Get Affordable VMs - excellent virtual server hosting


browse words by letter
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

portugalmore about portugal

portugal


  2  definitions  found 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  Portugal 
  n  :  a  republic  in  southwestern  Europe;  Portuguese  explorers  and 
  colonists  in  the  15th  and  16th  centuries  created  a  vast 
  overseas  empire  (including  Brazil)  [syn:  {Portugal}] 
 
  From  The  CIA  World  Factbook  (1995)  [world95]: 
 
  Portugal 
 
  Portugal:Geography 
 
  Location:  Southwestern  Europe,  bordering  the  North  Atlantic  Ocean, 
  west  of  Spain 
 
  Map  references:  Europe 
 
  Area: 
  total  area:  92,080  sq  km 
  land  area:  91,640  sq  km 
  comparative  area:  slightly  smaller  than  Indiana 
  note:  includes  Azores  and  Madeira  Islands 
 
  Land  boundaries:  total  1,214  km  Spain  1,214  km 
 
  Coastline:  1,793  km 
 
  Maritime  claims: 
  continental  shelf:  200-m  depth  or  to  the  depth  of  exploitation 
  exclusive  economic  zone:  200  nm 
  territorial  sea:  12  nm 
 
  International  disputes:  sovereignty  over  Timor  Timur  (East  Timor 
  Province)  disputed  with  Indonesia 
 
  Climate:  maritime  temperate;  cool  and  rainy  in  north,  warmer  and  drier 
  in  south 
 
  Terrain:  mountainous  north  of  the  Tagus,  rolling  plains  in  south 
 
  Natural  resources:  fish,  forests  (cork),  tungsten,  iron  ore,  uranium 
  ore,  marble 
 
  Land  use: 
  arable  land:  32% 
  permanent  crops:  6% 
  meadows  and  pastures:  6% 
  forest  and  woodland:  40% 
  other:  16% 
 
  Irrigated  land:  6,340  sq  km  (1989  est.) 
 
  Environment: 
  current  issues:  soil  erosion;  air  pollution  caused  by  industrial  and 
  vehicle  emissions;  water  pollution,  especially  in  coastal  areas 
  natural  hazards:  Azores  subject  to  severe  earthquakes 
  international  agreements:  party  to  -  Air  Pollution,  Biodiversity, 
  Climate  Change,  Endangered  Species,  Hazardous  Wastes,  Marine  Dumping, 
  Marine  Life  Conservation,  Ozone  Layer  Protection,  Ship  Pollution, 
  Tropical  Timber  83,  Wetlands;  signed,  but  not  ratified  -  Air 
  Pollution-Volatile  Organic  Compounds,  Desertification  Environmental 
  Modification,  Law  of  the  Sea,  Nuclear  Test  Ban 
 
  Note:  Azores  and  Madeira  Islands  occupy  strategic  locations  along 
  western  sea  approaches  to  Strait  of  Gibraltar 
 
  Portugal:People 
 
  Population:  10,562,388  (July  1995  est.) 
 
  Age  structure: 
  0-14  years:  18%  (female  943,412;  male  1,000,971) 
  15-64  years:  68%  (female  3,625,086;  male  3,499,176) 
  65  years  and  over:  14%  (female  889,142;  male  604,601)  (July  1995  est.) 
 
  Population  growth  rate:  0.36%  (1995  est.) 
 
  Birth  rate:  11.72  births/1,000  population  (1995  est.) 
 
  Death  rate:  9.65  deaths/1,000  population  (1995  est.) 
 
  Net  migration  rate:  1.55  migrant(s)/1,000  population  (1995  est.) 
 
  Infant  mortality  rate:  9.1  deaths/1,000  live  births  (1995  est.) 
 
  Life  expectancy  at  birth: 
  total  population:  75.53  years 
  male:  72.11  years 
  female:  79.16  years  (1995  est.) 
 
  Total  fertility  rate:  1.47  children  born/woman  (1995  est.) 
 
