FACTS

Location: Southwestern Europe, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Spain

Area (only Total) total: 92,391 sq km

Climate: maritime temperate; cool and rainy in north, warmer and drier in south

Terrain: mountainous north of the Tagus River, rolling plains in south

Population: 10,676,910 (July 2008 est.)

Main Language (only first): Portuguese

Government type: republic; parliamentary democracy

Capital (Name): Lisbon

Capital (Time Difference): UTC+0

Independence: 1143 (Kingdom of Portugal recognized); 5 October 1910 (republic proclaimed)

National holiday: Portugal Day (Day of Portugal), 10 June (1580); note - also called Camoes Day, the day that revered national poet Luis de Camoes (1524-80) died