Human development index (HDI), an index based on life expectancy, education and GDP (max. 1)
0.830
World rank in HDI
43
Key economic sectors (% of GDP in 2002)
Services (76); industry (22); agriculture (2)
Leading Companies
EDP Energias de Portugal, an electricity company (US$11·6bn.); Galp Energia (US$8·3bn.); and Jerónimo Martins, a food distribution group (US$7·9bn.)
Unemployment
13.4% (Dec 2014)
Main religious denominations (numbers in millions)
10·01m. Christians in 2010 (98% of which were Catholics) and 470,000 people with no religious affiliation
Political system
Executive power is vested in the President, who can be elected for a maximum of two five-year terms. Political parties may not field candidates in presidential elections, although they may lend their support to one of them. A unicameral legislature, the National Assembly, sits for four-year terms.
Electoral system
The President is directly elected. The National Assembly is elected by proportional representation.
Current (March 2017) leaders
President: Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa; b. 1948 (PSD; sworn in 9 March 2016). Prime Minister: António Costa; b. 1961 (PS; sworn in 26 Nov. 2015).
Previous leaders:
President: Aníbal Cavaco Silva (2006-2016) Prime Minister: Pedro Manuel Mamede Passos Coelho (2011 – 2015)
Joined the EU/EC
1986
Commissioner from country in Barroso II College of Commissioners, and portfolio
José Manuel Barroso (President)
Number of MEPs
21
Turnout in 2014 EP elections (%)
33·8% (36·8% in 2009)
Member of eurozone
Yes (founder member)
Except where a specific reference is inserted, the sources for this profile are either Neill Nugent’s book itself, or Barry Turner (ed.), The Statesman’s Yearbook Online, Basingstoke and New York: Palgrave Macmillan. If your library subscribes, you can gain access at http://www.statesmansyearbook.com