  Nationality: 
  noun:  Portuguese  (singular  and  plural) 
  adjective:  Portuguese 
 
  Ethnic  divisions:  homogeneous  Mediterranean  stock  in  mainland,  Azores, 
  Madeira  Islands;  citizens  of  black  African  descent  who  immigrated  to 
  mainland  during  decolonization  number  less  than  100,000 
 
  Religions:  Roman  Catholic  97%,  Protestant  denominations  1%,  other  2% 
 
  Languages:  Portuguese 
 
  Literacy:  age  15  and  over  can  read  and  write  (1990) 
  total  population:  85% 
  male:  89% 
  female:  82% 
 
  Labor  force:  4.24  million  (1994  est.) 
  by  occupation:  services  54.5%,  manufacturing  24.4%,  agriculture, 
  forestry,  fisheries  11.2%,  construction  8.3%,  utilites  1.0%,  mining 
  0.5%  (1992) 
 
  Portugal:Government 
 
  Names: 
  conventional  long  form:  Portuguese  Republic 
  conventional  short  form:  Portugal 
  local  long  form:  Republica  Portuguesa 
  local  short  form:  Portugal 
 
  Digraph:  PO 
 
  Type:  republic 
 
  Capital:  Lisbon 
 
  Administrative  divisions:  18  districts  (distritos,  singular  - 
  distrito)  and  2  autonomous  regions*  (regioes  autonomas,  singular  - 
  regiao  autonoma);  Aveiro  Acores  (Azores)*,  Beja,  Braga,  Braganca 
  Castelo  Branco,  Coimbra  Evora,  Faro,  Guarda,  Leiria  Lisboa, 
  Madeira*,  Portalegre  Porto,  Santarem  Setubal,  Viana  do  Castelo,  Vila 
  Real,  Viseu 
 
  Dependent  areas:  Macau  (scheduled  to  become  a  Special  Administrative 
  Region  of  China  on  20  December  1999) 
 
  Independence:  1140  (independent  republic  proclaimed  5  October  1910) 
 
  National  holiday:  Day  of  Portugal,  10  June  (1580) 
 
  Constitution:  25  April  1976,  revised  30  October  1982  and  1  June  1989 
 
  Legal  system:  civil  law  system;  the  Constitutional  Tribunal  reviews 
  the  constitutionality  of  legislation;  accepts  compulsory  ICJ 
  jurisdiction,  with  reservations 
 
  Suffrage:  18  years  of  age;  universal 
 
  Executive  branch: 
  chief  of  state:  President  Dr  Mario  Alberto  Nobre  Lopes  SOARES  (since 
  9  March  1986);  election  last  held  13  February  1991  (next  to  be  held  NA 
  February  1996);  results  -  Dr  Mario  Lopes  SOARES  70%,  Basilio  HORTA 
  14%,  Carlos  CARVALHAS  13%,  Carlos  MARQUES  3%;  note  -  SOARES  is 
  finishing  his  second  term  and  by  law  cannot  run  for  a  third 
  consecutive  term 
  head  of  government:  Prime  Minister  Anibal  CAVACO  SILVA  (since  6 
  November  1985);  note  -  will  be  replaced  in  the  October  1995  elections 
  Council  of  State:  acts  as  a  consultative  body  to  the  president 
  cabinet:  Council  of  Ministers;  appointed  by  the  president  on 
  recommendation  of  the  prime  minister 
 
  Legislative  branch:  unicameral 
  Assembly  of  the  Republic  (Assembleia  da  Republica):  elections  last 
  held  6  October  1991  (next  to  be  held  NA  October  1995);  results  -  PSD 
  50.4%,  PS  29.3%,  CDU  8.8%,  CDS  4.4%,  PSN  1.7%,  PRD  0.6%,  other  4.8%; 
  seats  -  (230  total)  PSD  136,  PS  71,  CDU  17,  CDS  5,  PSN  1 
 
  Judicial  branch:  Supreme  Tribunal  of  Justice  (Supremo  Tribunal  de 
  Justica) 
 
  Political  parties  and  leaders:  Social  Democratic  Party  (PSD),  Fernando 
  NOGUEIRA  Portuguese  Socialist  Party  (PS),  Antonio  GUTERRES  Party  of 
  Democratic  Renewal  (PRD),  Pedro  CANAVARRO  Portuguese  Communist  Party 
  (PCP),  Carlos  CARVALHAS  Social  Democratic  Center  (CDS),  Manuel 
  MONTEIRO;  National  Solidarity  Party  (PSN),  Manuel  SERGIO  Center 
  Democratic  Party  (CDS);  United  Democratic  Coalition  (CDU;  Communists) 
 
  Member  of:  AfDB  Australia  Group  BIS,  CCC,  CE  CERN,  EBRD,  EC  ECE, 
  ECLAC  EIB,  FAO,  GATT,  IADB,  IAEA,  IBRD,  ICAO,  ICC,  ICFTU  ICRM,  IDA, 
  IEA,  IFAD,  IFC,  IFRCS  ILO,  IMF,  IMO,  INMARSAT  INTELSAT,  INTERPOL, 
  IOC,  IOM,  ISO,  ITU,  LAIA  (observer),  MTCR,  NACC,  NAM  (guest),  NATO, 
  NEA,  NSG,  OAS  (observer),  OECD  OSCE,  PCA,  UN  UNCTAD  UNESCO,  UNIDO 
  UNOMOZ  UNPROFOR  UPU,  WCL,  WEU,  WFTU  WHO  WIPO,  WMO,  WTO,  ZC 
 
