THE WORLD FACTBOOK — Reference Edition 2026

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.

Location: Southwestern Europe, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Spain
Geographic coordinates: 39 30 N, 8 00 W
Map references: Europe
Area: total: 92,090 sq km
land: 91,470 sq km
water: 620 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Virginia
Land boundaries: total: 1,224 km
border countries: Spain 1,224 km
Coastline: 1,793 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate: maritime temperate; cool and rainy in north, warmer and drier in south
Terrain: the west-flowing Tagus River divides the country: the north is mountainous toward the interior, while the south is characterized by rolling plains
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
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.)
agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 10.1% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 9.6% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 23.6% (2023 est.)
forest: 36.6% (2023 est.)
other: 5.7% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 5,662 sq km (2019)
Population distribution: concentrations are primarily along or near the Atlantic coast; both Lisbon and the second largest city, Porto, are coastal cities
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
Geography - 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.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 12.7% (male 662,419/female 631,284)
15-64 years: 65% (male 3,264,766/female 3,371,087)
65 years and over: 22.3% (2024 est.) (male 908,578/female 1,369,043)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 54.3 (2025 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 19.3 (2025 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 35 (2025 est.)
potential support ratio: 2.9 (2025 est.)
Median age: total: 46.8 years (2025 est.)
male: 44.3 years
female: 48.3 years
Population growth rate: -0.11% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 8.03 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 10.92 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 1.78 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: concentrations are primarily along or near the Atlantic coast; both Lisbon and the second largest city, Porto, are coastal cities
Urbanization: urban population: 67.9% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0.44% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 3.001 million LISBON (capital), 1.325 million Porto (2023)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female
total population: 0.9 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 29.9 years (2020 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 15 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 2.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
male: 2.8 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 2.1 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 81.9 years (2024 est.)
male: 78.8 years
female: 85.2 years
Total fertility rate: 1.46 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.71 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source: improved: urban: urban: 99.9% of population (2022 est.)
improved: rural: rural: 97.9% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total: total: 99.3% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban: urban: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural: rural: 2.1% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total: total: 0.7% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 10.6% of GDP (2022)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 14.8% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 5.85 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Hospital bed density: 3.5 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)
Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
improved: rural: rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total: total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural: rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 20.8% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita: total: 10.37 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer: 2.62 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 6.04 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 1.34 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 0.37 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use: total: 20.7% (2025 est.)
male: 26.1% (2025 est.)
female: 15.9% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 0.9% (2016 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 50.6% (2021 est.)
Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% GDP): 4.6% of GDP (2022 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget): 10.4% national budget (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 18 years (2022 est.)
male: 17 years (2022 est.)
female: 18 years (2022 est.)

Environmental issues: soil erosion; air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution, especially in urban centers and coastal areas
International environmental agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Environmental Modification, Nuclear Test Ban
Climate: maritime temperate; cool and rainy in north, warmer and drier in south
Land use: agricultural land: 43.3% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 10.1% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 9.6% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 23.6% (2023 est.)
forest: 36.6% (2023 est.)
other: 5.7% (2023 est.)
Urbanization: urban population: 67.9% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0.44% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions: 38.272 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 20,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 29.525 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from consumed natural gas: 8.727 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 7.6 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 5.268 million tons (2024 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 23.5% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal: municipal: 920.03 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
industrial: 1.83 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
agricultural: 3.419 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 77.4 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
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)

