Portugal at a Glance

Portugal is a small Atlantic economy that moved from dictatorship and empire to the EU, tourism and a surprising technology scene.

Portugal is a country of about ten million people on the western edge of Europe, with a long Atlantic coast and two island regions, the Azores and Madeira.

Economy

Services and tourism dominate, with manufacturing of cars, textiles, footwear and cork products.

Position

It is one of Western Europe’s poorer countries, with lower incomes than the EU average.

Story

Its recent history mixes a democratic revolution, EU integration, a debt crisis and a strong comeback.

A blue-tile country

Tourists visit Lisbon, Porto and the Algarve coast, spending in hotels, restaurants and shops.

Assuming Portugal is small and simple

It has a varied economy.

Key takeaways

Portugal lies on Europe's Atlantic edge.
Services and tourism lead.
Incomes are below the EU average.
It had a crisis and a comeback.