  Diplomatic  representation  in  US: 
  chief  of  mission:  Ambassador  Francisco  Jose  Laco  Treichler  KNOPFLI 
  chancery:  2125  Kalorama  Road  NW  Washington,  DC  20008 
  telephone:  [1]  (202)  328-8610 
  FAX:  [1]  (202)  462-3726 
  consulate(s)  general:  Boston,  New  York,  Newark  (New  Jersey),  and  San 
  Francisco 
  consulate(s):  Los  Angeles,  New  Bedford  (Massachusetts),  Providence 
  (Rhode  Island),  and  Washington,  DC 
 
  US  diplomatic  representation: 
  chief  of  mission:  Ambassador  Elizabeth  Frawley  BAGLEY 
  embassy:  Avenida  das  Forcas  Armadas,  1600  Lisbon 
  mailing  address:  PSC  83,  Lisbon;  APO  AE  09726 
  telephone:  [351]  (1)  7266600,  7266659,  7268670,  7268880 
  FAX:  [351]  (1)  7269109 
  consulate(s):  Ponta  Delgada  (Azores) 
 
  Flag:  two  vertical  bands  of  green  (hoist  side  two-fifths)  and  red 
  (three-fifths)  with  the  Portuguese  coat  of  arms  centered  on  the 
  dividing  line 
 
  Economy 
 
  Overview:  Portugal's  economy  contracted  0.4%  in  1993  but  registered  a 
  1.4%  growth  in  1994,  with  3%  growth  expected  in  1995  and  1996.  This 
  comeback  rests  on  high  levels  of  public  investment,  continuing  strong 
  export  growth,  and  a  gradual  recovery  in  consumer  spending.  The 
  government's  long-run  economic  goal  is  the  modernization  of  Portuguese 
  markets,  industry,  infrastructure,  and  work  force  in  order  to  catch  up 
  with  productivity  and  income  levels  of  the  more  advanced  EU  countries. 
  Per  capita  income  now  equals  only  55%  of  the  EU  average.  Economic 
  policy  in  1994  focused  on  reducing  inflationary  pressures  by  lowering 
  the  fiscal  deficit,  maintaining  a  stable  escudo,  moderating  wage 
  increases,  and  encouraging  increased  competition.  The  government's 
  medium-term  objective  is  to  be  in  the  first  tier  of  the  EU  countries 
  eligible  to  join  the  economic  and  monetary  union  (EMU)  as  early  as 
  1997.  To  this  end  the  1995  budget  posits  a  cut  in  total  deficit  to 
  5.8%  of  GDP. 
 
  National  product:  GDP  -  purchasing  power  parity  -  $107.3  billion  (1994 
  est.) 
 
  National  product  real  growth  rate:  1.4%  (1994  est.) 
 
  National  product  per  capita:  $10,190  (1994  est.) 
 
  Inflation  rate  (consumer  prices):  6.1%  (May  1994) 
 
  Unemployment  rate:  6.7%  (May  1994) 
 
  Budget: 
  revenues:  $31  billion 
  expenditures:  $41  billion,  including  capital  expenditures  of  $NA 
  (1994) 
 
  Exports:  $15.4  billion  (f.o.b.,  1993) 
  commodities:  clothing  and  footwear,  machinery,  cork  and  paper 
  products,  hides  and  skins 
  partners:  EU  75.5%,  other  developed  countries  12.4%,  US  4.3%  (1994) 
 
  Imports:  $24.3  billion  (c.i.f.,  1993) 
  commodities:  machinery  and  transport  equipment,  agricultural  products, 
  chemicals,  petroleum,  textiles 
  partners:  EC  72%,  other  developed  countries  10.9%,  less  developed 
  countries  12.9%,  US  3.4% 
 
  External  debt:  $20  billion  (1993  est.) 
 
