Country information

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Area: 91,982 sq km
Population: 10.599 million (2006)
Capital City: Lisbon (population: around 2 million)
People: 95% Portuguese, approx 5% ethnic minorities
Language(s): Portuguese
Religion(s): 94% Roman Catholic, 2% Protestant, 4% other
Currency: euro (EUR)
Major political parties: Socialist Party or PS (Leader: Jose Socrates), Social Democratic Party or PSD(Leader: Luis Filipe Menezes), Popular Party or PP (Paulo Portas), Portuguese Communist Party or PCP (Leader: Jerónimo de Sousa), Leftwing Block (Leader: Francisco Louçã), The Greens of PEV (rotational leadership)
Political system: Parliamentary democracy/semi-presidential system
Head of State: President Cavaco Silva
Prime Minister: José Sόcrates
Foreign Minister: Luis Amado
Membership of international groups/organisations: European Union (EU), North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), United Nations (UN), Organisation for Co-operation and Security in Europe (OSCE), Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries (CPLP).

DID YOU KNOW?

The first circumnavigation of the globe was led by Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan.

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