Factbook
History of Portugal — Timeline
Key dates in the history of Portugal, from the Magna Factbook and the Universal Encyclopedia.
1640Independence: 1143 (Kingdom of Portugal recognized); 1 December 1640 (independence reestablished after 60 years of Spanish rule); 5 October 1910 (republic proclaimed).
1755A 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.
1910A revolution deposed the monarchy in 1910, and for most of the next six decades, repressive governments ran the country.
1974In 1974, a left-wing military coup ushered in broad democratic reforms.
1986Portugal is a founding member of NATO and entered the EC (now the EU) in 1986.
2021Languages: Portuguese (official), Mirandese (official, but locally used) Religions: Catholic 68.1%, not applicable 12.9%, no religion 12.0%, no response 2.2%, Protestant 1.8%, other 1.0%; less than 1%: other Christians, Orthodox, Muslim (2021 est.) Urban population: 67.9% of total population (2023).
2023Generation mix — fossil fuels: 25.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.); solar: 12.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.); wind: 29% of total installed capacity (2023 est.); hydroelectricity: 24.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.); geothermal: 0.4% of total ins Energy use: 73.285 million Btu/person (2023 est.).
2023Industries: textiles, clothing, footwear, wood and cork, paper and pulp, chemicals, fuels and lubricants, automobiles and auto parts, base metals, minerals, porcelain and ceramics, glassware, technology, telecommunications; dairy products, wine, other foodstuffs; ship con Agriculture: milk, tomatoes, olives, grapes, maize, pork, potatoes, chicken, apples, oranges (2023) Electricity access: 100% (2022 est.).
2023Major urban areas: 3.001 million LISBON (capital), 1.325 million Porto (2023) high-income EU and eurozone economy; strong services sector led by tourism and banking; tight labor market; growth driven by private consumption, trade surplus, and public investment from EU funds; declining public debt Inflation: 2.4% (2024 est.).
2025Military spending: 2% of GDP (2025 est.).
2025Population: 10.2 million (2025 estimate).
