Background : Portugal is a founding member of NATO and entered the EC (now the EU) in 1986. Southwestern Europe, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Spain. (includes Azores and Madeira Islands)

Capital : Lisbon

Climate : maritime temperate; cool and rainy in north, warmer and drier in south

Currency : euro (EUR)
Terrain : mountainous north of the Tagus River, rolling plains in south

Natural Resources : fish, forests (cork), iron ore, copper, zinc, tin, tungsten, silver, gold, uranium, marble, clay, gypsum, salt, arable land, hydropower

Population : 10,566,212 (July 2005 est.)

Languages : Portuguese (official), Mirandese (official - but locally used)

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 transport equipment; aerospace equipment; ship construction and refurbishment; wine; tourism

Government type : parliamentary democracy