Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.5% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
5% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
5.48% (31 December 2006)
Stock of money:
$137.4 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$93.99 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$223.2 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
potatoes, fruits, vegetables, wheat; poultry, eggs, pork, dairy
Industries:
machine building, iron and steel, coal mining, chemicals, shipbuilding, food processing, glass, beverages, textiles
Industrial production growth rate:
8.9% (2007 est.)
Electricity - production:
149.3 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - consumption:
126.2 billion kWh (2006 est.)
Electricity - exports:
13.11 billion kWh (2007)
Electricity - imports:
7.761 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 98.1% hydro: 1.5% nuclear: 0% other: 0.4% (2001)
Oil - production:
37,670 bbl/day (2007 est.)
Oil - consumption:
524,000 bbl/day (2007 est.)
Oil - exports:
57,920 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - imports:
499,200 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - proved reserves:
96.38 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)
Natural gas - production:
6.025 billion cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
16.38 billion cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
45 million cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
10.12 billion cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
164.8 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)
Current account balance:
-$15.91 billion (2007 est.)
Exports:
$144.6 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment 37.8%, intermediate manufactured goods 23.7%, miscellaneous manufactured goods 17.1%, food and live animals 7.6% (2003)
Exports - partners:
Germany 25.9%, Italy 6.6%, France 6.1%, UK 5.9%, Czech Republic 5.5%, Russia 4.6% (2007)
Imports:
$160.2 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment 38%, intermediate manufactured goods 21%, chemicals 14.8%, minerals, fuels, lubricants, and related materials 9.1% (2003)
Imports - partners:
Germany 29%, Russia 8.7%, Italy 6.6%, Netherlands 5.7%, France 5.1%,China 4.2% (2007)
Economic aid - recipient:
$1.524 billion in available EU structural adjustment and cohesion funds (2004)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$65.75 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
$169.8 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$143 billion (2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$19.69 billion (2007 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$149.1 billion (2006)
Currency (code):
zloty (PLN)
Currency code:
Exchange rates:
zlotych (PLN) per US dollar - 2.81 (2007), 3.1032 (2006), 3.2355 (2005), 3.6576 (2004), 3.8891 (2003) note: zlotych is the plural form of zloty
CommunicationsPoland
Telephones - main lines in use:
10.336 million (2007)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
41.389 million (2007)
Telephone system:
general assessment: modernization of the telecommunications network has accelerated with market based competition finalized in 2003; fixed-line service, dominated by the former state-owned company, is dwarfed by the growth in wireless telephony domestic: mobile-cellular service available since 1993 and provided by three nation-wide networks with a fourth provider beginning operations in late 2006; cellular coverage is generally good with some gaps in the east; fixed-line service is growing slowly and still lags in rural areas international: country code - 48; international direct dialing with automated exchanges; satellite earth station - 1 with access to Intelsat, Eutelsat, Inmarsat, and Intersputnik (2007)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 14, FM 777, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:
20.2 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
40 (2006)
Televisions:
13.05 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.pl
Internet hosts:
7.808 million (2008)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
19 (2000)
Internet users:
16 million (2007)
TransportationPoland
Airports:
123 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 83 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 30 1,524 to 2,437 m: 39 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 3 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 40 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 13 under 914 m: 22 (2007)
Heliports:
7 (2007)
Pipelines:
gas 13,552 km; oil 1,384 km; refined products 777 km (2007)
Railways:
total: 23,072 km broad gauge: 629 km 1.524-m gauge standard gauge: 22,443 km 1.435-m gauge (20,555 km operational; 11,910 km electrified) (2006)
Roadways:
total: 423,997 km paved: 295,356 km (includes 662 km of expressways) unpaved: 128,641 km (2006)
Waterways:
3,997 km (navigable rivers and canals) (2006)
Merchant marine:
total: 15 by type: cargo 8, chemical tanker 4, passenger/cargo 1, roll on/roll off 1, vehicle carrier 1 foreign-owned: 2 (Cyprus 1, Nigeria 1) registered in other countries: 98 (Antigua and Barbuda 2, Bahamas 17, Cyprus 18, Liberia 13, Malta 24, Norway 3, Panama 11, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1, Slovakia 2, Vanuatu 7) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Gdansk, Gdynia, Swinoujscie, Szczecin
MilitaryPoland
Military branches:
Polish Armed Forces: Land Forces (includes Navy (Marynarka Wojenna,MW)), Polish Air Force (Sily Powietrzne Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej,SPRP) (2008)
Military service age and obligation:
17 years of age for male compulsory military service after January 1st of the year of 18th birthday; 17 years of age for voluntary military service; conscript service obligation shortened from 12 to 9 months in 2005; by 2008, plans call for at least 60% of military personnel to be volunteers; only soldiers who have completed their conscript service are allowed to volunteer for professional service; as of April 2004, women are only allowed to serve as officers and noncommissioned officers (2006)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 9,741,508 females age 16-49: 9,514,843 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 7,937,840 females age 16-49: 7,949,677 (2008 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 257,605 female: 245,832 (2008 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.71% of GDP (2005 est.)
