Statistical information Portugal 1997

Portugal in the World
top of pageBackground: Following its heyday as a world 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 loss of its Brazilian 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 entered the EC in 1985.
top of pageLocation: Southwestern Europe, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Spain
Geographic coordinates: 39 30 N, 8 00 W
Map reference:
EuropeAreaTotal: 92,391 km²
Land: 91,951 km²
Water: 440 km²
Note: includes Azores and Madeira Islands
Comparative: slightly smaller than Indiana
Land boundariesTotal: 1,214 km
Border countries: (1) Spain 1,214 kmCoastline: 1,793 km
Maritime claimsContinental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: maritime temperate; cool and rainy in north, warmer and drier in south
Terrain: mountainous north of the Tagus, rolling plains in south
ElevationExtremes lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Extremes highest point: Ponta do Pico in Azores 2,351 m
Natural resources: fish, forests (cork), tungsten, iron ore, uranium ore, marble
Land useArable land: 26%
Permanent crops: 9%
Permanent pastures: 9%
Forests and woodland: 36%
Other: 20% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 6,300 km² (1993 est.)
Major riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazards: Azores subject to severe earthquakes
GeographyNote: Azores and Madeira Islands occupy strategic locations along western sea approaches to Strait of Gibraltar
top of pagePopulation: 9,931,045 (July 1997 est.)
Growth rate: -0.01% (1997 est.)
NationalityNoun: Portuguese (singular and plural)
Adjective: Portuguese
Ethnic groups: homogeneous Mediterranean stock in mainland, Azores, Madeira Islands; citizens of black African descent who immigrated to mainland during decolonization number less than 100,000
Languages: Portuguese
Religions: Roman Catholic 97%, Protestant denominations 1%, other 2%
Demographic profileAge structure0-14 years: 17% (male 895,294; female 848,133)
15-64 years: 68% (male 3,280,015; female 3,429,007)
65 years and over: 15% (male 605,074; female 873,522) (July 1997 est.)
Dependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rate: -0.01% (1997 est.)
Birth rate: 10.75 births/1000 population (1997 est.)
Death rate: 10.3 deaths/1000 population (1997 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.5 migrant(s)/1000 population (1997 est.)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: soil erosion; air pollution caused by industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution, especially in coastal areas
Air pollutantsSex ratioAt birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
Under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (1997 est.)
Mothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 7 deaths/1000 live births (1997 est.)
Life expectancy at birthTotal population: 75.42 years
Male: 72.02 years
Female: 79.04 years (1997 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.36 children born/woman (1997 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracyDefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 85%
Male: 89%
Female: 82% (1990 est.)
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry nameConventional long form: Portuguese Republic
Conventional short form: Portugal
Local long form: Republica Portuguesa
Local short form: Portugal
Government type: parliamentary democracy
Capital: Lisbon
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, Madeira*, Portalegre, Porto, Santarem, Setubal, Viana do Castelo, Vila Real, Viseu
Dependent areas:
(1) Macau (scheduled to become a Special Administrative Region of China on 20 December 1999)Independence: 1140 (independent republic proclaimed 5 October 1910)
National holiday: Day of Portugal, 10 June (1580)
Constitution: 25 April 1976, revised 30 October 1982, 1 June 1989, and 5 November 1992
Legal system: civil law system; the Constitutional Tribunal reviews the constitutionality of legislation; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
International law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branchChief of state: President Jorge SAMPAIO (since 9 March 1996)
Head of government: Prime Minister Antonio Manuel de Oliviera GUTERRES (since 28 October 1995)
Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister
Note: there is also a Council of State that acts as a consultative body to the president
Elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 14 January 1996 (next to be held NA January 2001); following assembly elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the president
Election results: Jorge SAMPAIO elected president; percent of vote - Jorge SAMPAIO (Socialist) 53.8%, Anibal CAVACO SILVA (Conservative) 46.2%
Legislative branch: unicameral Assembly of the Republic or Assembleia da Republica (230 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
Elections: last held 1 October 1995 (next to be held by NA October 1999)
Election results: percent of vote by party - PSD 34.0%, PS 43.8%, CDU 8.6%, CDS/PP 9.1%; seats by party - PSD 88, PS 112, CDU 15, CDS/PP 15
Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Supremo Tribunal de Justica, judges appointed for life by the Conselho Superior da Magistratura
Political parties and leadersInternational organization participation: AfDB, Australia Group, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, EBRD, ECE, ECLAC, EIB, EU, FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAIA (observer), MINURSO, MTCR, NACC, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OSCE, PCA, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNAVEM III, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIBH, UNMOP, UPU, WCL, WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representationIn the us chief of mission: Ambassador Fernando Antonio de Lacerda ANDRESEN GUIMARAES
In the us chancery: 2,125 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20,008
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 328-8,610
In the us FAX: [1] (202) 462-3,726
In the us consulates general: Boston, New York, Newark (New Jersey), and San Francisco
In the us consulates: Los Angeles, New Bedford (Massachusetts), Providence (Rhode Island), Washington, DC
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Elizabeth Frawley BAGLEY
From the us embassy: Avenida das Forcas Armadas, 1600 Lisbon
From the us mailing address: PSC 83, APO AE 9,726
From the us telephone: [351] (1) 7,266,600, 7,266,659, 7,268,670, 7,268,880
From the us FAX: [351] (1) 7,269,109
From the us consulates: Ponta Delgada (Azores)
Flag description
: two vertical bands of green (hoist side, two-fifths) and red (three-fifths) with the Portuguese coat of arms centered on the dividing line
National symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy overview: Portugal's short-term economic fundamentals remain strong:the economy has grown by more than 2% during the past two years, with similar growth expected in 1997. The Socialist government's primary economic goal is to place Portugal in the first group of countries adopting the single European currency, and it has instituted a disciplined 1997 budget to bolster Lisbon's chances. Portuguese government forecasts suggest that it is likely to meet partially the Maastricht monetary convergence criteria by lowering its budget deficit from 4% of GDP in 1996 to 2.9% in 1997, although the government predicts that government debt will be cut only to 68% of GDP, overshooting Maastricht's 60% target. Social programs - a priority for the Socialists - will still grow slightly faster than GDP in 1997, mandating strict budget discipline in other areas. As for the long run, Portugal is increasing its infrastructure spending - much of it in anticipation of hosting the world's International Exposition in 1998 - while working to modernize its capital plant and increase competitiveness in hopes of increasing Portugal's GDP, which remains below 65% of the EU's average GDP per capita.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rate: 2.5% (1996 est.)
Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity - $12,400 (1996 est.)
Gross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture: 6%
Industry: 36%
Services: 58% (1995 est.)
Agriculture products: grain, potatoes, olives, grapes; sheep, cattle, goats, poultry, meat, dairy products
Industries: textiles and footwear; wood pulp, paper, and cork; metalworking; oil refining; chemicals; fish canning; wine; tourism
Industrial production growth rate: 2.2% (1996 est.)
Labor forceTotal: 4.53 million (1996 est.)
By occupation services: 54.5%
By occupation manufacturing: 24.4%
By occupation agriculture forestry fisheries: 11.2%
By occupation construction: 8.3%
By occupation utilities: 1.0%
By occupation mining: 0.5% (1992)
Unemployment rate: 7% (1996 est.)
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudgetRevenues: $48 billion
Expenditures: $52 billion, including capital expenditures of $7.4 billion (1996 est.)
Taxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal year: calendar year
Inflation rate consumer pricesCentral bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExportsTotal value: $25.8 billion (f.o.b., 1996)
Commodities: clothing and footwear, machinery, cork and paper products, hides
Partners: EU 80%, other developed countries 9% (US 4.5%)
ImportsTotal value: $34.2 billion (c.i.f., 1996)
Commodities: machinery and transport equipment, agricultural products, chemicals, petroleum, textiles
Partners: EU 72%, other developed countries 8% (US 3%), less developed countries 17%
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: $13.6 billion (1996 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: Portuguese escudos (Esc) per US$1 - 160.35 (January 1997), 154.24 (1996), 151.11 (1995), 165.99 (1994), 160.80 (1993), 135.00 (1992)
top of pageElectricityCapacity: 8.83 million kW (1994)
Production: 33.1 billion kWh (1995)
Consumption per capita: 2,863 kWh (1995 est.)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephones: 3,444,300 (1994 est.)
Telephone systemDomestic: generally adequate integrated network of coaxial cables, open wire, microwave radio relay, and domestic satellite earth stations
International: 6 submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), NA Eutelsat; tropospheric scatter to Azores; note - an earth station for Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean Region) is planned
Broadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresDollar figure: $2.07 billion (1996)
Percent of gdp: 1.9% (1996)
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 67 (1996 est.)
With paved runways total: 66
With paved runways over 3047 m: 5
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 8
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 3
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 18
With paved runways under 914 m: 32 (1996 est.)
With unpaved runways total: 1
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 1 (1996 est.)
HeliportsPipelines: crude oil 22 km; petroleum products 58 km
Note: there is a 700 km natural gas pipeline which connects with one in Spain carrying Algerian natural gas which is to open in 1997; the secondary lines that will be 300 km long have not yet been built
RailwaysTotal: 3,068 km
Broad gauge: 2,761 km 1.668-m gauge (464 km electrified; 426 km double track)
Narrow gauge: 307 km 1.000-m gauge
Note: in 1994, Portugal had 3,520 km of track of which 464 km were electrified
RoadwaysWaterways: 820 km navigable; relatively unimportant to national economy, used by shallow-draft craft limited to 300 metric-ton cargo capacity
Merchant marineTotal: 84 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 556,069 GRT/906,790 DWT
Ships by type: bulk 9, cargo 47, chemical tanker 6, container 5, liquefied gas tanker 4, oil tanker 7, passenger-cargo 1, refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2, short-sea passenger 2
Note: Portugal has created a captive register on Madeira for Portuguese-owned ships; ships on the Madeira Register (MAR) will have taxation and crewing benefits of a flag of convenience; Portugal owns an additional 10 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 322,887 DWT operating under the registries of Cyprus, Liberia, and Panama (1996 est.)
Ports and terminalstop of pageDisputes international: sovereignty over Timor Timur (East Timor province) disputed with Indonesia and not recognized by the UN
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs: important gateway country for Latin American cocaine entering the European market; transshipment point for hashish from North Africa to Europe; consumer of Southwest Asian heroin