Portugal
Portuguese Republic
Flag of Portugal
two vertical bands of green (hoist side, two-fifths) and red (three-fifths) with the national coat of arms (armillary sphere and Portuguese shield) centered on the dividing line; explanations for the color meanings are ambiguous, but a popular interpretation has green symbolizing hope and red the blood of those defending the nation
Creative Industries Portugal at Europa Regina
Population:
10,263,850 (July 2021 est.)
10,302,674 (2020)
10,839,514 (2017)
Capital: Lisbon
Internet country code: .pt
Government:
Official website: portugal.gov.pt
Turismo de Portugal: visitportugal.com
Portuguese Republic / República Portuguesa
Following its heyday as a global maritime 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 of Brazil, its wealthiest colony, in 1822. 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.