  Industrial  production:  growth  rate  1.5%  (1994  est.);  accounts  for 
  30.6%  of  GDP 
 
  Electricity: 
  capacity:  8,220,000  kW 
  production:  29.5  billion  kWh 
  consumption  per  capita:  2,642  kWh  (1993) 
 
  Industries:  textiles  and  footwear;  wood  pulp,  paper,  and  cork; 
  metalworking;  oil  refining;  chemicals;  fish  canning;  wine;  tourism 
 
  Agriculture:  accounts  for  5%  of  GDP;  small  inefficient  farms;  imports 
  more  than  half  of  food  needs  major  crops  -  grain,  potatoes,  olives, 
  grapes;  livestock  sector  -  sheep,  cattle,  goats,  poultry,  meat,  dairy 
  products 
 
  Illicit  drugs:  increasingly  important  gateway  country  for  Latin 
  American  cocaine  entering  the  European  market;  transshipment  point  for 
  hashish  from  North  Africa  to  Europe 
 
  Economic  aid: 
  recipient:  US  commitments,  including  Ex-Im  (FY70-89),  $1.8  billion; 
  Western  (non-US)  countries,  ODA  and  OOF  bilateral  commitments 
  (1970-89),  $1.2  billion 
 
  Currency:  1  Portuguese  escudo  (Esc)  =  100  centavos 
 
  Exchange  rates:  Portuguese  escudos  (Esc)  per  US$1  -  158.02  (January 
  1995),  165.99  (1994),  160.80  (1993),  135.00  (1992),  144.48  (1991), 
  142.55  (1990) 
 
  Fiscal  year:  calendar  year 
 
  Portugal:Transportation 
 
  Railroads: 
  total:  3,068  km 
  broad  gauge:  2,761  km  1.668-m  gauge  (439  km  electrified;  426  km  double 
  track) 
  narrow  gauge:  307  km  1.000-m  gauge 
 
  Highways: 
  total:  70,176  km 
  paved  and  graveled:  60,351  km  (519  km  of  expressways) 
  unpaved:  earth  9,825  km 
 
  Inland  waterways:  820  km  navigable;  relatively  unimportant  to  national 
  economy,  used  by  shallow-draft  craft  limited  to  300  metric-ton  cargo 
  capacity 
 
  Pipelines:  crude  oil  22  km  petroleum  products  58  km 
 
  Ports:  Aveiro  Funchal  (Madeira  Islands),  Horta  (Azores),  Leixoes 
  Lisbon,  Porto,  Ponta  Delgada  (Azores),  Praia  da  Vitoria  (Azores), 
  Setubal,  Viana  do  Castelo 
 
  Merchant  marine: 
  total:  65  ships  (1,000  GRT  or  over)  totaling  852,785  GRT/1,545,804  DWT 
 
  ships  by  type:  bulk  5,  cargo  28,  chemical  tanker  5,  container  4, 
  liquefied  gas  tanker  2,  oil  tanker  17,  refrigerated  cargo  2, 
  roll-on/roll-off  cargo  1,  short-sea  passenger  1 
  note:  Portugal  has  created  a  captive  register  on  Madeira  for 
  Portuguese-owned  ships;  ships  on  the  Madeira  Register  (MAR)  will  have 
  taxation  and  crewing  benefits  of  a  flag  of  convenience;  in  addition, 
  Portugal  owns  25  ships  (1,000  GRT  or  over)  totaling  155,776  DWT  that 
  operate  under  Panamanian  and  Maltese  registry 
 
  Airports: 
  total:  65 
  with  paved  runways  over  3,047  m:  5 
  with  paved  runways  2,438  to  3,047  m:  8 
  with  paved  runways  1,524  to  2,437  m:  3 
  with  paved  runways  914  to  1,523  m:  18 
  with  paved  runways  under  914  m:  29 
  with  unpaved  runways  914  to  1,523  m:  2 
 
  Portugal:Communications 
 
  Telephone  system:  2,690,000  telephones 
  local:  NA 
  intercity:  generally  adequate  integrated  network  of  coaxial  cables, 
  open  wire  and  microwave  radio  relay,  domestic  satellite  earth  stations 
 
  international:  6  submarine  cables;  3  INTELSAT  (2  Atlantic  Ocean  and  1 
  Indian  Ocean),  EUTELSAT  earth  stations;  tropospheric  link  to  Azores 
 
  Radio: 
  broadcast  stations:  AM  57,  FM  66  (repeaters  22),  shortwave  0 
  radios:  NA 
 
  Television: 
  broadcast  stations:  66  (repeaters  23) 
  televisions:  NA 
 
  Portugal:Defense  Forces 
 
  Branches:  Army,  Navy  (includes  Marines),  Air  Force,  National 
  Republican  Guard,  Fiscal  Guard,  Public  Security  Police 
 
  Manpower  availability:  males  age  15-49  2,747,357;  males  fit  for 
  military  service  2,223,299;  males  reach  military  age  (20)  annually 
  90,402  (1995  est.) 
 
  Defense  expenditures:  exchange  rate  conversion  -  $2.4  billion,  2.9%  of 
  GDP  (1994) 
 
 
 




more about portugal