Transnational IssuesPoland
Disputes - international:
as a member state that forms part of the EU's external border, Poland has implemented the strict Schengen border rules to restrict illegal immigration and trade along its eastern borders with Belarus and Ukraine
Illicit drugs:
despite diligent counternarcotics measures and international information sharing on cross-border crimes, a major illicit producer of synthetic drugs for the international market; minor transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and Latin American cocaine to Western Europe
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008
======================================================================
@Portugal
IntroductionPortugal
Background:
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.
GeographyPortugal
Location:
Southwestern Europe, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, west ofSpain
Geographic coordinates:
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 92,391 sq km land: 91,951 sq km water: 440 sq km note: includes Azores and Madeira Islands
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Indiana
Land boundaries:
total: 1,214 km border countries: Spain 1,214 km
Coastline:
1,793 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate:
maritime temperate; cool and rainy in north, warmer and drier in south
Terrain:
mountainous north of the Tagus River, rolling plains in south
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Ponta do Pico (Pico or Pico Alto) on Ilha do Pico in the Azores 2,351 m
Natural resources:
fish, forests (cork), iron ore, copper, zinc, tin, tungsten, silver, gold, uranium, marble, clay, gypsum, salt, arable land, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 17.29% permanent crops: 7.84% other: 74.87% (2005)
Irrigated land:
6,500 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
73.6 cu km (2005)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 11.09 cu km/yr (10%/12%/78%) per capita: 1,056 cu m/yr (1998)
Natural hazards:
Azores subject to severe earthquakes
Environment - current issues:
soil erosion; air pollution caused by industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution, especially in coastal areas
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, ClimateChange-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine LifeConservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, TropicalTimber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whalingsigned, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent OrganicPollutants, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, EnvironmentalModification
Geography - note:
Azores and Madeira Islands occupy strategic locations along western sea approaches to Strait of Gibraltar
PeoplePortugal
Population:
10,676,910 (July 2008 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 16.4% (male 912,995/female 835,715) 15-64 years: 66.2% (male 3,514,905/female 3,555,097) 65 years and over: 17.4% (male 764,443/female 1,093,755) (2008 est.)
Median age:
total: 39.1 years male: 37 years female: 41.3 years (2008 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.305% (2008 est.)
