Portugal

In brief

Portugal is a country in Southern Europe. Its capital is Lisbon. With 10.8 million inhabitants in 2025, it ranks 89th in the world by population, out of the 195 countries recognised by the UN. Its area is 92,090 km². It shares land borders with Spain.

GDP per capita stands at $32,082 (2025), 42nd in the world. Life expectancy at birth is 82.4 years (2024). 61% of the population lives in cities.

History of Portugal

Afonso Henriques proclaimed himself king in the 12th century and founded Portugal, whose borders, fixed in 1297, are among the oldest in Europe. In the 15th century the country launched the Age of Discovery: Vasco da Gama reached India by sea in 1498, and Cabral landed in Brazil in 1500. Lisbon was destroyed by an earthquake in 1755. The monarchy fell in 1910; Salazar’s dictatorship followed, until the Carnation Revolution of 25 April 1974. Portugal joined the European Community in 1986.

Geography of Portugal

The Atlantic face of the Iberian Peninsula, Portugal is mountainous in the north and flatter in the south, with the Alentejo plains and the Algarve coast. The Tagus and the Douro run through it. The Azores and Madeira archipelagos are part of the country; Mount Pico in the Azores (2,351 m) is the highest point.

Map of Portugal

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Flag of Portugal

The flag of Portugal is red and green. Its official proportions are 2:3 (height to width).

• Red58%
• Green35%
• Yellow5%
• White2%

Share of the flag’s surface taken by each colour.

What the flag stands for

Green and red, unequally divided, with the armillary sphere, a navigation instrument recalling the Age of Discovery, and the shield with five quinas and seven castles. It was adopted in 1911, after the Republic was proclaimed.

Sources: Wikipedia, articles “Portugal” and “Flag of Portugal”.

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Fact file

Economy and society