In total, Portugal spends US$4.5 billion on its military, or 2.035 percent of its GDP. This makes Portugal the 43rd highest military spender in the world and represents 0.23 percent of total global military expenditure.
The military of Portugal, called the Portuguese Armed Forces consists of a Navy, an army and an air force. Its main task is to ensure its territorial integrity, and its main activities have been peacekeeping missions as well as operations by NATO.
Portugal is also a member of 11 international military organizations. This makes it the 27th most militarily connected state in the world. It is a member of the following organizations:
Portugal has partaken in 22 international wars. These are:
In total, Portugal is a member of 18 international political organizations. This makes it the 12th most connected state in the world. It is a member of the following organizations:
Member state of the United Nations
International Labour Organization
European Union
the Council of Europe
Energy Community
European Cooperation in Science and Technology
Union for the Mediterranean
Community of Portuguese Language Countries
Interpol
Organization of Ibero-American States
UNIDROIT
International Criminal Court
Permanent Court of Arbitration
International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property
Association of World Election Bodies
Western European and Others Group
International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance
World Organization for Animal Health
Portugal is the 13th most democratic state in the world. This is largely due to having installed checks and balances as well as regular elections. However, corruption and discrimination are subjects that need to be addressed in the near future.
The politics of Portugal take place in the form of a democratic republic which has been active since 1974 when military rule was abolished. Currently, its president is head of state, and its Prime Minister is head of government.
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Known for its historic explorers as well as its port wine and its seafood dishes, Portugal has had a rich history. Since the start of civilization, the area has been inhabited by the Celtic tribes. In the second century BC, the area was conquered by the Romans. After the decline of the Roman Empire, the territory was partially held by the Visigoth kingdom and later on by the Byzantine Empire. By the eighth century until the 15th century, the area was under control of several Islamic empires. After the expulsion of the Arabs from the Iberian Peninsula, Portugal began to expand to the territories of Brazil and Angola. After being conquered by the Spanish during the 16th and 17th century, as well as Napoleon at the start of the 19th century the Portuguese empire started to decline. The 20th century has been the most tumultuous with two military coups and the decolonization of its empire. At the end of the 20th century, Portugal returned to political stability after joining the European union.
Located on the Iberian Peninsula on the most southwestern part of Europe, the geography of Portugal consists of a low-lying terrain along its Western part and the low-lying mountains on its eastern part. Most of its terrain is covered by low-lying vegetation or sparsely forested areas. It only borders Spain which surrounds Portugal to the north and the east. Its southern and western border are located on the Atlantic Ocean.
It is the 109th largest state with a total surface area of 92.687 square kilometers or 35.787 square miles. This makes Portugal slightly smaller than Jordan and slightly larger than Hungary.
It has a total water surface area of 1.113 square kilometers or 429 square miles. This makes Portugal the 106th largest state in the world.
Below, a graph is shown which displays the absolute amount of water of each state in square kilometers and square miles.
The majority of its drinking water comes from groundwater and is considered to be safe to drink.
The climate of Portugal is characterized as a Mediterranean climate with a large influence from the Atlantic Ocean. It has four different seasons with a distinct hot summer and a temperate winter. The average temperature is 15.425 degrees Celsius or 60 degrees Fahrenheit. This makes Portugal the 129th warmest state in the world.
During summer, between June and September, the average high temperature is 20 degrees Celsius or 68 degrees Fahrenheit.
During winter, between December and February, the average low temperature is 12.1 degrees Celsius or 53.8 degrees Fahrenheit.
Most of its rainfall is provided by the Atlantic Ocean and mainly occurs during winter. On average, Portugal receives 82.7 centimetres or 32.5 inches of rainfall per year which ranks it as the 117th highest in the world.
The capital of Portugal, Lisbon, is home to approximately 1.5 million people. The closest capital is Madrid, Spain, with a distance of 507 kilometers or 315 miles. The capital that is the furthest removed is Wellington, New Zealand, with a distance of 19.588 kilometers or 12.171 miles.