Country name: 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 located in present-day northern Portugal, and its name is said to come from the Latin word calere (to be warm) because the harbor never iced over
Government type: semi-presidential republic
Capital: 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
time zone note: Portugal has two time zones, including the Azores (UTC-1)
etymology: the origin of the name is unclear; some trace it back to the legendary Greek hero Ulysses; others claim a derivation from the Phoenician alis-ubbo, or "joyful bay"
Administrative divisions: 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
Legal system: civil law system; Constitutional Court reviews legislative acts
Constitution: history: several previous; latest adopted 2 April 1976, effective 25 April 1976
amendment process: proposed by the Assembly of the Republic; adoption requires two-thirds majority vote of Assembly members
International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship: 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
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Marcelo REBELO DE SOUSA (since 9 March 2016)
head of government: Prime Minister Antonio Luis MONTENEGRO (since 2 April 2024)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister
election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); following legislative elections, the president usually appoints the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as prime minister
most recent election date: 24 January 2021
election results: 2021: Marcelo REBELO DE SOUSA reelected president in the first round; percent of vote - Marcelo REBELO DE SOUSA (PSD) 60.7%, Ana GOMES (ran as an independent but is a member of PS) 13%, Andre VENTURA (CH) 11.9%, João FERREIRA (PCP-PEV) 4.3%, other 10.1%2016: Marcelo REBELO DE SOUSA elected president in the first round; percent of vote - Marcelo REBELO DE SOUSA (PSD) 52%, António SAMPAIO DA NOVOA (independent) 22.9%, Marisa MATIAS (BE) 10.1%, Maria DE BELEM ROSEIRA (PS) 4.2%, other 10.8%
expected date of next election: January 2026
Legislative branch: legislature name: Assembly of the Republic (Assembleia da Republica)
legislative structure: unicameral
number of seats: 230 (all directly elected)
electoral system: proportional representation
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 4 years
most recent election date: 5/18/2025
parties elected and seats per party: Social Democratic Party (PPD/PSD) - Democratic and Social Centre - People's Party (CDS-PP) (88); Chega (CH) (60); Socialist Party (PS) (58); Other (24)
percentage of women in chamber: 35.7%
expected date of next election: September 2029
Judicial branch: 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 can serve for life; Constitutional Court judges - 10 elected by the Assembly and 3 elected by the other Constitutional Court judges; judges elected for 6-year nonrenewable terms
subordinate courts: Supreme Administrative Court (Supremo Tribunal Administrativo); Audit Court (Tribunal de Contas); appellate, district, and municipal courts
Political parties: Democratic Alliance or AD (2024 electoral alliance in the Azores, includes PSD, CDS-PP, PPM)Democratic and Social Center/People's Party (Partido do Centro Democratico Social-Partido Popular) or CDS-PPEcologist Party "The Greens" or "Os Verdes" (Partido Ecologista-Os Verdes) or PEVEnough (Chega)Liberal Initiative (Iniciativa Liberal) or ILLIVRE or LPeople-Animals-Nature Party (Pessoas-Animais-Natureza) or PANPeople's Monarchist Party or PPMPortuguese Communist Party (Partido Comunista Portugues) or PCPSocial Democratic Party (Partido Social Democrata) or PSD (formerly the Partido Popular Democratico or PPD)Socialist Party (Partido Socialista) or PSThe Left Bloc (Bloco de Esquerda) or BE or O BlocoUnitary Democratic Coalition (Coligacao Democratica Unitaria) or CDU (includes PCP and PEV) (2024)
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Francisco Antonio DUARTE LOPES (since 7 June 2022)
chancery: 2012 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 350-5400
FAX: [1] (202) 462-3726
email address and website: info.washington@mne.pthttps://washingtondc.embaixadaportugal.mne.gov.pt/en/
consulate(s) general: Boston, Newark (NJ), New York, San Francisco
consulate(s): New Bedford (MA), Providence (RI)
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador John Joseph ARRIGO (since 30 September 2025)
embassy: Avenida das Forcas Armadas, 1600-081 Lisboa
mailing address: 5320 Lisbon Place, Washington DC 20521-5320
telephone: [351] (21) 727-3300
FAX: [351] (21) 726-9109
email address and website: conslisbon@state.govhttps://pt.usembassy.gov/
consulate(s): Ponta Delgada (Azores)
International organization participation: 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, 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, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Independence: 1143 (Kingdom of Portugal recognized); 1 December 1640 (independence reestablished after 60 years of Spanish rule); 5 October 1910 (republic proclaimed)
National holiday: Portugal Day (Dia de Portugal), 10 June (1580)
Flag: description: two vertical bands of green (left side, two-fifths) and red (three-fifths), with the national coat of arms (armillary sphere and national shield) centered on the dividing linemeaning: explanations for the color meanings are ambiguous, but a popular interpretation says that green symbolizes hope and red the blood of those defending the nation
National symbol(s): armillary sphere (a spherical astrolabe for modeling objects in the sky)
National color(s): red, green
National anthem(s): title: "A Portugesa" (The Song of the Portuguese)
lyrics/music: Henrique LOPES DE MENDOCA/Alfredo KEIL
history: adopted 1911; originally written to protest the Portuguese monarchy's acquiescence to the 1890 British ultimatum forcing Portugal to give up areas of Africa
National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 17 (16 cultural, 1 natural)
selected World Heritage Site locales: Historic Évora (c); Central Zone of the Town of Angra do Heroismo in the Azores (c); Cultural Landscape of Sintra (c); Laurisilva of Madeira (n); Historic Guimarães (c); Monastery of the Hieronymites and Tower of Belém in Lisbon (c); Convent of Christ in Tomar (c); Prehistoric Rock Art Sites in the Côa Valley and Siega Verde (c); University of Coimbra – Alta and Sofia (c); Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Monte in Braga (c)

