FLAG: The national flag, adopted in 1911, consists of a green field at the hoist and a larger red field. At the junction of the two, in yellow, red, blue, and white, is the national coat of arms.

ANTHEM: A Portuguesa (The Portuguese).

MONETARY UNIT: The escudo (e) was replaced by the euro as official currency as of 2002. The euro is divided into 100 cents. There are coins in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50 cents and 1 euro and 2 euros. There are notes of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, and 500 euros. €1 = $1.25475 (or $1 = €0.79697) as of 2005.

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES: The metric system is the legal standard.

HOLIDAYS: New Year’s Day, 1 January; Anniversary of the Revolution, 25 April; Labor Day, 1 May; National Day, 10 June; Assumption, 15 August; Republic Day, 5 October; All Saints’ Day, 1 November; Independence Day, 1 December; Immaculate Conception, 8 December; Christmas, 25 December. Movable religious holidays include Carnival Day, Good Friday, and Corpus Christi.

TIME: GMT.

1 Location and Size

The westernmost country of Europe, Portugal occupies most of the western coast of the Iberian Peninsula, which it shares with Spain. Portugal has an area of 92, 391 square kilometers (35, 672 square miles), including the Azores Archipelago (island chain) and the islands of Madeira and Porto Santo. The area occupied by Portugal is slightly smaller than the state of Indiana. Portugal has a total land boundary (with Spain) of 1, 214 kilometers (755 miles) and a total Atlantic Ocean coastline of 1, 793 kilometers (1, 113 miles).

Portugal’s capital city, Lisbon, is located on Portugal’s west coast.

2 Topography

Portugal’s land area exhibits sharp contrasts. The north is largely lowland or land of medium altitude. The principal mountain ranges are the Serra do Caramulo and the Serra da Podrela, all north of the Tagus River. The highest peak on the Serra da Estrela, an extension of mountains that originate in Spain, is 1, 993 meters (6, 539

GEOGRAPHICAL PROFILE

Geographic Features

Area: 92, 391 sq km (35, 672 sq mi)

Size ranking: 108 of 194

Highest elevation: 2, 351 meters (7, 713 feet) at Ponta do Pico (Pico Alto)

Lowest elevation: Sea level at the Atlantic Ocean

Land Use*

Arable land: 17%

Permanent crops: 8%

Other: 75%

Weather**

Average annual precipitation: 70.8 centimeters (27.9 inches)

Average temperature in January: 10.8°c (51.4°f)

Average temperature in July: 22.2°c (72.0°f)

* Arable Land: Land used for temporary crops, like meadows for mowing or pasture, gardens, and greenhouses.

Permanent crops: Land cultivated with crops that occupy its use for long periods, such as cocoa, coffee, rubber, fruit and nut orchards, and vineyards.

Other: Any land not specified, including built-on areas, roads, and barren land.

** The measurements for precipitation and average temperatures were taken at weather stations closest to the country’s largest city.

Precipitation and average temperature can vary significantly within a country, due to factors such as latitude, altitude, coastal proximity, and wind patterns.

feet). The highest point in the country is on the Azores, Ponta do Pico at 2, 351 meters (7, 713 feet). The lowest point is at sea level (Atlantic Ocean).

The larger rivers—the Minho, the Douro, the Tagus, and the Guadiana—all start in Spain.

The longest is the Tagus, with a total length of 1, 007 kilometers (626 miles).

3 Climate

The north has cool summers and rainy winters, with average annual rainfall totaling 125–150 centimeters (50–60 inches) and with occasional snowfall. Central Portugal has hot summers and cool, rainy winters, with 50–75 centimeters (20–30 inches) average annual rainfall. The southern climate is very dry, with rainfall not exceeding 50 centimeters (20 inches) along the coast. In Lisbon the average temperature is about 21°c (70°f) in July and 4°c (39°f) in January.

4 Plants and Animals

Three types of vegetation can be found in Portugal: the green forests of eucalyptus, pine, and chestnut in the north; the open dry grasslands, interrupted by cork trees and other types of evergreen oak, in the central areas; and the dry grasslands and evergreen brush in the south. Few wild animals remain in Portugal. The coastal waters abound with fish. Sardines and tuna are among the most common.

