Portugal

At a Glance

The numbers that define this country

Life Expectancy

82.4 years

#31globally

How many years a newborn can expect to live, based on current mortality rates.

Our World in Data 2023

Life Expectancy

82.3 years

#31globally

How many years a newborn can expect to live, based on current mortality rates.

World Bank 2023

Human Development Index

0.89

#40globally

The Human Development Index (HDI), combining life expectancy, education, and income into a single score from 0 to 1.

Our World in Data 2023

University Enrollment Rate

77.7%

#33globally

Total university and college enrollment as a percentage of the typical college-age population.

World Bank 2023

GDP Per Capita (PPP)

50.6K

#46globally

GDP per person, adjusted for purchasing power parity (PPP) so costs of living are comparable across countries.

World Bank 2023

GDP Per Capita

$41.9K

#50globally

GDP per person, adjusted for purchasing power parity (PPP) so costs of living are comparable across countries.

Our World in Data 2023

Where They Stand Out

Global rankings worth knowing

👥Elderly Population (%)

24.5%

#5globallyTop performer

The percentage of the population aged 65 and older.

World Bank 2023

❤️Doctors (per 1,000)

5.85

#8globallyTop performer

The number of doctors per 1,000 people.

World Bank 2023

👥Median Age

46.8 years

#12globallyTop performer

Median age from CIA World Factbook.

💰Government Debt (% GDP)

125.7%

#11globallyTop performer

How much money the central government owes as a percentage of GDP.

World Bank 2023

🌱Renewable Energy (%)

39.7%

#9globallyTop performer

The percentage of energy consumption that comes from renewable sources.

Our World in Data 2023

Did You Know?

Facts that catch players off guard

👥

Ranks #5 globally in elderly population (%)

Elderly Population (%): 24.5%

The percentage of the population aged 65 and older.

World Bank 2023

❤️

Ranks #8 globally in doctors (per 1,000)

Doctors (per 1,000): 5.85

The number of doctors per 1,000 people.

World Bank 2023

🌍

Only ranks #156 in border countries count

Border Countries Count: 1.00

Number of neighboring border countries from CIA World Factbook.

👥

Ranks #12 globally in median age

Median Age: 46.8 years

Median age from CIA World Factbook.

💰

Ranks #11 in government debt (% gdp) (lower is better)

Government Debt (% GDP): 125.7%

How much money the central government owes as a percentage of GDP.

World Bank 2023

How Portugal Compares

Country vs continent vs world averages

Portugal

Europe avg

World avg

GDP per Capita

Above avg

GDP per person, adjusted for purchasing power parity (PPP) so costs of living are comparable across countries.

World Bank 2023

Portugal50.6K

Europe57.5K

World31.8K

Life Expectancy

Above avg

How many years a newborn can expect to live, based on current mortality rates.

World Bank 2023

Portugal82.3 years

Europe80.0 years

World73.7 years

Human Development Index

Above avg

The Human Development Index (HDI), combining life expectancy, education, and income into a single score from 0 to 1.

Our World in Data 2023

Portugal0.89

Europe0.89

World0.74

Internet Users

Above avg

The percentage of people who have used the internet in the last 3 months.

World Bank 2023

Portugal88.5%

Europe90.1%

World70.3%

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About Portugal

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.

🌍Geography & Climate6 facts

Location: Southwestern Europe, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Spain
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
Natural Resources: fish, forests (cork), iron ore, copper, zinc, tin, tungsten, silver, gold, uranium, marble, clay, gypsum, salt, arable land, hydropower
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
Size Comparison: slightly smaller than Virginia

👥People & Culture4 facts

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.)
Ethnic Groups: Portuguese 95%; citizens from Portugal's former colonies in Africa, Asia (Han Chinese), and South America (Brazilian) and other foreign born 5%
Major Cities: 3.001 million LISBON (capital), 1.325 million Porto (2023)

🏛️Government & History10 facts

Government Type: semi-presidential republic
Capital: Lisbon
Capital Coordinates: 38 43 N, 9 08 W
Capital Timezone: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Official Name: Portuguese Republic
Name Origin: 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
Independence: 1143 (Kingdom of Portugal recognized); 1 December 1640 (independence reestablished after 60 years of Spanish rule); 5 October 1910 (republic proclaimed)
National Symbols: armillary sphere (a spherical astrolabe for modeling objects in the sky)
National Anthem: "A Portugesa" (The Song of the Portuguese)
UNESCO Heritage: 17 (16 cultural, 1 natural)

💼Economy & Trade7 facts

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
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
Agricultural Products: milk, tomatoes, olives, grapes, maize, pork, potatoes, chicken, apples, oranges (2023)
Export Partners: Spain 21%, France 11%, Germany 10%, USA 8%, UK 5% (2023)
Export Commodities: cars, garments, vehicle parts/accessories, unpackaged medicine, refined petroleum (2023)
Import Partners: Spain 33%, Germany 11%, France 7%, Netherlands 5%, China 5% (2023)
Import Commodities: cars, crude petroleum, vehicle parts/accessories, refined petroleum, garments (2023)

🔧Infrastructure & Defense5 facts

Military 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 Service: 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)
Energy Mix: 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.)
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
Space Program: 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)

Source:CIA World Factbook 2026