LISBON (capital) 2.927 million; Porto 1.307 million (2018)
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.09 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.13 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.88 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
30.2 years (2015 est.)
10 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
total: 4.3 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 4.8 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189
total population: 79.4 years
male: 76.2 years
female: 82.9 years (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
1.53 children born/woman (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 192
73.9% (2014)
9.5% of GDP (2014)
country comparison to the world: 31
4.43 physicians/1,000 population (2014)
3.4 beds/1,000 population (2013)
improved:
urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population
unimproved:
urban: 0% of population
rural: 0% of population
total: 0% of population (2015 est.)
improved:
urban: 99.6% of population
rural: 99.8% of population
total: 99.7% of population
unimproved:
urban: 0.4% of population
rural: 0.2% of population
total: 0.3% of population (2015 est.)
NA
NA
NA
20.8% (2016)
country comparison to the world: 95
5.1% of GDP (2014)
country comparison to the world: 55
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 95.7%
male: 97.1%
female: 94.4% (2015 est.)
total: 17 years
male: 17 years
female: 17 years (2014)
total: 28%
male: 27.2%
female: 28.8% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
Government :: PORTUGAL
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conventional long form: Portuguese Republic
conventional short form: Portugal
local long form: Republica Portuguesa
local short form: Portugal
etymology: name derives from the Roman designation "Portus Cale" meaning "Port of Cale"; Cale was an ancient Celtic town and port in present-day northern Portugal
semi-presidential republic
name: Lisbon
geographic coordinates: 38 43 N, 9 08 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
18 districts (distritos, singular - distrito) and 2 autonomous regions* (regioes autonomas, singular - regiao autonoma); 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
1143 (Kingdom of Portugal recognized); 1640 (independence reestablished following 60-years of Spanish rule); 5 October 1910 (republic proclaimed)
Portugal Day (Dia de Portugal), 10 June (1580); note - also called Camoes Day, the day that revered national poet Luis de Camoes (1524-80) died
history: several previous; latest adopted 2 April 1976, effective 25 April 1976
amendments: proposed by the Assembly of the Republic; adoption requires two-thirds majority vote of Assembly members; amended several times, last in 2005 (2016)
civil law system; Constitutional Court review of legislative acts
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
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
18 years of age; universal
chief of state: President Marcelo REBELO DE SOUSA (since 9 March 2016)
head of government: Prime Minister Antonio Luis Santos da COSTA (since 24 November 2015)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister
elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 24 January 2016 (next to be held in January 2021); following legislative elections last held in October 2015, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition was appointed prime minister by the president
election results: Marcelo REBELO DE SOUSA elected president; percent of vote - Marcelo REBELO DE SOUSA (PSD) 52%, Antonio Sampaio da NOVA (independent) 22.9%, Marisa MATISA (BE) 10.1%, Maria de BELEM (independent) 4.2%, other 10.8%
note: there is also a Council of State that acts as a consultative body to the president
description: unicameral Assembly of the Republic or Assembleia da Republica (230 seats; 226 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote and 4 members - 2 each in 2 constituencies representing Portuguese living abroad - directly elected by proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms)
elections: last held on 4 October 2015 (next to be held by October 2019)
election results: percent of vote by party - PaF 36.9%, PS 32.3%, B.E. 10.2%, CDU 8.3%, PPD/PSD (Azores and Madeira) 1.5%, PAN 1.4%, other 9.4%; seats by party - PaF 102, PS 86, B.E. 19, CDU 17, PPD/PSD (Azores and Madeira) 5, PAN 1
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 appointed for life; Constitutional Court judges - 10 elected by the Assembly and 3 elected by the other Constitutional Court judges; judges elected for 6-year non-renewable terms
subordinate courts: Supreme Administrative Court (Supremo Tribunal Administrativo); Audit Court (Tribunal de Contas); appellate, district, and municipal courts
Democratic and Social Center/Popular Party or CDS-PP [Assuncao CRISTAS]
Ecologist Party "The Greens" or PEV [Heloisa APOLONiA]
People_Animals_Nature Party or PAN [Andre SILVA]
Portuguese Communist Party or PCP [Jeronimo DE SOUSA]
Social Democratic Party or PPD/PSD [Rui RIO]
Socialist Party or PS [Antonio COSTA]
The Left Bloc or BE or o Bloco [Catarina MARTINS]
Unitary Democratic Coalition or CDU [Jeronimo DE SOUSA] (includes PCP and PEV)
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, MINUSMA, 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, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
chief of mission: Ambassador Domingos Teixeira de Abreu FEZAS VITAL (since 28 January 2016)
chancery: 2012 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 328-8610
FAX: [1] (202) 462-3726
consulate(s) general: Boston, New York, San Francisco
consulate(s): New Bedford (MA), Newark (NJ), Providence (RI)
chief of mission: Ambassador George E. GLASS (since 25 August 2017)
embassy: Avenida das Forcas Armadas, 1600-081 Lisbon
