Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture ProCon Money Videos

Portugal: Quick Facts

Written and fact-checked by
The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

The Information Architects maintain a master list of the topics included in the corpus of  Encyclopædia Britannica, and create and manage the relationships between them.
The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Last updated

News •

Black Lives Matter Activist DeRay Mckesson Talks Losing Key Trump-Era Protest Mobilization Tool: “I Miss Twitter” • Nov. 10, 2026, 4:04 PM ET (The Hollywood Reporter)
Portugal coach says he had not anticipated Cristiano Ronaldo's retirement despite their falling out • Nov. 6, 2026, 9:06 AM ET (AP)
The nature of Ronaldo's international retirement is in stark contrast to his great rival Messi • Nov. 5, 2026, 1:15 PM ET (AP)
Cristiano Ronaldo announces his international retirement from Portugal • Nov. 5, 2026, 6:50 AM ET (AP)
French protest violence eases while scattered riots hit Germany ahead of school return • Nov. 1, 2026, 3:53 PM ET (AP)

Facts

Also Known As Portuguese Republic • República Portuguesa
Head Of Government Prime Minister: Luís Montenegro
Capital Lisbon
Population (2026 est.) 10,916,000
Currency Exchange Rate 1 USD equals 0.891 euro
Head Of State President: Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa
Form Of Government republic with one legislative house (Assembly of the Republic [230])
Official Language Portuguese
Official Religion none1
Official Name República Portuguesa (Portuguese Republic)
Total Area (Sq Km) 92,225
Total Area (Sq Mi) 35,608
Monetary Unit euro (€)
Population Rank (2026) 89
Population Projection 2030 9,848,000
Density: Persons Per Sq Mi (2026) 306.6
Density: Persons Per Sq Km (2026) 118.4
Urban-Rural Population Urban: (2021) 61.2% • Rural: (2021) 38.8%
Life Expectancy At Birth Male: (2022–2024) 78.7 years • Female: (2022–2024) 84 years
Gni (U.S.$ ’000,000) (2024) 287,747
Gni Per Capita (U.S.$) (2024) 26,910
1A 2004 concordat with the Vatican acknowledges the special role of the Roman Catholic Church in Portugal.

Photos and Videos

Portugal
Political map of Portugal showing national boundaries, major cities, and surrounding regions. Insets display the Azores and Madeira Islands in the Atlantic Ocean, with key towns labeled. A locator map in the bottom left highlights Portugal's position in southwestern Europe next to Spain.
Colorful, traditional buildings line the Duoro River waterfront in the Ribeira district of Porto, Portugal, with boats moored along the stone quay and hillside structures above.
Map of southwestern Europe and northwestern Africa highlighting Portugal in orange, with neighboring countries Spain, France, and the United Kingdom labeled, as well as Morocco, Algeria, and Western Sahara across the Mediterranean. The capital city, Lisbon, is marked within Portugal.
The old convent and red-roofed lighthouse of Cape St. Vincent sit atop rugged cliffs overlooking the Atlantic Ocean in the Algarve, southern Portugal.
Close-up of the Monument to the Discoverers in Lisbon, Portugal, showing detailed stone statues of historical figures standing in a row, with one figure at the front holding a ship model.
Iberian Peninsula; International Space Station
vineyards in the upper Douro River valley
Map of Portugal displaying its historic provinces with internal borders, major cities such as Lisbon, Porto, and Coimbra, and notable geographic features like mountain ranges and rivers. The map also includes an inset showing the location of the Azores and Madeira Islands relative to mainland Portugal. Neighboring Spain and surrounding bodies of water, including the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Cadiz, are labeled.
the Algarve
Explore Lisbon: A city shaped by maritime history
History and nature of Madeira Island, Portugal
Explore the historic neighborhoods and World Heritage sites of Lisbon, one of the oldest cities in Europe
How Portugal rose and fell as a colonial power
Basket weaving on Madeira Island, Portugal
National anthem of Portugal
See All Videos, Images, Audio and Interactives →

Related Topics and References

Topics
Dig Deeper: More Articles That Discuss This Topic
Vasco da Gama
Vasco da Gama
Portuguese navigator
John II of Portugal
John II
king of Portugal
default image
Manuel I
king of Portugal
Afonso de Albuquerque
Afonso de Albuquerque
Portuguese conqueror
Pombal, Sebastião de Carvalho, marquês de
Marquis de Pombal
Portuguese ruler
John I and John of Gaunt
John I
king of Portugal
Guterres, António
António Guterres
Portuguese politician and diplomat
John VI.
John VI
king of Portugal
António de Oliveira Salazar
António de Oliveira Salazar
prime minister of Portugal
default image
Frederick Herman, duke of Schomberg
German soldier
Pedro I
Pedro I
emperor of Brazil
Cavaco Silva, Aníbal
Aníbal Cavaco Silva
president of Portugal
St. Nuno Álvares Pereira
St. Nuno Álvares Pereira
Portuguese military leader
default image
Michael
king of Portugal
default image
Ferdinand I
king of Portugal
José Manuel Barroso
José Manuel Barroso
prime minister of Portugal
default image
João Carlos de Saldanha, duke de Saldanha
Portuguese statesman
default image
John III
king of Portugal
default image
John IV
king of Portugal
default image
Peter II
king of Portugal

Related Places

default image
Beja
Portugal
Map showing the countries of Europe with national capitals and surrounding bodies of water, including the Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, and Black Sea.
Europe
continent
View of central Lisbon with tightly packed red-tiled rooftops, a large open square near the waterfront, and the Tagus River with sailboats in the background.
Lisbon
national capital, Portugal
Porto: Dom Luís I Bridge
Porto
Portugal
Azores
Azores
archipelago, Portugal
Coimbra, University of
Coimbra
Portugal
Temple of Diana
Évora
Portugal
Pena Palace
Sintra
Portugal
The basilica at Fátima
Fátima
Portugal
Church of Bom Jesus do Monte staircase
Braga
city, Portugal
Faro: cathedral
Faro
Portugal
Bragança: feudal castle
Bragança
Portugal
Guimarães
Minho
historical province, Portugal
Funchal, Portugal
Funchal
Portugal
Tower of Belém
Belém
parish, Lisbon, Portugal

Related Quizzes

Opened passport with visas, stamps, seals, world map. (travel, tourism)
Guess the Country by Its Neighbors Quiz
Flags of the world. National flags. Country flags. Hompepage blog 2009, history and society, geography and travel, explore discovery
Countries of the World
Flags of the world against blue sky. Countries, International. Globalization, global relations, Australia, Canada, United Kingdom, Poland, Palestine, Japan. Homepage 2010, arts and entertainment, history and society
Which Country Is Larger By Population? Quiz
Flags of all countries of the world. Flags of the world. National flags. Country flags. Hompepage blog 2009, history and society, geography and travel, explore discovery
The Country Quiz
7:023 Geography: Think of Something Big, globe showing Africa, Europe, and Eurasia
Which Country Is Larger By Area? Quiz
Brown globe on antique map. Brown world on vintage map. North America. Green globe. Hompepage blog 2009, history and society, geography and travel, explore discovery
Match the Country with Its Hemisphere Quiz
Brown globe on antique map. Brown world on vintage map. North America. Green globe. Hompepage blog 2009, history and society, geography and travel, explore discovery
Countries & Their Features
Flags of all nations of the world. Grouping of various country flags on a world map.
Which Country Is Larger? Quiz
10:087 Ocean: The World of Water, two globes showing eastern and western hemispheres
You Name It!
Actual continental drift of plates. Thematic map.
Geography Fun Facts