Birth rate:
10.45 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate:
10.62 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Net migration rate:
3.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.09 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2008 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 4.85 deaths/1,000 live births male: 5.31 deaths/1,000 live births female: 4.36 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.04 years male: 74.78 years female: 81.53 years (2008 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.49 children born/woman (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.4% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
22,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 1,000 (2003 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Portuguese (singular and plural) adjective: Portuguese
Ethnic groups:
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
Religions:
Roman Catholic 84.5%, other Christian 2.2%, other 0.3%, unknown 9%, none 3.9% (2001 census)
Languages:
Portuguese (official), Mirandese (official - but locally used)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 93.3% male: 95.5% female: 91.3% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 15 years male: 15 years female: 16 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
5.5% of GDP (2005)
GovernmentPortugal
Country name:
conventional long form: Portuguese Republic conventional short form: Portugal local long form: Republica Portuguesa local short form: Portugal
Government type:
republic; parliamentary democracy
Capital:
name: Lisbon geographic coordinates: 38 43 N, 9 08 W time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
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 (Lisbon), Madeira*, Portalegre, Porto, Santarem, Setubal, Viana do Castelo, Vila Real, Viseu
Independence:
1143 (Kingdom of Portugal recognized); 5 October 1910 (republic proclaimed)
National holiday:
Portugal Day (Day of Portugal), 10 June (1580); note - also called Camoes Day, the day that revered national poet Luis de Camoes (1524-80) died
Constitution:
adopted 2 April 1976; note - subsequent revisions of the Constitution placed the military under strict civilian control, trimmed the powers of the president, and laid the groundwork for a stable, pluralistic liberal democracy; as well, they allowed for the privatization of nationalized firms and the government-owned communications media
Legal system:
based on 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 Anibal CAVACO SILVA (since 9 March 2006) head of government: Prime Minister Jose SOCRATES Carvalho Pinto de Sousa (since 12 March 2005) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister note: there is also a Council of State that acts as a consultative body to the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 22 January 2006 (next to be held in January 2011); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the president election results: Anibal CAVACO SILVA elected president; percent of vote - Anibal CAVACO SILVA 50.6%, Manuel ALEGRE 20.7%, Mario Alberto Nobre Lopes SOARES 14.3%, Jeronimo DE SOUSA 8.5%, Franciso LOUCA 5.3%
Legislative branch:
unicameral Assembly of the Republic or Assembleia da Republica (230 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 20 February 2005 (next to be held in Fall 2009) election results: percent of vote by party - PS 45.1%, PSD 28.7%, CDU 7.6%, CDS/PP 7.3%, BE 6.4%, other 4.9%; seats by party - PS 121, PSD 75, CDU 14, CDS/PP 12, BE 8
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Supremo Tribunal de Justica (judges appointed for life by the Conselho Superior da Magistratura)
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic and Social Center/Popular Party or CDS/PP [Paulo PORTAS];Green Ecologist Party (The Greens) or PEV [leadership commissionelected by members]; Portuguese Communist Party or PCP [Jeronimo DESOUSA]; Portuguese Socialist Party or PS [Jose SOCRATES CarvalhoPinto de Sousa]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Manuela FERREIRALeite]; The Left Bloc or BE [Franciso Anacleto LOUCA]; UnitarianDemocratic Coalition or CDU [Jeronimo DE SOUSA] (includes PCP andPEV)
Political pressure groups and leaders:
the media
International organization participation:
ADB (nonregional members), AfDB (nonregional members), AustraliaGroup, BIS, CE, CERN, CPLP, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO,IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU,ITUC, LAIA (observer), MIGA, MINURCAT, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG,OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, SECI(observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, Union Latina,UNMIT, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Joao DE VALLERA chancery: 2012 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 350-5400 FAX: [1] (202) 462-3726 consulate(s) general: Boston, New York, Newark (New Jersey), San Francisco consulate(s): New Bedford (Massachusetts), Providence (Rhode Island)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas F. STEPHENSON embassy: Avenida das Forcas Armadas, 1600-081 Lisbon mailing address: Apartado 43033, 1601-301 Lisboa; PSC 83, APO AE 09726 telephone: [351] (21) 727-3300 FAX: [351] (21) 726-9109 consulate(s): Ponta Delgada (Azores)
Flag description:
two vertical bands of green (hoist side, two-fifths) and red (three-fifths) with the Portuguese coat of arms centered on the dividing line
EconomyPortugal
Economy - overview:
Portugal has become a diversified and increasingly service-based economy since joining the European Community in 1986. Over the past two decades, successive governments have privatized many state-controlled firms and liberalized key areas of the economy, including the financial and telecommunications sectors. The country qualified for the European Monetary Union (EMU) in 1998 and began circulating the euro on 1 January 2002 along with 11 other EU member economies. Economic growth had been above the EU average for much of the 1990s, but fell back in 2001-07. GDP per capita stands at roughly two-thirds of the EU-27 average. A poor educational system, in particular, has been an obstacle to greater productivity and growth. Portugal has been increasingly overshadowed by lower-cost producers in Central Europe and Asia as a target for foreign direct investment. The budget deficit surged to an all-time high of 6% of GDP in 2005, but the government reduced the deficit to 2.6% in 2007 - a year ahead of Portugal's targeted schedule. Nonetheless, the government faces tough choices in its attempts to boost Portugal's economic competitiveness while keeping the budget deficit within the eurozone's 3%-of-GDP ceiling.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$232.3 billion (2007 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$223.3 billion (2007 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1.8% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$21,800 (2007 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 8.2% industry: 25.4% services: 66.4% (2007 est.)