5 Environment

Air and water pollution are significant environmental problems, especially in Portugal’s urban centers. The nation’s water supply, especially in coastal areas, is threatened by pollutants from the oil industries. The nation’s wildlife and agricultural activities are threatened by erosion and desertification of the land.

In 2006, 15 of Portugal’s mammal species and 15 of its bird species were threatened, as well as 15 plant species. Threatened species

in Portugal include the Spanish lynx, rosalia, Mediterranean monk seal, and Spanish imperial eagle. The São Miguel bullfinch and three species of turtle were endangered in the Azores. The Mediterranean monk seal and four species of turtle (green sea, hawksbill, Kemp’s ridley, and leatherback) were endangered in Madeira. The Madeiran land snail and the Canarian black oyster have become extinct.

6 Population

The population of Portugal in 2005 was estimated at 10.6 million. The projected population is 10.4 million for the year 2025. Average population density in 2005 was 115 persons per square kilometer (298 per square mile). About two-thirds of the people lived in coastal areas. Lisbon, the capital and principal city, had a metropolitan-area population of 2 million in 2005.

7 Migration

When Portugal’s African colonies gained independence in 1975, an estimated 800, 000 Portuguese settlers returned to Portugal. Since then at least 25, 000 return from abroad each year, generally from other European countries or the United States. Children born to immigrants living in the country legally for at least six years are automatically be granted citizenship. In 2003, Ukrainians displaced Brazilians as the dominant nationality.

The total refugee population at the end of 2004 was 377. There were 466, 000 legal migrants at the end of 2004, including 52, 037 Africans. In 2005, the estimated net migration rate was 3.5 migrants per 1, 000 population.

8 Ethnic Groups

The Portuguese represent a mixture of various ethnic strains. In the north are traces of Celtic influence. In the south, Arab and Berber influences are considerable. Other groups, including Lusitanians, Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, Visigoths, and Jews, have also left their mark on the Portuguese people. The present-day Portuguese population is one of the most homogeneous in Europe. Minority groups are primarily made up of immigrants, both legal and illegal, from Brazil, African colonies, and Eastern Europe.

9 Languages

Portuguese, the national language, evolved from ancient dialects of Latin; its rules of orthography were reformulated in 1911. Portuguese is also the official language of Brazil and the former African provinces. Spanish, French, and English are the most common second languages.

10 Religions

In 2004, about 80% of the population aged 12 or older identified themselves as Roman Catholic, though many claimed that they are not active participants in the church. Protestants constituted about 4% of the populace, and various other groups made up about 1%. Nearly 3% claimed no religious affiliation.

There are about 35, 000 Muslims, 700 Jews, and small groups of Buddhists, Taoists, and Zoroastrians. About 7, 000 people are Hindus. There are also congregations of the Igreja Universal de Reino de Deus (the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God), which originated in Brazil. The Church of Scientology claims to have about 200 active members.

11 Transportation

In 2004, the railway system totaled 2, 850 kilometers (1, 771 miles) of track. The length of usable highways in 2002 was 68, 732 kilometers (42, 710 miles), of which 59, 110 kilometers (36, 731 miles) were paved, including 797 kilometers (495 miles) of expressways. Bus service links all Portuguese cities, towns, and important villages. In 2003, there were 5.2 million motor vehicles registered in continental Portugal, including 3.9 million passenger cars and 1.3 million trucks, buses, and other commercial vehicles.

As of 2005, the Portuguese merchant fleet had 114 oceangoing vessels of over 1, 000 gross tons, totaling 872, 557 gross registered tons. The chief ports are Lisbon (the largest), Pôrto, Ponta Delgada, and Sines.

Because of their geographical position, Lisbon’s Portela Airport and Santa Maria in the Azores are of great importance in international aviation. The most important aviation company in Portugal is Transportes Aereos Portugueses, which was nationalized in 1975. In 2003, about 7.6 million passengers were carried on domestic and international scheduled flights.