mailing address: Apartado 43033, 1601-301 Lisboa; PSC 83, APO AE 09726
telephone: [351] (21) 727-3300
FAX: [351] (21) 726-9109
consulate(s): Ponta Delgada (Azores)
two vertical bands of green (hoist side, two-fifths) and red (three-fifths) with the national coat of arms (armillary sphere and Portuguese shield) centered on the dividing line; explanations for the color meanings are ambiguous, but a popular interpretation has green symbolizing hope and red the blood of those defending the nation
armillary sphere (a spherical astrolabe modeling objects in the sky and representing the Republic); national colors: red, green
name: "A Portugesa" (The Song of the Portuguese)
lyrics/music: Henrique LOPES DE MENDOCA/Alfredo KEIL
note: adopted 1910; "A Portuguesa" was originally written to protest the Portuguese monarchy's acquiescence to the 1890 British ultimatum forcing Portugal to give up areas of Africa; the lyrics refer to the "insult" that resulted from the event
Economy :: PORTUGAL
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Portugal has become a diversified and increasingly service-based economy since joining the European Community - the EU's predecessor - in 1986. Over the following two decades, successive governments privatized many state-controlled firms and liberalized key areas of the economy, including the financial and telecommunications sectors. The country joined the Economic and Monetary Union in 1999 and began circulating the euro on 1 January 2002 along with 11 other EU members.
The economy grew by more than the EU average for much of the 1990s, but the rate of growth slowed in 2001-08. After the global financial crisis in 2008, Portugal’s economy contracted in 2009 and fell into recession from 2011 to 2013, as the government implemented spending cuts and tax increases to comply with conditions of an EU-IMF financial rescue package, signed in May 2011. Portugal successfully exited its EU-IMF program in May 2014, and its economic recovery gained traction in 2015 because of strong exports and a rebound in private consumption. GDP growth accelerated in 2016, and probably reached 2.5 % in 2017. Unemployment remained high, at 9.7% in 2017, but has improved steadily since peaking at 18% in 2013.
The center-left minority Socialist government has unwound some unpopular austerity measures while managing to remain within most EU fiscal targets. The budget deficit fell from 11.2% of GDP in 2010 to 1.8% in 2017, the country’s lowest since democracy was restored in 1974, and surpassing the EU and IMF projections of 3%. Portugal exited the EU’s excessive deficit procedure in mid-2017.
$311.3 billion (2017 est.)
$303.8 billion (2016 est.)
$299.6 billion (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world: 56
$211.7 billion (2017 est.)
2.5% (2017 est.)
1.4% (2016 est.)
1.6% (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134
$30,300 (2017 est.)
$29,400 (2016 est.)
$28,900 (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world: 66
17% of GDP (2017 est.)
15.8% of GDP (2016 est.)
15.5% of GDP (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
household consumption: 65.7%
government consumption: 17.6%
investment in fixed capital: 15.4%
investment in inventories: -0.2%
exports of goods and services: 42.9%
imports of goods and services: -41.4% (2017 est.)
agriculture: 2.2%
industry: 22.1%
services: 75.7% (2017 est.)
grain, potatoes, tomatoes, olives, grapes; sheep, cattle, goats, pigs, poultry, dairy products; fish
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
1% (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 164
5.233 million (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
agriculture: 8.6%
industry: 23.9%
services: 67.5% (2014 est.)
9.7% (2017 est.)
11.1% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136
19% (2015 est.)
lowest 10%: 2.6%
highest 10%: 25.9% (2015 est.)
33.9 (2015 est.)
34 (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
revenues: $92.99 billion
expenditures: $96.83 billion (2017 est.)
43.9% of GDP (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
-1.8% of GDP (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83
127.7% of GDP (2017 est.)
130.4% of GDP (2016 est.)
note: data cover general government debt, and includes 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 intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental 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
country comparison to the world: 6
calendar year
1.6% (2017 est.)
0.6% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
0% (2016)
0.05% (2015)
note: this is the European Central Bank's rate on the marginal lending facility, which offers overnight credit to banks in the euro area
country comparison to the world: 149
3.5% (31 December 2017 est.)
3.77% (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166
$106.5 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$81.15 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
note: see entry for the European Union for money supply for the entire euro area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for the 18 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); individual members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money circulating within their own borders
country comparison to the world: 38
$216 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$173.9 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
$343.3 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$311.5 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
$59.84 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
$57.77 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
$79.18 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
$888 million (2017 est.)
$1.462 billion (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
$62.6 billion (2017 est.)