Economic 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
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $448.226 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $439.745 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $428.547 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2024: 1.9% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023: 2.6% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2022: 7% (2022 est.)
Real 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.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $308.683 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 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.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 2% (2024 est.)
industry: 18.4% (2024 est.)
services: 66.4% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 62% (2023 est.)
government consumption: 16.8% (2023 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 20.1% (2023 est.)
investment in inventories: 0.4% (2023 est.)
exports of goods and services: 47.5% (2023 est.)
imports of goods and services: -46.4% (2023 est.)
Agricultural products: milk, tomatoes, olives, grapes, maize, pork, potatoes, chicken, apples, oranges (2023)
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
Industrial production growth rate: 1.2% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 5.464 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2024: 6.4% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023: 6.6% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2022: 6.1% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): total: 21.2% (2024 est.)
male: 21.6% (2024 est.)
female: 20.7% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 16.4% (2021 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022: 36.3 (2022 est.)
Average household expenditures: on food: 17.3% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
on alcohol and tobacco: 3.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.5% (2022 est.)
highest 10%: 28.8% (2022 est.)
Remittances: Remittances 2024: 0.6% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances 2023: 0.6% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2022: 0.6% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget: revenues: $112.802 billion (2023 est.)
expenditures: $109.044 billion (2023 est.)
Public debt: Public debt 2017: 125.7% of GDP (2017 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 22.8% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance: Current account balance 2024: $6.708 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance 2023: $1.624 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance 2022: -$5.356 billion (2022 est.)
Exports: Exports 2024: $144.237 billion (2024 est.)
Exports 2023: $137.934 billion (2023 est.)
Exports 2022: $126.953 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: Spain 21%, France 11%, Germany 10%, USA 8%, UK 5% (2023)
Exports - commodities: cars, garments, vehicle parts/accessories, unpackaged medicine, refined petroleum (2023)
Imports: Imports 2024: $136.976 billion (2024 est.)
Imports 2023: $133.617 billion (2023 est.)
Imports 2022: $132.193 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: Spain 33%, Germany 11%, France 7%, Netherlands 5%, China 5% (2023)
Imports - commodities: cars, crude petroleum, vehicle parts/accessories, refined petroleum, garments (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $42.434 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $35.243 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $32.232 billion (2022 est.)
Exchange rates: 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.)

Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity: installed generating capacity: 25.409 million kW (2023 est.)
consumption: 50.317 billion kWh (2023 est.)
exports: 3.422 billion kWh (2023 est.)
imports: 13.656 billion kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 5.129 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 25.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar: 12.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
wind: 29% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
hydroelectricity: 24.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
geothermal: 0.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
biomass and waste: 7.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal: consumption: 7,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
exports: 1 metric tons (2023 est.)
imports: 6,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
proven reserves: 3 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum: total petroleum production: 8,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
refined petroleum consumption: 204,000 bbl/day (2024 est.)
Natural gas: consumption: 4.325 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
imports: 4.251 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 73.285 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 5.505 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 53 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 12.9 million (2024 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 124 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: Radio e Televisao de Portugal, the publicly owned TV broadcaster, operates 4 domestic channels and external service channels to Africa; roughly 40 domestic TV stations; widespread access to international broadcasters, with more than half of 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 about 300 regional and local commercial radio stations
Internet country code: .pt
Internet users: percent of population: 86% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 4.6 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 44 (2023 est.)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: CR, CS
Airports: 128 (2025)
Heliports: 65 (2025)
Railways: total: 2,526 km (2020) 1,696 km electrified
Merchant marine: total: 888 (2023)
by type: bulk carrier 110, container ship 299, general cargo 191, oil tanker 29, other 259
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