12 History

Portugal derives its name from ancient Portus Cale (now Pôrto), at the mouth of the Douro River, where the Portuguese monarchy began. The country’s early history is the same as that of the other Iberian peoples. In the first century of the Christian era, Lusitanians, as the ancient Portuguese were known, were overrun by Celts, Romans, Visigoths, and Moors one after the other. Alfonso I (Alfonso Henriques) became king and achieved independence for Portugal in 1143, beginning the Burgundy dynasty. By the mid-13th century, the present boundaries of Portugal were established and Lisbon became the capital.

In the 15th century, Prince Henry the Navigator (Henrique o Navegador) founded a nautical school at Sagres, where he gathered the world’s best navigators, geographers, and astronomers. This began Portugal’s golden age with the series of voyages that led to the formation of the Portuguese Empire. For two centuries Portuguese explorers sailed most of the world’s seas. They made the European discovery of the Cape of Good Hope in Africa, Brazil in South America, and Labrador on the coast of Canada. They founded Portugal’s overseas provinces in western and eastern Africa, India, Southeast Asia, and Brazil, pouring the vast riches of the empire into their homeland.

From 1580 to 1581, Philip II of Spain, claiming the throne, conquered Portugal and acquired its empire. Portugal’s national independence was restored by the revolution of 1640 and the rise of John IV, founder of the Bragança dynasty, to the Portuguese throne. John IV ushered in Portugal’s silver age, the 17th and 18th centuries, when the wealth of Brazil once more made Lisbon one of the most brilliant of European capitals.

The city was largely destroyed by a great earthquake in 1755 but was soon rebuilt. During the Napoleonic wars (1803–15), Portugal was the base of British operations against the French in the Iberian Peninsula. The royal family, however, withdrew to Brazil, and from 1807–21, Rio de Janeiro was the seat of the Portuguese monarchy. In 1822, Brazil, ruled by Pedro, the son of King John VI of Portugal, formally declared its independence.

The Bragança dynasty, which had ruled Portugal since 1640, came to an end with the revolution of 1910, when the monarchy was replaced by a republican regime. Lack of stability under the new republic led to a military dictatorship

in 1926. Marshal António Carmona served as president from 1926–51. António de Oliveira Salazar became Portugal’s prime minister in 1932 and proclaimed a new constitution the following year, which consolidated his rule.

During World War II (1939–45), Portugal supported the Allies but did not take part in combat. It subsequently became a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

Despite its reduced status as a European power, Portugal attempted to maintain its overseas empire, especially its resource-rich African provinces. The United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution in 1965 calling for a worldwide economic and arms boycott of Portugal in order to force it to grant independence to its African dependencies. Meanwhile, guerrilla movements in Angola, Mozambique, and Guinea-Bissau were met by a steadily increasing commitment of Portuguese troops and supplies.

Salazar, who had served as prime minister of Portugal since 1932, was followed in 1968 by Marcello Caetano. The refusal of the Caetano regime to adopt democratic and economic reforms, coupled with growing discontent over the costly colonial war in Africa, led to a military takeover by the left wing Armed Forces Movement in April 1974. Democratic liberties were immediately granted and opposition political parties legalized. A decolonization program also was begun, resulting in the independence of all of Portugal’s African provinces by November 1975.

Continued differences between right and left—and between communist and socialist factions on the left—led to numerous temporary governments after the 1974 takeover. In April 1975, general elections were held for a constituent assembly, whose task was to draw up a new constitution. In April 1976, General António dos Santos Ramalho Eanes was elected president, and the leader of the Portuguese Socialist Party, Mário Alberto Nobre Lopes Soares, became prime minister. This government fell apart in 1978 and was replaced by a temporary cabinet.

After a series of different coalitions, the Socialist Party won a 35% plurality in the parliamentary elections of April 1983, and Soares was again named prime minister, forming a coalition government with the center-right Social Democratic Party (Partido Social Democratico—PSD). Political unrest increased after the election, including, in 1984, urban terrorism. In the following year, Portugal entered the European Community (now known as the European Union), boosting the economy.

The PSD returned to power in 1991, and Mario Soares was reelected president for a second five-year term on 13 January 1991. Economic recession, government deficits, and regional development were major concerns in the 1990s.

