Portugal Country Information
Background:
Following its heyday as a world power during the 15th and 16th centuries, Portugal lost much of its wealth and status with the destruction of Lisbon in a 1755 earthquake, occupation during the Napoleonic Wars, and the independence in 1822 of Brazil as a colony. A 1910 revolution deposed the monarchy; for most of the next six decades, repressive governments ran the country. In 1974, a left-wing military coup installed broad democratic reforms. The following year, Portugal granted independence to all of its African colonies. Portugal is a founding member of NATO and entered the EC (now the EU) in 1986.
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Capital |
Lisbon |
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Largest City |
Lisbon |
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Official languages |
Portuguese |
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Government |
Democratic |
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Area... |
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Total
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92,391 km² (109th) (Est.) |
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Population... |
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2006 Est. |
10,605,870 (76th) |
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GDP (PPP)... |
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Total (2005 Est) |
$204.4 billion (41st) |
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Per Capita (2005 Est) |
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Currency |
Euro (€)(EUR) |
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Population below poverty line |
Not Available |
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Time Zone... |
WET, UTC |
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Summer (DST) |
EST (UTC+1) |
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Industries |
Textiles and footwear; wood pulp, paper, and cork; metals and metalworking; oil refining; chemicals; fish canning; rubber and plastic products; ceramics; electronics and communications equipment; rail transportation equipment; aerospace equipment; ship construction and refurbishment; wine; tourism |
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Calling code |
+351 |
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