Population

Portugal has a population of about 10.5 million, 96.9% is Portuguese and 3.1% is immigration population mainly from Brazil, Africa, Spain and Asia. The Portuguese are very friendly and enthusiastic. 

Language

Portuguese is the sixth largest spoken language in the world. Brazil, Angola, Mozambique use Portuguese as their official language. Some people in Macao also speak Portuguese.

Religion

In Portugal, 84.5% of the population believes in Catholicism, devoted and friendly.

Economy

Portugal is a traditional powerful country, although after years, the economy does not develop at a fast speed now, it is still one of the most wealthy and stable countries in the world. In 2013, per capita GDP in Portugal is 18,600 euros. Textiles, footwear, tourism and wine industries are the pillar industries of the national economy. Cork production accounts for more than half the world’s total export amount. After the crisis, a wave of Chinese investment and state-owned capital is pouring into Portugal, which shows confidence in the Portuguese economy and importance of the strategic position of Portugal. In late 2011, China’s Three Gorges Corporation acquired a 22 percent stake in Portugal’s national energy company, Energias de Portugal (EDP), for US$3.5 billion. In 2012, China State Grid purchase of 25% of Redes Energeticas Nacionais’ (REN) shares for a total of US$524 million. In March 2013, Beijing Enterprise Water Group acquired Veolia Water Portugal from its French parent company for US$123 million. Veolia provides water to four districts in Lisbon, supplying approximately 670,000 people. In 2013, China Mobile announced that it was considering acquiring an unspecified stake in Portugal Telecom too. 

Education

In Portugal, it is easy to access good public and private schools. Public education for students under 18 is cost-free. And you can find international schools all over the country. There are very famous universities like Lisbon University, Coimbra University, Porto University etc. Coimbra University, founded in 1290, is one of the oldest universities in the world with La Sorbonne and Oxford.

The country is also rich in culture with 289 museums, 1960 libraries, 347 cinemas and theaters, and 306 galleries.