Military and security forces: Portuguese Armed Forces (Forças Armadas Portuguesa): Portuguese Army (Exercito Portuguesa), Portuguese Navy (Marinha Portuguesa; includes Marine Corps, aka Corpo de Fuzileiros or Corps of Fusiliers), Portuguese Air Force (Forca Aerea Portuguesa, FAP)Ministry of Internal Administration: Public Security Police (Polícia de Segurança Pública, PSP) , National Republican Guard (Guarda Nacional Republicana, GNR) (2025)
Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2025: 2% of GDP (2025 est.)
Military Expenditures 2024: 1.6% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military Expenditures 2023: 1.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military Expenditures 2022: 1.4% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military Expenditures 2021: 1.5% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 25,000 active-duty military personnel (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the military's inventory includes mostly European- and US-origin weapons systems along with smaller amounts of domestically produced equipment; Portugal's defense industry is noted for its shipbuilding (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18-30 years of age for voluntary or contract military service for men and women (upper age limit varies by military branch, position, role); no compulsory military service (abolished 2004) but conscription possible if insufficient volunteers available; contract service lasts for an initial period of 2-6 years, and can be extended to a maximum of 20 years of service; initial voluntary military service lasts 12 months; reserve obligation to age 35 (2025)
Military deployments: the Portuguese Armed Forces have more than 1,100 military personnel deployed around the world engaged in missions supporting the EU, NATO, the UN, and partner nations; key deployments include 225 troops in the Central African Republic under the UN and about 350 troops supporting NATO's forward presence in Lithuania and Romania; it also participates in NATO air policing and maritime patrolling operations (2025)
Military - note: the Portuguese military is responsible for external defense, humanitarian operations, and fulfilling Portugal’s commitments to European and international security; maritime security has long been a key component of the military's portfolio, and Portugal has one of the world's oldest naviesPortugal was one of the original signers of the North Atlantic Treaty (also known as the Washington Treaty) in 1949 establishing NATO, and the Alliance forms a key pillar of Portugal’s defense policy; Portugal is also a signatory of the EU’s Common Security and Defense Policy, and it regularly participates in a variety of EU and NATO, as well as UN deployments around the world; the military’s largest commitments include air, ground, and naval forces under NATO-led missions and standing task forces in the Baltics, Eastern Europe, and the Mediterranean Sea; the military also participates in exercises with NATO partners (2025)

Space agency/agencies: Portuguese Space Agency (Agência Espacial Portuguesa; aka Portugal Space; established 2019) (2025)
Space launch site(s): in August 2025, Portugal granted a license to a commercial consortium to build and operate a space launch center on the island of Santa Maria in the Azores; the first orbital launches are expected in 2027 (2025)
Space program overview: largely focuses on the acquisition and operation of satellites; researches and develops a range of space-related technologies with an emphasis on small satellites for remote sensing (RS), navigational, science/technology, and telecommunications, as well as satellite launch services; space program is integrated with the ESA and involved in a variety of ESA and EU space programs; works with the space agencies and industries of a range of countries, including Algeria, Angola, Brazil, China, India, Japan, Morocco, South Korea, and the US; also cooperates with international organizations and projects such as the Europe South Observatory and the Square Kilometer Array; one of the objectives of the country's national space strategy is to expand its commercial space sector (2025)
Key space-program milestones: 1993 - first technology demonstrator microsatellite (PoSat-1) launched on a European rocket2000 - joined the ESA2020 - launched strategic plan for space development (Portugal Space 2030), which included building a spaceport, developing a reusable rocket/satellite launch vehicle, growing the country's domestic commercial space sector, and establishing an Earth observation/remote sensing satellite constellation2024 - first Portuguese communications satellite (PoSat-2) launched by US as part of a planned constellation of 12 ocean-monitoring/maritime communication satellites2026 - signed US-led Artemis Accords outlining best practices for responsible space exploration

Terrorist group(s): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)

Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees: 71,166 (2024 est.)
IDPs: 21 (2024 est.)
stateless persons: 31 (2024 est.)

Portugal