01
Physical geography
The west-flowing Tagus River divides the country: the north is mountainous toward the interior, while the south is characterized by rolling plains.
Local timeLisbon ·
Europe / Southern Europe · Card 041
Portugal
Portugal is a country in Southern Europe. Its capital is Lisbon.
Find Portugal
● Capital · Gold highlights this card’s area.
Map: Natural Earth. Boundaries show geographic context, not a position on sovereignty. Small islands may use enlarged markers.
Map: Natural Earth. Boundaries show geographic context, not a position on sovereignty. Small islands may use enlarged markers.
At a glance
- Capital
- Lisbon
- Languages
- Portuguese
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Population
- 10.8 million2025 · World Bank
- Area
- 92,090 km²35,556.13 square miles
- Democratic transition
- 1974Portuguese statehood dates to the twelfth century.
Portugal in context
Europe and its surrounding regions. The dot marks Lisbon; the mapped territory is highlighted in gold.
Natural Earth · locator mapGeography & languages
02
Languages
Languages used in public life include Portuguese.
03
Location
Southwestern Europe, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Spain.
Flag
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 line
History & status
Portugal developed as an independent kingdom in the twelfth century. Its maritime empire later extended across several continents. The 1974 Carnation Revolution ended authoritarian rule and was followed by democratization and decolonization.
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The Treaty of Zamora marks a key step in Portuguese statehood
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The Carnation Revolution ends authoritarian rule
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Portugal joins the European Communities
Economy
Main activities
Tourism and other services are major activities. Manufacturing includes textiles, footwear, machinery, vehicles and paper products. Agriculture, wine and cork production also contribute to exports.
Industry and production
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
Population & economic trends
Dated World Bank observations. Population uses selected years; real GDP uses all available annual observations.
Population, 1970–2025
Millions of people10.82025 · millions of people
Population estimates may be revised. Selected years are shown.
Sources: World Bank · Population
View data table
| Year | People | Millions of people |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 8,680,431 | 8.680 |
| 1980 | 9,766,312 | 9.766 |
| 1990 | 9,983,218 | 9.983 |
| 2000 | 10,289,898 | 10.290 |
| 2010 | 10,573,100 | 10.573 |
| 2020 | 10,297,081 | 10.297 |
| 2025 | 10,804,871 | 10.805 |
Real GDP, 1990–2025
Billions of constant 2015 US dollars246.92025 · billions of constant 2015 US dollars
Constant prices adjust for inflation. This is total economic output, not current-dollar GDP or income per person. Missing years are left as gaps.
Sources: World Bank · Real GDP
View data table
| Year | Constant 2015 US$ | Billions of constant 2015 US dollars |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 145,687,801,786 | 145.688 |
| 1991 | 152,051,745,328 | 152.052 |
| 1992 | 153,708,313,967 | 153.708 |
| 1993 | 150,567,626,889 | 150.568 |
| 1994 | 152,020,360,998 | 152.020 |
| 1995 | 158,531,058,877 | 158.531 |
| 1996 | 164,086,378,008 | 164.086 |
| 1997 | 171,307,602,359 | 171.308 |
| 1998 | 179,544,008,822 | 179.544 |
| 1999 | 186,558,035,205 | 186.558 |
| 2000 | 193,677,420,299 | 193.677 |
| 2001 | 197,441,874,348 | 197.442 |
| 2002 | 198,964,002,686 | 198.964 |
| 2003 | 197,112,600,769 | 197.113 |
| 2004 | 200,638,423,891 | 200.638 |
| 2005 | 202,207,110,531 | 202.207 |
| 2006 | 205,493,047,516 | 205.493 |
| 2007 | 210,643,893,867 | 210.644 |
| 2008 | 211,316,368,905 | 211.316 |
| 2009 | 204,718,906,459 | 204.719 |
| 2010 | 208,276,152,408 | 208.276 |
| 2011 | 204,707,283,346 | 204.707 |
| 2012 | 196,414,790,526 | 196.415 |
| 2013 | 194,481,859,660 | 194.482 |
| 2014 | 195,923,731,482 | 195.924 |
| 2015 | 199,038,523,120 | 199.039 |
| 2016 | 203,027,536,358 | 203.028 |
| 2017 | 209,757,330,877 | 209.757 |
| 2018 | 215,937,376,369 | 215.937 |
| 2019 | 221,866,335,067 | 221.866 |
| 2020 | 203,663,019,645 | 203.663 |
| 2021 | 214,984,151,438 | 214.984 |
| 2022 | 230,002,603,240 | 230.003 |
| 2023 | 237,132,655,096 | 237.133 |
| 2024 | 242,384,176,671 | 242.384 |
| 2025 | 246,903,381,349 | 246.903 |
Human development
The Human Development Index combines health, education and income. Scores range from 0 to 1.
HDI · 20230.890Very High human developmentRank 40 of 193 · 2025 report
Human Development Index over time
19900.707
20000.797
20100.836
20200.870
20230.890
82.4 yearsLife expectancy at birth
9.7 yearsMean schooling, adults aged 25+
The latest values refer to 2023. All historical scores use the same report edition. HDI does not describe every aspect of inequality or quality of life.
Sources: UNDP · Human Development Report 2025
Government
Semi-presidential republic. Assembly of the Republic (Assembleia da Republica) has one chamber (a unicameral legislature).
Knowledge check
Three questions about Portugal.
QUESTION 1 OF 3
Which currency is listed for Portugal?
Sources & notes
Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile
Prepared 24 September 2026. World Bank series: SP.POP.TOTL (persons) and NY.GDP.MKTP.KD (constant 2015 US dollars); downloaded 24 September 2026, provider update 13 July 2026. UNDP values use the 2025 report and 2023 observation year. These are dated statistical snapshots, not live population or economic counters.
Maps use Natural Earth geographic data. Background geography, flag descriptions and selected historical facts use archived public-domain CIA World Factbook profiles, supplemented by the sources linked above. The Factbook is no longer updated; dated statistics here come from the separately named providers.