Geography and population Portugal is a southern Europe country whose continental part is situated in the south-western portion of the Iberian Peninsula, bounded on the north and east by Spain and on the south and west by the Atlantic Ocean. Mountains and rivers define the frontiers, and the interior is largely mountainous (Figure 1). In the west and south the mountains descend to a large coastal plain.

The Azores, 9 islands in the Atlantic 760 miles away from Lisbon and 2110 from New York, and Madeira, 566 miles Southwest from Lisbon, are considered integral parts of the republic. The total area of metropolitan Portugal, including the Azores (2,335 sq. km) and the Madeira Islands (796 sq. km), is 91,985 sq. km [1].

The population of Portugal, including the Azores and Madeira islands, is 9.9 million (1995 estimate). The overall population density is about 107.6 persons per sq. km. In the 1990/95 period demographic studies point out a negative growth of 0.09% and a life expectancy near 75 years [1]. Portuguese migration throughout the whole world has resulted in an expatriate community estimated at 4.5 million people.

Constitution guarantees freedom of conscience, religion and cult, the existence of churches and religious communities being independent and separated from the state. Historical reasons dating back to the foundation of nationality are the basis for the Roman Catholicism to be the predominant (94 per cent?) faith of the population.

Language

With its origin in popular Latin, the official language is Portuguese, which is widely used all over the world and is shared by six other countries and it is estimated that 200 million people will speak it by the year 2000 [1].

History

Portugal, named after the Roman seaport Portus Cale, was born from a feudal county Portucalensis in the Roman province of Lusitania. D. Afonso Henriques was established as king in 1143. The pope recognized the independence of Portugal in 1179.

The Expansion of Portugal led to the expulsion of the Moors from the Algarve. The stability of the continental frontiers, almost unchanged since 13^th century, makes Portugal one of the oldest countries in the world, which is reflected in its marked identity and internal unity. As a result of its 840-Km of Atlantic coast, the country developed its sea faring capabilities. In the 15^th century, using a new type of sailing vessel especially adapted for Atlantic voyages - the caravel -, an eastward route to India was sought. A century of exploration and conquest along African coast was begun, which made Portugal the greatest colonial power in the world, discovering sea routes to India, Brazil, China and Japan.

Decline as a political and commercial power began by the end of the 16^th century. Members of royal houses frequently intermarried, raising the possibility of one kingdom being absorbed by another. Under pressure from Castile, during the Inquisition, the Jews were expelled, thus depriving Portugal of much of its middle class. Young King D. Sebastian, seeking for glory, was killed in a disastrous expedition to North Africa (1578) while still unmarried. The most powerful claimant to the succession to the throne was Filipe II of Castile, who became Filipe I of Portugal. The annexation and the loss of independence, during the Sixty Years Captivity were catastrophic for Portugal. A vast amount of money was spent on alien warfare and very importantly the trade dominion with the East Indies was lost to the Dutch and the English (Portuguese permanent allies since 1386 by the treaty of Windsor). This period gave origin to a Portuguese myth called sebastianism, commonly used to describe wishful thinking and a certain passivity towards destiny and fate: as the corps of D. Sebastian was never to be found, he was expected to arrive by sea in a foggy morning to save the country.

In the beginning of the twentieth century Republican and radical movements grew leading to the assassination of King D. Carlos and his eldest son, and two years later to the establishment of the liberal republic. For the next 15 years Portugal was shaken by political chaos, until the appointment of Salazar (1928) as minister of finance with extraordinary powers in order to put finances in order. This he did, thus giving rise to an authoritarian political organisation, Uniao Nacional (National Union). He became Prime Minister in 1932 and a dictatorship was established under 1933 constitution. This regime, called Estado Novo (New State), produced a corporate state with a planned economy for forty years, during which reigned sebastianism, destiny and fate becoming a national folk song: fado. Unemployment and poverty were widespread; and with the 1960’s came the rise of an armed opposition in the overseas territories leading to a prolonged war that accentuated the isolation from the international community. This eventually culminated in the overthrow of the government on April 25, 1974 (the so called "carnation revolution"), by a group of Portuguese army officers discontent with the political orientation of the colonial affairs.

Under democracy a progressive change in social indicators begun in 1976 after a two-year period of revolutionary excess. In fact, to fully understand and describe the Portuguese situation, more than merely looking at the present data as compared to other countries, we also have to consider that these indicators have evolved here very rapidly. For example: life expectancy rose from 68.9 (1974) to 73.6; water supply to the homes 47% (1970) to 89%, sewerage system from 58% to 91%, and electricity from 63% to 98%. Home ownership from 48% (1970) to 65%. Child death rate dropped from 39% (1975) to 11% (1990), what is most probably related to the rise in public health expenditure from 2% of GDP (1970) to 4.5% (1992). The participation of women in the labour force tripled in less than three decades (from 15% to more than 45%). The number of students rose from 1.14 million in 1960 to 2.29 million; the number of high school students was 46 thousand in 1970 as compared to 157 thousand in the present [2]. Censorship reigned. Political, social or moral questions were severely curtailed and issues such as suicide, slums, emigration, abortion or homosexuality, were not raised in the media. Obviously political prisoners, demonstrations, and the omnipresent poverty were considered taboo by a regime that praised underdevelopment as a way to stay apart from "evil" outside influences [3].

Portuguese global demographic dynamics and the pattern of age groups in particular, besides natural dynamics – birth / death rates -, owes an important share to migratory movements. Social hierarchy included only a very small middle class. The economy was dominated by an archaic agriculture system especially in the interior of the country. Urban areas of Lisbon and Porto contained 23% of the population in the 1950’s. Poverty then aggravated by the colonial war led to a heavy emigration. 33 thousand/year in the 60’s to 170 thousand in the beginning of the seventies: in three decades 1.8 million Portuguese had left the country. This deprived the interior rural area of young people. And what is more, the 23 babies that were born each year per thousand inhabitants in 1960 dropped to 11.53 in 1993 (1.5 children per couple) – 14.5% of which outside of formal marriage (1989) - while the 8% of older than 65 years in 1960 raised to 14% [4].

Facts like these, historical in their essence as they may be, not only help to understand what it means to be Portuguese, but can be considered the only correct way to comprehend the figures reporting the present data. Besides establishing priorities such as illiteracy and health, the social security system can be taken as an example. The "Providence State" only made its appearance in Portugal after the "25^th April 1974", implying that, while still catching up in its economic development as compared to other Western European countries, it also shares their financial crisis that affects the social security systems. While only half of the unemployed is subsidised, the number of contributing citizens per retired person has decreased significantly in the past twenty years dropped from 13 to 1.7 per retired person: at present 2.4 million pensioners [5].

Political structure and decision making

Portugal is a semi-presidential republic: it has a president, popularly elected to a five-year term, as head of state. The president of the republic appoints the Prime Minister, who is the country's chief administrative official. The Prime Minister presides over a cabinet of 15+2 ministers - 13^th constitutional government (Oct/96) - upon which resides the executive power. Legislative power is vested in a unicameral parliament, the Assembly of the Republic. Members of the Assembly are elected under a system of proportional representation and serve four-year terms. The Assembly has a total of 230 seats (1997). The judicial system in Portugal is headed by the Supreme Court, which is made up of a president and 29 judges. Below the Supreme Court are courts of appeal and ordinary and special district courts. Mainland Portugal is divided into 18 districts for administrative purposes, Azores and Madeira each constituting an autonomous region. Local authority is vested in the district governors and district legislatures. Each district is further subdivided into municipalities and parishes, each with an elected assembly and council [1].

Última actualização = 06/Abril/97