Following the Socialist Party’s success in the legislative elections in October 1995, Socialist Jorge Sampaio won the presidency in January 1996 (he won reelection for a second five-year term in January 2001). Prime Minister António Manuel de Oliveira Guterres was elected in 1996, followed by reelection in 1999.

The Socialist government’s ability to manage a slowing economy worsened in Guterres’ second term. Guterres resigned, and early elections were held in March 2002. They resulted in a change in government. PSD leader José Manuel Durão Barroso was named prime minister. Durão Barroso experienced his own troubles with the economy, as Portugal headed into a recession at the end of 2002 and into 2003.

Macau, Portugal’s overseas possession was turned over to Chinese administration on 20 December 1999. Portugal supported independence for its former colony of East Timor. This was achieved in May 2002.

Barroso supported the United States in its war in Iraq which began in 2003. The prime minister raced criticism from within parliament and among the Portuguese electorate for his stance. In July 2004, Barroso resigned as prime minister to become president of the European Commission. Pedro Santana Lopes, his successor as the leader of the PSD, formed a new government. General elections were held in 2005; the Socialists swept to victory and Jose Socrates became prime minister.

The government lost an area of woodlands the size of Luxembourg to deadly wildfires in August 2003. Portugal was plagued by deadly wildfires once again in August 2005.

Presidential elections were held on 22 January 2006. PSD candidate and former prime minister, Aníbal Cavaco Silva, won with 50.54% of the vote.

13 Government

According to the 1976 constitution as amended, the president is elected by popular vote for a five-year term. The president appoints the prime

BIOGRAPHICAL PROFILE

Name: Jose Socrates

Position: Prime minister of a parliamentary democracy

Took Office: 12 March 2005

Birthplace: Vilar de Macada

Birthdate: 6 September 1957

Education: Completed post-graduate studies in sanitary engineering

Spouse: Divorced

Children: Two children

minister and, at the prime minister’s proposal, a council of ministers. The main lawmaking body is the single-chamber assembly. Its members (230 in 2005) are directly elected to four-year terms.

Portugal is divided into districts, including 18 on the mainland and the autonomous regions of the Azores and Madeira islands. There are more than 300 municipalities, subdivided into parishes.

14 Political Parties

After the 1974 revolution, several right wing parties were banned, and various left wing parties that had functioned underground or in exile were recognized. Among these was the Portuguese Communist Party (Partido Comunista Português), which is Portugal’s oldest political party; the Portuguese Socialist Party (Partido Socialista Português); the Socialist Party (Partido Socialist—PS); and the Popular Democratic Party (Partido Popular Democrático).

In October 1985 former President Eanes’s centrist Democratic Renewal Party (Partido Renovador Democrático—PSD) entered the ballot for the first time, taking 18% of the vote.

In the legislative elections of 10 October 1999, António Manuel de Oliveira Guterres was reappointed prime minister. Guterres ruled during a downturn in the global economy in his second term, and in December 2001 he resigned. The results of the elections held in February 2005 were: PS, 45.1% of the vote; PSD, 28.7%; Unitarian Democratic Coalition, 7.6%; Popular Party, 7.3%; the Left Bloc, 6.4%. Jose Socrates was named prime minister.

15 Judicial System

Justice is administered by ordinary and special courts, including a constitutional court, the supreme court in Lisbon, five courts of appeal, district courts, and special courts. The judiciary is independent and impartial. Citizens enjoy a wide range of protections of fundamental civil and political rights which are outlined in the constitution with specific reference to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

16 Armed Forces

As of 2005, the total armed forces of Portugal numbered 44, 900 active personnel. Reservists numbered 210, 930 for all services. As of that year, the army had 26, 700 personnel, the navy 10, 950, and the air force, 7, 250. The 2005 defense budget totaled $2.4 billion.

