1143 (Kingdom of Portugal recognized); 5 October 1910 (republic proclaimed)
5 July 1962 (from France)
Religions
Roman Catholic 84.5%, other Christian 2.2%, other 0.3%, unknown 9%, none 3.9% (2001 census)
Sunni Muslim (state religion) 99%, Christian and Jewish 1%
Languages
Portuguese (official), Mirandese (official - but locally used)
Arabic (official), French, Berber dialects
Exports
agricultural products, food products, oil products, chemical products, plastics and rubber, skins and leather, wood and cork, wood pulp and paper, textile materials, clothing, footwear, minerals and mineral products, base metals, machinery and tools, vehicles and other transport material, and optical and precision
petroleum, natural gas, and petroleum products 97%
External Debt
$548,300,000,000 $
$4,699,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.6734 (2008 est.), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004)
Algerian dinars (DZD) per US dollar - 63.25 (2008 est.), 69.9 (2007), 72.647 (2006), 73.276 (2005), 72.061 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
2.300%
3.300%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
2
2
Location
Southwestern Europe, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Spain
Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Morocco and Tunisia
Area
92,090 km sq
2,381,741 km sq
Coastline
1,793 km
998 km
Climate
maritime temperate; cool and rainy in north, warmer and drier in south
arid to semiarid; mild, wet winters with hot, dry summers along coast; drier with cold winters and hot summers on high plateau; sirocco is a hot, dust/sand-laden wind especially common in summer
