Country Guide • Portugal
Portugal is located in South West Europe occupying the western littoral of the Iberian Peninsula. The territory also includes the Azores, Madeira and Porto Santo Islands. It is bound by Spain to the north and east, and the Atlantic Ocean to the south and west. The terrain of Portugal is linked to Spain
| Official Name | Republic of Portugal |
|---|---|
| Area | 92,082km² (35,553mile²) |
| Population | 10,102,000 |
| Continent | Europe |
| Population per mile² | 283 |
| Capital City | Lisbon |
| Religions | 95% Roman Catholic, 1% Protestant. The principal religious minority are the Muslims |
| Language | Portuguese |
| Government | Parliamentary Democracy |
| Member of EU | Yes |
| Currency | Euro |
| GDP | $182 billion |
| GDP per Head | $18,000 |
| Natural Resources | Fish, forests (cork), tungsten, iron ore, uranium ore, marble, arable land, hydropower |
| Land Use | Arable Land 21% |
| Agriculture | Grain, potatoes, olives, grapes, livestock inc. sheep, cattle, goats, poultry, beef and dairy products |
| Industry | Textiles and footwear; wood pulp, paper, and cork; metalworking; oil refining; chemicals; fish canning; wine; tourism |
| Tourism | In Portugal you have the choice of up market beach resorts, medieval quarters in historic cities like Lisbon, Porto, Braga or Coimbra or you can venture into the countryside and explore the more remote beauty spots and maybe stay overnight in a romantic pousada—which could be a converted farm, monastery or manor house. Portugal is one of Europe’s premier golfing destinations with superb cources throughout the country and its tennis schools are second-to-none too |
| Natural Hazards | Azores subject to severe earthquakes |
| Health Risks | None |
| Climate | Portugal has two climatic zones. The northern zone is characterised by an average annual rainfall of 39 inches. The southern zone which has a Mediterranean climate with low annual rainfall and sunny days. Average temperature ranges in Lisbon are from 8 to 14°C in January to 17 to 28°C in August |
| Time | GMT/UTC (GMT + 1 hour from last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October) |
| National Days | March 4 Mardi Gras (Carnival), April 25 Freedom Day, May 1 Labour Day, June 10 Portugal Day, June 19 Corpus Christi, August 15 Assumption, October 5 Republic Day, November 1 All Saints’ Day, December 1 Restoration of Independence Day,December 8 Immaculate Conception |
| Visas | None required for EU nationals. Nationals of Canada, New Zealand, Australia and the USA can stay for 90 days visa-free. Everyone else needs a visa |
| British Embassy | Embassy Details |
Information Only
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