17 Economy

Industry accounted for 28% of Portugal’s gross domestic product (GDP) in 2004. The largest industries are clothing, textiles, footwear, food processing, wood pulp, paper, cork, metal working, oil refining, chemicals, fish canning, wine, and tourism. Agriculture, forestry, hunting, and fishing employed 12.5% of the workforce in 2000 (down from 26.2% in 1971) but contributed about 5% to GDP in 2004. The percent of the labor force in services rose from 39% in 1971 to 52.4% in 2000, accounting for

Yearly Growth Rate

This economic indicator tells by what percent the economy has increased or decreased when compared with the previous year.

about 67% of GDP in 2004. The economy had experienced some growth since 1993, primarily due to increased investment and domestic consumption, both in turn traceable to advantages Portugal has gained through its entry into the European Community (now European Union— EU) in 1986.

Portugal qualified for the first round of entry into the European Monetary Union (EMU) in 1999. As of January 2002, the euro became Portugal’s only official currency. The unofficial, or underground, economy is estimated at 20% of official GDP, about the same level as that of Spain and Italy. In 2002, growth slowed to 0.4% and unemployment increased to 5.1%. In 2003, the economy was officially in a recession, with the GDP declining by about 1%. Unemployment shot up to 6.5%. In 2004, real GDP growth was in the positive figures once again, albeit estimated at a paltry 1.1%.

Components of the Economy

This pie chart shows how much of the country’s economy is devoted to agriculture (including forestry, hunting, and fishing), industry, or services.

18 Income

In 2005, Portugal’s GDP was $194.8 billion, or about $18, 400 per person. The annual growth rate in GDP was about 0.5%. The average inflation rate was 2.4% in 2002.

19 Industry

Portuguese industry is mainly light. The development of heavy industry has been hampered by a shortage of electric power. Textiles are the oldest and most important of Portugal’s manufactured products. Manufactured goods in the early 2000s included cement, wood pulp, crude steel for ingots, paper and paperboard, and radios and televisions. In 2005, footwear, textiles, wood and cork, chemicals, paper, and food and beverages were the central industries. In addition, the country as increased its role in Europe’s automotive sector, and has a fine mold-making industry.

20 Labor

The labor force in Portugal, including the Azores and Madeira, at the end of 2005 totaled 5.5 million, of whom 7.3% were unemployed. Services employed 55.8%, industry 32.6%, and agriculture 12.7% of the workforce.

Minimum standards of work safety and health are set by law, but they are not adequately enforced. In 2005, the minimum monthly salary was $449. However, most workers earn more than this amount. The minimum working age is 16 years.

21 Agriculture

In 2003, 25% of the land was considered arable. Of this total, about 8% was under permanent crops. In 2003, the gross agricultural product accounted for 5% of gross domestic product.

Estimates of agriculture production in 2004 included 1.3 million tons of potatoes, 1.1 million tons of tomatoes, 798, 000 tons of corn, 251, 000 tons of wheat, 270, 000 tons of olives, 148, 000 tons of rice, and 27, 000 tons of rye. Production of olive oil reached 30, 000 tons in 2005.

Wine, particularly port and Madeira from the Douro region and the Madeira islands, is an important agricultural export. Wine production totaled 724 million liters in 2004. Portugal is the world’s ninth-largest producer of wine. In 2004, the value of agricultural products imported by Portugal exceeded that of agricultural exports by $3.4 billion.

22 Domesticated Animals

In 2005, Portuguese livestock population estimates included 5 million sheep, 2.2 million hogs, 1.4 million head of cattle, 547, 000 goats, 125, 000 donkeys, 40, 000 mules, 17, 000 horses, 35 million chickens, and 7 million turkeys. In 2005, Portugal’s meat production included an

estimated 321, 000 tons of pork, 242, 000 tons of poultry meat, 119, 500 tons of beef and veal, and 22, 100 tons of mutton. Other estimates for 2005 included 2.1 million tons of milk, 132, 450 tons of eggs, 75, 600 tons of cheese, and 26, 000 tons of butter.

23 Fishing

Three main fields of activity make up the Portuguese fishing industry: coastal fishing, with sardines as the most important catch; trawl fishing on the high seas; and cod fishing on the Grand Banks. In 2004, the Portuguese fishing fleet consisted of 10, 089 vessels. In 2004, national fish landings totaled 210, 526 tons. Dominant species are sardines, mackerel, red fish, scabbardfish, and octopus. These species accounted for nearly half the landings. Virtually all the total catch is sold fresh, but small amounts of sardines and octopus are frozen.