After joining the European union in 1986, the economy of Portugal transformed into a service-based economy. From joining the European union until the economic crisis of 2008, the Portuguese economy grew at a moderate pace. However, after the economic crisis of 2008 as well as the European financial crisis of 2012, the economy of Portugal contracted which has led to an increase of the budget deficit of the Portuguese government. At the start of 2020, the economy of Portugal stabilized and has had a favourable outlook. Today, most of the products that Portugal exports are petroleum related products as well as textiles and vehicles. These are mainly exported to Spain, Germany and France which combined represent nearly 50 percent of all exports. Most of its imports come from Spain which is solely responsible for 30 percent of all imports.
Portugal is a member of 19 international economic organizations. This makes it the 21st most connected state in the world. It is a member of the following organizations:
It has a GDP of US$229 billion, which makes it the 50th highest in the world and represents 0.27 percent of total global GDP.
Its GDP per surface area is the 44th highest in the world with US$2.477.674 per square kilometer or US$6.417.086 per square mile.
Its GDP per capita is the 39th highest in the world with US$22.340.
The absolute earnings (GDP per capita) reflect the average yearly income. The figure below shows how much, on average, an inhabitant of another state earns for every $1 earned by a citizen of this state.
Its purchasing power parity per capita is the 42nd highest in the world with US$33.357.
The relative Gross Domestic Product in Purchasing Power Parity compares the purchasing power of this state with that of the rest of the world. The graph on the left shows how much purchasing power of 1$ compared to the purchasing power of other states
Portugal is the 88th most populous state in the world with 10.3 million people. The majority of its population ethnically Portuguese which consists of a mix between Celtic, Greek and Phoenician.
It has the 124th highest population density in the world with 111 people per square kilometer or 286 people per square mile.
Approximately 2.1 million people, or 20.7 percent of the population has migrated to other states. This makes Portugal the 30th largest supplier of emigrants in the world and represents 0.85 percent of total global emigration. The main reason for migration has been economic and the main destinations have been within Europe with France representing 30 percent of all migrants.
Immigration to Portugal is represented by 9.12 percent, or nearly 950,000 people. This makes Portugal the 43rd largest recipient of migrants and represents 0.37 percent of total global immigration. The largest suppliers of migrants have been Brazil and Angola which together represent nearly 30 percent of all immigrants. Other suppliers of migrants have been other former colonies as well as states within the European union.
Portugal is the 87th most literate state in the world with a percentage of 95.2. This is largely because of a higher illiteracy rate among its elder population. This number is likely to rise as Portugal has installed free and compulsory primary and secondary education over the last four decades.
The Portuguese government provides free healthcare towards all of its citizens. The largest threats to health are noncommunicable diseases which are mostly related to lifestyle choices. The average life expectancy is 82.67 years which is the 16th highest in the world. Women have an average life expectancy of 85.28 years, while men have an average life expectancy of 79.8 years.
The government of Portugal provides freedom of religion towards all religions. However, there is a preferential treatment for the Catholic church.
Christianity, with 77.7 percent of the population, is the largest religion in Portugal. This ranks Portugal as the 64th most Christian state in the world. Roman Catholicism is the largest denomination within Christianity with roughly 4/5 of the population following Catholicism.
On the right, the global share of Christians per state is displayed
Islam is represented by 0.4 percent of the population which makes Portugal the 136th most Islamic state in the world. The majority of Muslims adhere to the Sunni denomination followed by the Shia denomination. Despite being conquered by the Umayyad caliphate during the eighth century, all Muslims were expelled by the end of the 14th century. This means that all Muslims in Portugal are currently migrants.
Buddhism is represented by 0.3 percent of the population and has been formally established in 2010.
Hinduism is represented by 0.09 percent of the population, or less than 10,000 people. Most Hindus arrived in Portugal from Nepal as a result of a high labour demand.
Judaism is represented by less than 0.04 percent of the population.
Other religions are represented by 0.23 percent of the population. These are mainly adherents to Celtic religions that have been kept alive before the conquest by the Roman empire.
Irreligion is represented by 3.99 percent of the population.