Labor force:
5.618 million (2007 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 10% industry: 30% services: 60% (2007 est.)
Unemployment rate:
8% (2007 est.)
Population below poverty line:
18% (2006)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.1% highest 10%: 28.4% (1995 est.)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
38.5 (2007)
Investment (gross fixed):
21.7% of GDP (2007 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $96.01 billion expenditures: $101.9 billion (2007 est.)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Public debt:
63.6% of GDP (2007 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.4% (2007 est.)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
7.92% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
NA note: see entry for the European Union for money supply in the Euro Area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for the 15 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); individual members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money and quasi money circulating within their own borders
Stock of quasi money:
NA (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$451.9 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
grain, potatoes, tomatoes, olives, grapes; sheep, cattle, goats, swine, poultry, dairy products; fish
Industries:
textiles, clothing, footwear, wood and cork, paper, chemicals, auto-parts manufacturing, base metals, diary products, wine and other foods, porcelain and ceramics, glassware, technology, telecommunications; ship construction and refurbishment; tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
2.3% (2007 est.)
Electricity - production:
44.83 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - consumption:
48.02 billion kWh (2006 est.)
Electricity - exports:
2.153 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
9.641 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 64.5% hydro: 31.3% nuclear: 0% other: 4.1% (2001)
Oil - production:
6,281 bbl/day (2007 est.)
Oil - consumption:
301,000 bbl/day (2007 est.)
Oil - exports:
50,490 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - imports:
390,300 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - proved reserves:
NA bbl
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
4.112 billion cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
4.095 billion cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)
Current account balance:
-$21.75 billion (2007 est.)
Exports:
$51.5 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
agricultural products, food products, oil products, chemical products, plastics and rubber, skins and leather, wood and cork, wood pulp and paper, textile materials, clothing, footwear, minerals and mineral products, base metals, machinery and tools, vehicles and other transport material, and optical and precision
Exports - partners:
Spain 27.1%, Germany 12.9%, France 12.3%, UK 5.9%, US 4.8%, Angola 4.5%, Italy 4% (2007)
Imports:
$75.3 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
agricultural products, food products, oil products, chemical products, plastics and rubber, skins and leather, wood and cork, wood pulp and paper, textile materials, clothing, footwear, minerals and mineral products, base metals, machinery and tools, vehicles and other transport material, and optical and precision instruments, computer accessories and parts, semi-conductors and related devices, household goods, passenger cars new and used, and wine products
Imports - partners:
Spain 29.5%, Germany 12.9%, France 8.4%, Italy 5.2%, Netherlands 4.6% (2007)
Economic aid - donor:
ODA, $396 million (2006)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$11.55 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
$461.2 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$91.19 billion (2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$54.85 billion (2007 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$66.98 billion (2005)
Currency (code):
euro (EUR)
Currency code:
Exchange rates:
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003)
CommunicationsPortugal
Telephones - main lines in use:
4.139 million (2007)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
13.413 million (2007)
Telephone system:
general assessment: Portugal's telephone system has achieved a state-of-the-art network with broadband, high-speed capabilities domestic: integrated network of coaxial cables, open-wire, microwave radio relay, and domestic satellite earth stations international: country code - 351; a combination of submarine cables provide connectivity to Europe, North and East Africa, South Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and the US; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), NA Eutelsat; tropospheric scatter to Azores (1998)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 47, FM 172 (many are repeaters), shortwave 2 (1998)
Radios:
3.02 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
62 (plus 166 repeaters; includes Azores and Madeira Islands) (1995)
Televisions:
3.31 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.pt
Internet hosts:
1.858 million (2008)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
16 (2000)
Internet users:
3.549 million (2007)
TransportationPortugal
Airports:
66 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 44 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 13 under 914 m: 12 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 22 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 21 (2007)
Pipelines:
gas 1,098 km; oil 11 km; refined products 188 km (2007)
Railways:
total: 2,786 km broad gauge: 2,603 km 1.668-m gauge (1,351 km electrified) narrow gauge: 183 km 1.000-m gauge (2006)
Roadways:
total: 82,900 km paved: 71,294 km (includes 2,300 km of expressways) unpaved: 11,606 km (2005)
Waterways:
210 km (on Douro River from Porto) (2006)
Merchant marine:
total: 117 by type: bulk carrier 10, cargo 36, carrier 1, chemical tanker 15, container 6, liquefied gas 9, passenger 10, passenger/cargo 9, petroleum tanker 4, roll on/roll off 1, specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 15 foreign-owned: 84 (Bahamas 1, Belgium 7, Belgium 1, Denmark 3, Germany 20, Greece 4, Hong Kong 2, Italy 12, Japan 15, Mexico 1, Netherlands 1, Spain 11, Sweden 3, Switzerland 2, US 1) registered in other countries: 15 (Cyprus 1, Hong Kong 1, Italy 1, Malta 3, Panama 9) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Leixoes, Lisbon, Setubal, Sines
MilitaryPortugal
Military branches:
Portuguese Army (Exercito Portugues), Portuguese Navy (MarinhaPortuguesa; includes Marine Corps), Portuguese Air Force (ForcaAerea Portuguesa, FAP) (2008)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service; compulsory military service ended in 2004; women serve in the armed forces, on naval ships since 1993, but are prohibited from serving in some combatant specialties; reserve obligation to age 35 (2007)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 2,573,913 females age 16-49: 2,498,262 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 2,099,647 females age 16-49: 2,060,559 (2008 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 64,910 female: 58,599 (2008 est.)
Military expenditures:
2.3% of GDP (2005 est.)
Transnational IssuesPortugal
Disputes - international:
Portugal does not recognize Spanish sovereignty over the territory of Olivenza based on a difference of interpretation of the 1815 Congress of Vienna and the 1801 Treaty of Badajoz
Illicit drugs:
seizing record amounts of Latin American cocaine destined for Europe; a European gateway for Southwest Asian heroin; transshipment point for hashish from North Africa to Europe; consumer of Southwest Asian heroin
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008
======================================================================
@Puerto Rico
IntroductionPuerto Rico
Background:
Populated for centuries by aboriginal peoples, the island was claimed by the Spanish Crown in 1493 following COLUMBUS' second voyage to the Americas. In 1898, after 400 years of colonial rule that saw the indigenous population nearly exterminated and African slave labor introduced, Puerto Rico was ceded to the US as a result of the Spanish-American War. Puerto Ricans were granted US citizenship in 1917. Popularly-elected governors have served since 1948. In 1952, a constitution was enacted providing for internal self government. In plebiscites held in 1967, 1993, and 1998, voters chose not to alter the existing political status.