24 Forestry

With about 40% of the total land area forested, Portugal is an important producer of forestry products. The country is the world’s leading producer of cork, supplying about half the world output. Portugal is also an important producer of resin and turpentine (which comes from certain

Yearly Balance of Trade

The balance of trade is the difference between what a country sells to other countries (its exports) and what it buys (its imports). If a country imports more than it exports, it has a negative balance of trade (a trade deficit). If exports exceed imports there is a positive balance of trade (a trade surplus).

pine trees). Roundwood production in 2004 was 9.7 million cubic meters (341.4 million cubic feet), with a sawn wood output of 1.4 million cubic meters (48.8 million cubic feet). Other commodities produced that year included wood pulp, paper and paperboard, and particle-board. In 2004, timber and other forest product exports amounted to $1.7 billion.

Wine stoppers account for 55% of cork export value. Cork demand has fallen in recent years, and production is limited by the fact that a single tree can only be stripped once every nine years. Eucalyptus logs are exported as well. Pine accounts for most lumber exports.

25 Mining

Portugal is moderately rich in minerals. Portugal is one of the largest producers of mined copper in the European Union. Beryl, dimension stone, ferroalloys, tin, and tungsten were also of international importance. Tungsten, tin, and iron ore were mined in the north, copper pyrites in the south, and anthracite and lignite in the central region.

In 2003, the output of copper ore (metal content) was 77, 581 tons. Output of tungsten was 715 tons, and tin production was 354 tons. Portugal also produced white arsenic, silver, uranium, nitrogen, sulfur, and talc. Marble, mainly from the Evora District, was the most valuable of the stone products.

26 Foreign Trade

The principal exports are textiles and clothing, footwear, electrical machinery, road vehicles and parts, paper products, and refined petroleum products. Imports include fuels, foodstuffs, raw materials, machinery and equipment, and chemicals. Portugal’s principal trade partners in 2004 were Spain, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, and the United States. In total, 76.6% of all imports came from the 25 European Union member nations.

27 Energy and Power

Total production of electric power (including the Azores and Madeira) was 43.4 billion kilowatt hours in 2002 (compared with 6.2 billion kilowatt hours in 1968), with 7.7 billion kilowatt hours from hydroelectric sources. Portugal lacks adequate fuel resources, and large quantities of coal and oil are imported, especially as the electricity sector is switching away from oil. Imports of refined and crude petroleum averaged a combined 355, 580 barrels per day.

Selected Social Indicators

The statistics below are the most recent estimates available as of 2006. For comparison purposes, data for the United States and averages for low-income countries and high-income countries are also given. About 15% of the world’s 6.5 billion people live in high-income countries, while 37% live in low-income countries.

Indicator	Portugal	Low-income countries	High-income countries	United States
sources: World Bank. World Development Indicators. Washington, D.C.: The World Bank, 2006; Central Intelligence Agency. The World Factbook. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 2006; World Resources Institute, Washington, D.C.
Per capita gross national income (GNI)*	$19, 240	$2, 258	$31, 009	$39, 820
Population growth rate	0.4%	2%	0.8%	1.2%
People per square kilometer of land	115	80	30	32
Life expectancy in years: male	74	58	76	75
female	81	60	82	80
Number of physicians per 1, 000 people	3.3	0.4	3.7	2.3
Number of pupils per teacher (primary school)	11	43	16	15
Literacy rate (15 years and older)	93%	65%	>95%	99%
Television sets per 1, 000 people	413	84	735	938
Internet users per 1, 000 people	280	28	538	630
Energy consumed per capita (kg of oil equivalent)	2, 469	501	5, 410	7, 843
CO² emissions per capita (metric tons)	6.59	0.85	12.97	19.92
* The GNI is the total of all goods and services produced by the residents of a country in a year. The per capita GNI is calculated by dividing a country’s GNI by its population and adjusting for relative purchasing power.
n.a.: data not available >: greater than <: less than

28 Social Development

The government-run social security system provides old-age, disability, sickness, and unemployment benefits, family allowances, and health and medical care. The system is funded by payroll contributions from employers and employees. Paternity and adoption benefits are also available.

