General Information

Portugal

Portugal, one of the oldest countries in Europe, is located in the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula lying between Spain in the north and east, and the Atlantic Ocean in the south and west. The signs of the Portuguese presence around the world are still visible and this is the reason why Portuguese is one of the most spoken languages worldwide and the Portuguese are one of the peoples more open to other civilizations. Portugal has been a Republic since 1911 and its government is a Parliamentary Democracy. A member of the European Union (EU) since 1986, Portugal is a nation in full development that has always kept its best treasure – its ability to welcome people. This makes this country an attractive and safe place.

Capital city: Lisbon
Official language: Portuguese
Population: 11,317,192
Currency: Euro
Total area: 92 389 sq km (including Madeira and Azores)
Land: 91959 sq km
Water: 430 sq km
Land use: 26 percent arable land; 9 percent permanent crops; 9 percent permanent pastures; 36 percent forests and woodland; 20 percent other
Terrain: Mountainous north of the Tagus River, rolling plains in south.