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.
Full Name: Portuguese Republic
Area: 92,391 sq km (land: 91,951 sq km, water: 440 sq km) - note: includes Azores and Madeira Islands
Population: 10,676,910 (July 2008 est.)
Capital City: Lisbon
People: homogeneous Mediterranean stock; citizens of black African descent who immigrated to mainland during decolonization number less than 100,000; since 1990 East Europeans have entered Portugal
Language: Portuguese (official), Mirandese (official - but locally used)
Religion: Roman Catholic 84.5%, other Christian 2.2%, other 0.3%, unknown 9%, none 3.9% (2001 census)
Government Type: Parliamentary democracy
Chief of State President Anibal CAVACO SILVA (since 9 March 2006)
Head of Government: Prime Minister Jose SOCRATES (since 12 March 2005)
GDP: $US 232.3 billion (2007 est.)
GDP per Capita: $US 21,800 (2007 est.)
Inflation: 2.4% (2007 est.)
Unemployment: 8% (2007 est.)
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
Currency: Euro (€ - EUR)
Member of EU: Yes
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