According to law, women must receive equal pay for equal work. In practice, however, women still earn less than men on average. Immigrants from Portugal’s former African colonies sometimes face social prejudice and discrimination.

29 Health

The Santa Maria Hospital in Lisbon is the largest hospital in Portugal. As of 2004, there were an estimated 330 physicians and 374 nurses per 100, 000 people. In 2005, average life expectancy was 77.5 years and infant mortality was estimated at 5.1 per 1, 000 live births.

The leading natural causes of death are circulatory disorders, cancer, and respiratory disorders. As of 2004, the number of people living with human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) was estimated at 22, 000 and deaths from AIDS in 2003 were estimated at 1, 000.

30 Housing

According to the 2001 census, Portugal had 5.1 million dwelling units. However, about 65% of all families live in dilapidated structures and nearly 8.5% live in shacks. While the government social housing program has made some progress in rehousing families into more adequate structures, there are not enough programs to hope the households rise above the poverty level.

31 Education

Basic education is compulsory for nine years. Primary school enrollment was about 100% of age-eligible students. That same year, secondary school enrollment was about 85% of age-eligible students. The student-to-teacher ratio at the primary level averaged 11 to 1 in 2003.

Coimbra University, founded in 1290, is Portugal’s oldest institution of higher learning, and the universities of Lisbon and Pôrto are two of the largest. Total enrollment in institutions of higher learning is over 300, 000. There are also art schools, music schools, and a school of tropical medicine.

As of 2003, the adult literacy rate was estimated at 93%.

32 Media

In 2003, there were an estimated 411 mainline telephones and 898 mobile phones in use for every 1, 000 people. In 2005, there were about 300 local and regional commercial radio stations and at least three commercial television stations. In 2003, there were about 299 radios and 413 television sets for every 1, 000 people. In 2003, there were about 134.4 personal computers in use for every 1, 000 people. In 2006, an estimated 280 of every 1, 000 people had access to the Internet.

The principal daily newspapers (with their estimated 2002 circulations) include the following: Jornal de Noticias, 90, 000; Correo da Manhã, 85, 000; Diario de Noticias, 75, 560; Publico, 75, 000; Diario Popular, 62, 000; and A Capital, 40, 000. The weekly paper Expresso has a circulation of 160, 000.

33 Tourism and Recreation

Tourism has become a major contributor of foreign exchange earnings ($5.2 billion in 2000). The number of tourists was 11.6 million in 2002. There were 105, 986 hotel rooms with a 38% occupancy rate.

Portugal’s historic cities—Lisbon, Pôrto, Coimbra, and others—offer numerous museums, old churches, and castles. Most villages still celebrate market days with dances and other festivities. There are more than 800 kilometers (500 miles) of beaches. The Portuguese bullfight (differing from the Spanish variety in that the bulls are not killed) is a popular spectator sport. The bullfight season lasts from Easter Sunday to October. Soccer is popular as both a participant and a spectator sport.

34 Famous Portuguese

Saint Anthony of Padua (1195–1231) was a Franciscan monk who became a doctor of the church. Pope John XXI (d. 1277) was Portuguese and served as pope from 1276 to his death. Prince Henry the Navigator (Henrique o Navegador, 1394–1460) laid the foundations of the Portuguese empire. Among the leaders in overseas exploration were Bartholomeu Dias (1450?–1500), the first European to round the Cape of Good Hope, and Vasco da Gama (1469– 1524), who founded Portuguese India in 1498. Ferdinand Magellan (Fernão de Magalhães, 1480?–1521) led the first Spanish expedition to sail around the world. Gago Coutinho (1869–1959) and Sacadura Cabral (1881–1924) were the first to cross the South Atlantic Ocean by air in 1922.

Portugal’s greatest writer was Luis Vas de Camões (1524?–1580), the author of Os Lusiadas, the Portuguese national epic. Portugal’s leading painter was Nuno Gonçalves (fl. 1450–1480). Keil do Amaral (1910–1975) was a composer, painter, and photographer who composed the Portuguese national anthem.