GeographyPuerto Rico
Location:
Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North AtlanticOcean, east of the Dominican Republic
Geographic coordinates:
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 13,790 sq km land: 8,870 sq km water: 4,921 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly less than three times the size of Rhode Island
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
501 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical marine, mild; little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain:
mostly mountains with coastal plain belt in north; mountains precipitous to sea on west coast; sandy beaches along most coastal areas
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Cerro de Punta 1,339 m
Natural resources:
some copper and nickel; potential for onshore and offshore oil
Land use:
arable land: 3.69% permanent crops: 5.59% other: 90.72% (2005)
Irrigated land:
400 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:
periodic droughts; hurricanes
Environment - current issues:
erosion; occasional drought causing water shortages
Geography - note:
important location along the Mona Passage - a key shipping lane to the Panama Canal; San Juan is one of the biggest and best natural harbors in the Caribbean; many small rivers and high central mountains ensure land is well watered; south coast relatively dry; fertile coastal plain belt in north
PeoplePuerto Rico
Population:
3,958,128 (July 2008 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 20.5% (male 415,141/female 396,782) 15-64 years: 66% (male 1,254,416/female 1,358,229) 65 years and over: 13.5% (male 229,727/female 303,833) (2008 est.)
Median age:
total: 35.6 years male: 33.8 years female: 37.3 years (2008 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.369% (2008 est.)
Birth rate:
12.61 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate:
7.88 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Net migration rate:
-1.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2008 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 8.65 deaths/1,000 live births male: 9.15 deaths/1,000 live births female: 8.13 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.58 years male: 74.64 years female: 82.73 years (2008 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.76 children born/woman (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
7,397 (1997)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Nationality:
noun: Puerto Rican(s) (US citizens) adjective: Puerto Rican
Ethnic groups:
white (mostly Spanish origin) 80.5%, black 8%, Amerindian 0.4%, Asian 0.2%, mixed 4.2%, other 6.7% (2000 census)
Religions:
Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant and other 15%
Languages:
Spanish, English
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 94.1% male: 93.9% female: 94.4% (2002 est.)
Education expenditures:
GovernmentPuerto Rico
Country name:
conventional long form: Commonwealth of Puerto Rico conventional short form: Puerto Rico
Dependency status:
unincorporated, organized territory of the US with commonwealth status; policy relations between Puerto Rico and the US conducted under the jurisdiction of the Office of the President
Government type:
commonwealth
Capital:
name: San Juan geographic coordinates: 18 28 N, 66 07 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
none (territory of the US with commonwealth status); there are nofirst-order administrative divisions as defined by the USGovernment, but there are 78 municipalities (municipios, singular -municipio) at the second order; Adjuntas, Aguada, Aguadilla, AguasBuenas, Aibonito, Anasco, Arecibo, Arroyo, Barceloneta,Barranquitas, Bayamon, Cabo Rojo, Caguas, Camuy, Canovanas,Carolina, Catano, Cayey, Ceiba, Ciales, Cidra, Coamo, Comerio,Corozal, Culebra, Dorado, Fajardo, Florida, Guanica, Guayama,Guayanilla, Guaynabo, Gurabo, Hatillo, Hormigueros, Humacao,Isabela, Jayuya, Juana Diaz, Juncos, Lajas, Lares, Las Marias, LasPiedras, Loiza, Luquillo, Manati, Maricao, Maunabo, Mayaguez, Moca,Morovis, Naguabo, Naranjito, Orocovis, Patillas, Penuelas, Ponce,Quebradillas, Rincon, Rio Grande, Sabana Grande, Salinas, SanGerman, San Juan, San Lorenzo, San Sebastian, Santa Isabel, ToaAlta, Toa Baja, Trujillo Alto, Utuado, Vega Alta, Vega Baja,Vieques, Villalba, Yabucoa, Yauco
Independence:
none (territory of the US with commonwealth status)
National holiday:
US Independence Day, 4 July (1776); Puerto Rico Constitution Day, 25July (1952)
Constitution:
ratified 3 March 1952; approved by US Congress 3 July 1952; effective 25 July 1952
Legal system:
based on Spanish civil code and within the US Federal system of justice
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal; island residents are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections
Executive branch:
chief of state: President George W. BUSH of the US (since 20 January 2001); Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (since 20 January 2001) head of government: Governor Anibal ACEVEDO-VILA (since 2 January 2005) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor with the consent of the legislature elections: under the US Constitution, residents of unincorporated territories, such as Puerto Rico, do not vote in elections for US president and vice president; however, they may vote in Democratic and Republican presidential primary elections; governor elected by popular vote for a four-year term (no term limits); election last held 4 November 2008 (next to be held in November 2012) election results: Luis FORTUNO elected governor with 52.8% of the vote, he will take office on 2 January 2009