$54.76 billion (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45
agricultural products, foodstuffs, wine, oil products, chemical products, plastics and rubber, hides, leather, wood and cork, wood pulp and paper, textile materials, clothing, footwear, machinery and tools, base metals
Spain 25.2%, France 12.5%, Germany 11.3%, UK 6.6%, US 5.2%, Netherlands 4% (2017)
$74.32 billion (2017 est.)
$64.79 billion (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
agricultural products, chemical products, vehicles and other transport material, optical and precision instruments, computer accessories and parts, semiconductors and related devices, oil products, base metals, food products, textile materials
Spain 32%, Germany 13.7%, France 7.4%, Italy 5.5%, Netherlands 5.4% (2017)
$25.13 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
$19.4 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
$449 billion (31 March 2016 est.)
$447 billion (31 March 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
$158.9 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$147.1 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
$89.06 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$84.73 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
euros (EUR) per US dollar -
0.89 (2017 est.)
0.9 (2016 est.)
0.92 (2015 est.)
0.75 (2014 est.)
0.76 (2013 est.)
Energy :: PORTUGAL
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electrification - total population: 100% (2016)
49.66 billion kWh (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
47.03 billion kWh (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
9.701 billion kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22
4.616 billion kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
19.63 million kW (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
37.9% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168
0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166
22.3% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
32.5% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10
0 bbl/day (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182
0 bbl/day (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177
270,600 bbl/day (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27
0 bbl (1 January 2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180
308,700 bbl/day (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
234,700 bbl/day (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
128,800 bbl/day (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
71,920 bbl/day (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
0 cu m (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120
4.766 billion cu m (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
0 cu m (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167
4.713 billion cu m (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33
0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 185
43.98 million Mt (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
Communications :: PORTUGAL
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total subscriptions: 4,787,677
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 44 (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
total: 11,572,085
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 107 (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
general assessment: Portugal's telephone system has a state-of-the-art network with broadband, high-speed capabilities
domestic: integrated network of coaxial cables, open-wire, microwave radio relay, and domestic satellite earth stations
international: country code - 351; a combination of submarine cables provide connectivity to Europe, North and East Africa, South Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and the US; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), NA Eutelsat; tropospheric scatter to Azores (2015)
Radio e Televisao de Portugal (RTP), the publicly owned TV broadcaster, operates 4 domestic channels and external service channels to Africa; overall, roughly 40 domestic TV stations; viewers have widespread access to international broadcasters with more than half of all 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 some 300 regional and local commercial radio stations (2014)
.pt
total: 7,629,560
percent of population: 70.4% (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
Transportation :: PORTUGAL
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number of registered air carriers: 12
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 122
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 12,635,233
annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 343,971,094 mt-km (2015)
CR, CS (2016)
64 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 77
total: 43
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 8
914 to 1,523 m: 15
under 914 m: 8 (2017)
total: 21
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 20 (2013)
gas 1,344 km; oil 11 km; refined products 188 km (2013)
total: 3,075.1 km
broad gauge: 2,439 km 1.668-m gauge (1,633.4 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 108.1 km 1.000-m gauge
other: 528 km (gauge unspecified) (2014)
country comparison to the world: 59
total: 82,900 km
paved: 71,294 km (includes 2,613 km of expressways)
unpaved: 11,606 km (2008)
country comparison to the world: 59
210 km (on Douro River from Porto) (2011)
country comparison to the world: 95
total: 466
by type: bulk carrier 52, container ship 165, general cargo 57, oil tanker 7, other 185 (2017)
country comparison to the world: 41
major seaport(s): Leixoes, Lisbon, Setubal, Sines
LNG terminal(s) (import): Sines
Military and Security :: PORTUGAL
-
1.84% of GDP (2016)
1.79% of GDP (2015)
1.79% of GDP (2014)
2.09% of GDP (2013)
1.91% of GDP (2012)
country comparison to the world: 57
Portuguese Army (Exercito Portuguesa), Portuguese Navy (Marinha Portuguesa; includes Marine Corps), Portuguese Air Force (Forca Aerea Portuguesa, FAP) (2013)
18-30 years of age for voluntary military service; no compulsory military service, but conscription possible if insufficient volunteers available; women serve in the armed forces, on naval ships since 1993, but are prohibited from serving in some combatant specialties; reserve obligation to age 35 (2012)
Transnational Issues :: PORTUGAL
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Portugal does not recognize Spanish sovereignty over the territory of Olivenza based on a difference of interpretation of the 1815 Congress of Vienna and the 1801 Treaty of Badajoz
stateless persons: 14 (2017)
seizing record amounts of Latin American cocaine destined for Europe; a European gateway for Southwest Asian heroin; transshipment point for hashish from North Africa to Europe; consumer of Southwest Asian heroin