Legislative branch:
bicameral Legislative Assembly consists of the Senate (at least 27 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) and the House of Representatives (51 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: Senate - last held 4 November 2008 (next to be held November 2012); House of Representatives - last held 4 November 2008 (next to be held in November 2012) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PNP 22, PPD 5; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA note: Puerto Rico elects, by popular vote, a resident commissioner to serve a four-year term as a nonvoting representative in the US House of Representatives; aside from not voting on the House floor, he enjoys all the rights of a member of Congress; elections last held 4 November 2008 (next to be held in November 2012); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PNP 1
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; Appellate Court; Court of First Instance composed of two sections: a Superior Court and a Municipal Court (justices for all these courts appointed by the governor with the consent of the Senate)
Political parties and leaders:
National Democratic Party [Roberto PRATS]; National Republican Partyof Puerto Rico [Dr. Tiody FERRE]; New Progressive Party or PNP[Pedro ROSSELLO] (pro-US statehood); Popular Democratic Party or PPD[Anibal ACEVEDO-VILA] (pro-commonwealth); Puerto Rican IndependenceParty or PIP [Ruben BERRIOS Martinez] (pro-independence)
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Boricua Popular Army or EPB (a revolutionary group also known as Los Macheteros); note - the following radical groups are considered dormant by Federal law enforcement: Armed Forces for National Liberation or FALN, Armed Forces of Popular Resistance, Volunteers of the Puerto Rican Revolution
International organization participation:
Caricom (observer), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, ITUC, UNWTO (associate), UPU, WCL, WFTU
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (territory of the US with commonwealth status)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (territory of the US with commonwealth status)
Flag description:
five equal horizontal bands of red (top and bottom) alternating with white; a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist side bears a large, white, five-pointed star in the center; design initially influenced by the US flag, but similar to the Cuban flag, with the colors of the bands and triangle reversed
EconomyPuerto Rico
Economy - overview:
Puerto Rico has one of the most dynamic economies in the Caribbean region. A diverse industrial sector has far surpassed agriculture as the primary locus of economic activity and income. Encouraged by duty-free access to the US and by tax incentives, US firms have invested heavily in Puerto Rico since the 1950s. US minimum wage laws apply. Sugar production has lost out to dairy production and other livestock products as the main source of income in the agricultural sector. Tourism has traditionally been an important source of income, with estimated arrivals of nearly 5 million tourists in 2004. Growth fell off in 2001-03, largely due to the slowdown in the US economy, recovered in 2004-05, but declined again in 2006-07.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$72.61 billion (2007 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$NA (2007 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
-1.2% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$18,400 (2007 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1% industry: 45% services: 54% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
1.3 million (2000)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 3% industry: 20% services: 77% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:
12% (2002)
Population below poverty line:
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $6.7 billion expenditures: $9.6 billion (FY99/00)
Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
6.5% (2003 est.)
Agriculture - products:
sugarcane, coffee, pineapples, plantains, bananas; livestock products, chickens
Industries:
pharmaceuticals, electronics, apparel, food products, tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
Electricity - production:
23.84 billion kWh (2006 est.)
Electricity - consumption:
22.17 billion kWh (2006 est.)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 99.2% hydro: 0.8% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Oil - production:
1,354 bbl/day (2007 est.)
Oil - consumption:
215,000 bbl/day (2007 est.)
Oil - exports:
10,610 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - imports:
230,700 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
736.2 million cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
736.2 million cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)
Exports: