Destinations › Europe · The Destination Index · universal template · every figure sourced
Portugal.
Southwestern Europe, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Spain. 92,090 sq km and 10,804,871 people, 1,793 km of coastline, maritime temperate; cool and rainy in north, warmer and drier in south.
Region · EuropePopulation · ~10,804,871Languages · Portuguese, with Mirandese (official in Miranda do Douro)Eco Index · 72/100 · Passable
The Eco Index across 12 pillars · scored 0 to 5 · World Bank, OWID, WHO/UNICEF JMP, FiBL, Protected Planet, IUCN, UNESCO (2023-24)
Conservation
Wildlife
Water
Food & farming
Organic & clean
Climate & energy
Waste
Health
Heritage
Ownership
Governance
Future
The History of Portugal.
Portugal keeps a deep well of living tradition, from Fado, the melancholic urban song of Lisbon and Coimbra recognised by UNESCO, to the collective a cappella singing of Cante Alentejano. Rural folk dances such as the vira and corridinho are still danced at festas and romarias across the country.
Where the name comes from
From Portus Cale, the Roman port at the mouth of the Douro, which gave its name to a county and then a kingdom. Source: UK Permanent Committee on Geographical Names toponymic factfile.
The land itself: the Tagus divides the country: mountainous toward the interior in the north, rolling plains through the south. Its high point is Ponta do Pico in the Azores, 2,351 m; on the mainland, Serra da Estrela, 1,993 m. Source: Instituto Geográfico Português and its materials can be accessed throug, the national mapping agency, with the UK Permanent Committee on Geographical Names.
Where it starts
The Coa Valley
Thousands of rock engravings line the Coa river, made between roughly 25,000 and 10,000 years ago, and form one of the largest open-air Palaeolithic art sites in the world. From about 5000 BC standing stones and dolmens were raised across the Alentejo, including the Almendres cromlech, raised from around 6000 BC and among the oldest stone circles known anywhere.
How it got here
Navigation, and what it carried
Phoenician trading contact was followed by Celtic settlement and Roman Lusitania. Muslim rule across the south from 711 left language, agriculture and irrigation. Portugal was recognised as an independent kingdom in 1143, giving it one of Europe's oldest continuous borders. From the fifteenth century Portuguese voyages opened sea routes to Africa, India and Brazil, and began the Atlantic slave trade. The Lisbon earthquake of 1755 destroyed much of the capital. The Carnation Revolution of 1974 ended nearly fifty years of dictatorship, and the African colonies became independent in 1975.
The timeline
c. 25,000 to 10,000 years ago
The Coa Valley.
Thousands of rock engravings along the Coa river, one of the largest open-air Palaeolithic art sites in the world. ↗
c. 5000 BC onward
Megaliths.
Standing stones and dolmens are raised across the Alentejo, including the Almendres cromlech. ↗
c. 1000 BC onward
Phoenicians, Celts and Romans.
Trading contact is followed by Celtic settlement and incorporation into Roman Lusitania. ↗
711 to 1249
Al-Andalus and the reconquest.
Muslim rule across the south leaves language, agriculture and irrigation. ↗
1143
The kingdom.
Portugal is recognised as an independent kingdom, one of Europe's oldest continuous borders. ↗
1400s to 1500s
Ocean navigation.
Portuguese voyages open sea routes to Africa, India and Brazil, and begin the Atlantic slave trade. ↗
1755
The Lisbon earthquake.
An earthquake, fire and tsunami destroy much of the capital and change European thinking about disaster. ↗
1974
The Carnation Revolution.
A near-bloodless military coup ends nearly fifty years of dictatorship. ↗
1975
Decolonisation.
Portugal's African colonies become independent in 1975, the year after the Carnation Revolution ended the dictatorship at home. Angola, Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau, Cape Verde and Sao Tome all became independent in that period. ↗
Museu Nacional de Arqueologia, Lisbon · UNESCO World Heritage, Prehistoric Rock-Art Sites in the Coa Valley · Direcao-Geral do Patrimonio Cultural, Portugal
Nature and Biodiversity in Portugal.
Terrestrial protected areas cover about 23 per cent of the country and marine protected areas about 16.9 per cent of territorial waters (World Bank, 2025), anchored by the Peneda-Geres National Park and an extensive Natura 2000 network. Enforcement is moderate and marine protection is often light-touch, but the overall coverage is strong.
Is wild Portugal protected? 23% of the land is, against a 30% target for 2030
Recorded in Portugal and named in the open record. Endemic status is stated per species, not implied by this list.
Iberian lynx (recovering)
Ib
Iberian wolf
Ib
Lusitanian endemic flora
Lu
Cork oak Quercus suber
Co
The watchlist
ThreatenedBalearic Shearwater (Puffinus mauretanicus)Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, and recorded in Portugal in GBIF occurrence data (bird).
ThreatenedCommon thread turtle (Mauremys sinensis)Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, and recorded in Portugal in GBIF occurrence data (turtle).
ThreatenedBeet (Beta patula)Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, and recorded in Portugal in GBIF occurrence data (plant).
ThreatenedAnguilla anguillaCritically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, and recorded in Portugal in GBIF occurrence data (species).
ThreatenedFrench Groundsel (Senecio gallicus)Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, and recorded in Portugal in GBIF occurrence data (plant).
ThreatenedPericallis malvifoliaCritically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, and recorded in Portugal in GBIF occurrence data (plant).
ThreatenedDiplotaxis siifoliaCritically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, and recorded in Portugal in GBIF occurrence data (plant).
ThreatenedGiant Herb-Robert (Geranium maderense)Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, and recorded in Portugal in GBIF occurrence data (plant).
Critically Endangered, the last IUCN category before Extinct in the Wild, and still recorded in Portugal. GBIF holds 21 verified occurrence records.
Common thread turtle (Mauremys sinensis)
Critically Endangered, the last IUCN category before Extinct in the Wild, and still recorded in Portugal. GBIF holds 23 verified occurrence records.
Beet (Beta patula)
Critically Endangered, the last IUCN category before Extinct in the Wild, and still recorded in Portugal. GBIF holds 105 verified occurrence records.
Anguilla anguilla
Critically Endangered, the last IUCN category before Extinct in the Wild, and still recorded in Portugal. GBIF holds 41 verified occurrence records.
Species named here are drawn from GBIF occurrence records for Portugal filtered to the IUCN Red List threatened categories. Species are listed where GBIF holds occurrence records for them in this country. Record counts are not published here because the figure cannot be reproduced from a public GBIF query.
Nature reserve in Braga, mapped and named in the open record for Portugal. OpenStreetMap.
Water and Ocean in Portugal.
Portugal draws on major rivers (Tagus, Douro, Guadiana) and reservoirs, and 95.2 per cent of the population uses safely managed drinking water (WHO/UNICEF JMP via World Bank, 2024). Supply is reliable in the north and centre, but the south (Algarve and Alentejo) leans heavily on reservoirs and now faces recurring drought and restrictions, with desalination being built to cope. Several key rivers rise in Spain, adding transboundary dependence.
Does Portugal have enough fresh water? Yes, with headroom
95.2% of people here have safely managed drinking water at home (2024, WHO/UNICEF JMP). Tap water is safe for a visitor nearly everywhere.
Cleanest water: Peneda-Geres National Park rivers and pools and the upper Douro tributaries.
How much fresh water does Portugal have, per person?
3,642 m³
Portugal
1,000 m³
the UN “water scarce” line
Portugal withdraws about 6,130 million cubic metres of fresh water a year (2022). That is 12.3% of the fresh water actually available to it, which FAO counts as low water stress. Of what is taken, farming takes 55%, homes and towns 15%, industry 30%. Source: FAO AQUASTAT.
What are the rules on Portugal beaches?
·Tap water: Varies.
✓Plastic rules: Plastic bag charge since 2015 and EU Single-Use Plastics rules from 2021 restricting single-use tableware, cutlery and straws..
✓Solo travel: rated easy on the record for this destination.
✕Marine protection: 16.9% of the sea is protected. The 30x30 pledge for 2030 is not met yet.
Named on the open map: Praia Adão e Eva, Praia Duna Alta Naturista, Praia Fluvial Cabreira, Praia Fluvial Natural de Amiosinho, Praia Fluvial São Simão, Praia Fluvial da Lagariça, Praia Fluvial da Pampilhosa da Serra, Praia Fluvial da Talhada. That is 17 named beaches in the public record for Portugal, each one a place you can look up before you go. OpenStreetMap.
Where does the sewage go?
93.9%
of people have safely managed sanitation
93.9% of people here use a safely managed sanitation service, meaning waste is contained, emptied and treated rather than reaching the ground or the sea untreated (2024, World Bank / WHO-UNICEF JMP, SDG 6.2.1). That is close to universal coverage.
How is the sea around Portugal doing?
One cross-section, every answer measured.
Surface
What the coast carries
Hot dry summers; the Atlantic cools the coast; Madeira is spring-like all year.
Nearshore
Protected water
16.9% of territorial waters are protected, against the 30% pledged for 2030 under the Global Biodiversity Framework.
Cleanest
Where the water is cleanest
Peneda-Geres National Park rivers and pools and the upper Douro tributaries..
The record
Measured
Portugal draws on major rivers (Tagus, Douro, Guadiana) and reservoirs, and 95.2 per cent of the population uses safely managed drinking water (WHO/UNICEF JMP via World Bank, 2024). Supply is reliable in the north and centre, but the south (Algarve and Alentejo) leans heavily on reservoirs and now faces recurring drought and restrictions, with desalination being built to cope.
Sea protected
16.9%
Against the 30% pledged for 2030 under the Global Biodiversity Framework.
Threatened species
264
Mammals, birds, fish and higher plants on the IUCN list.
Cleanest water
here
Peneda-Geres National Park rivers and pools and the upper Douro tributaries..
Is the tap water safe in Portugal?
95.2% of people have safely managed drinking water at home (2024, WHO/UNICEF JMP). Renewable fresh water works out at about 3,642 cubic metres per person a year (World Bank).
How hard is the water supply being pushed?
Of every 10 buckets nature refills, 2 are already taken. Withdrawals run at 16.1% of what Portugal renews internally each year (2022, World Bank / FAO AQUASTAT). That is inside the 25% mark generally treated as water stress, so the supply has headroom.
When is the best time to visit Portugal? Tap your month.
Tap your month.
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
.
How much fresh water does Portugal actually have?
Nature renews about 3,642 cubic metres of fresh water per person per year here. That ranks Portugal 120 of 208 countries measured, putting it in the wetter half of the world. The UN treats anything under 1,000 cubic metres as water scarce, and this is above that line. World Bank / FAO AQUASTAT.
Portugal produces excellent olive oil, wine, tomatoes, fruit and fish, but it is a net food importer with a persistent agri-food trade deficit and buys in much of its cereals and meat. Local, seasonal eating is easy through daily markets, yet overall self-sufficiency is only moderate.
Where does the food in Portugal come from?
15.9% imported
about US$20,008m a year
On the plate: Bread, olive oil, rice, beans and chickpeas, cabbage (caldo verde), tomatoes, citrus and salt cod (bacalhau).
How often each food is on the plate
Share of people eating each one regularly. These overlap, so they do not add up to 100%.
Bread60%
Olive oil51%
Rice42%
Beans33%
Chickpeas24%
2 of 10
bites are imported
The island buys in more food energy than it eats. About US$20,008m a year leaves the country to pay for it. The green slice is roughly what still grows here.
About 15.9% of everything Portugal buys in from abroad is food, roughly 2 in every 10 imported items on the dock (2025, World Bank). Farming itself is 2% of the economy and 43.3% of the land is agricultural, of which 10.1% is arable. The green slice is roughly what still grows here.
What is killing people in Portugal? The imported diet.
Cause of death, and the diet behind it.
Non-communicable diseases, all combined80.3%
Diabetes10.5%
Adults living with overweight or obesity. 54.7%.
Can Portugal feed itself?
10.1%
Arable land
43.3%
Agricultural land
152,283
Farmers
2,291,313
Arable acres
2.0%
Agriculture, share of GDP
Harvest: Olives and grapes late September to November; citrus in winter; tomatoes and stone fruit in summer.
Feeding itself
Portugal produces excellent olive oil, wine, tomatoes, fruit and fish, but it is a net food importer with a persistent agri-food trade deficit and buys in much of its cereals and meat. Local, seasonal eating is easy through daily markets, yet overall self-sufficiency is only moderate.
Certification
About 8.1 per cent of Portugal's agricultural land was organic in 2020 (FiBL, The World of Organic Agriculture), well above the world average and rising, driven by olive groves, vineyards and Alentejo pasture.
Water for crops
Portugal draws on major rivers (Tagus, Douro, Guadiana) and reservoirs, and 95.2 per cent of the population uses safely managed drinking water (WHO/UNICEF JMP via World Bank, 2024). Supply is reliable in the north and centre, but the south (Algarve and Alentejo) leans heavily on reservoirs and now faces recurring drought and restrictions, with desalination being built to cope.
Why the organic number looks like that. Certified-organic farmland is not separately reported for Portugal, and that is a certification gap rather than proof nothing is grown cleanly. What the official land record does show: 43.3% of the country is agricultural land and 10.1% is arable (2023, World Bank). Certification is paid for per farm per year by a foreign body, which prices out smallholders, so the organic number reads worse than the practice.
What actually grows here
TomatoesOlivesGrapesMaizePotatoesApplesOranges
The food that already fits
The plant-based kitchen here is not an import. By tonnage, the largest crops grown in Portugal are tomatoes, olives, grapes and maize (FAO, FAOSTAT crop production, 2024). That is what the land itself puts on a plate.
Buy direct where residents buy: Mercado Abastecedor do Porto Moniz, Mercado Agrícola do Santo da Serra, Mercado Municipal, Mercado Municipal Pombal, Mercado Municipal de Grândola, Mercado Municipal de Palmela. Each is a mapped, named marketplace, so the money stays with the seller rather than the importer. OpenStreetMap.
Portugal draws the majority of its electricity from renewables, roughly 61 per cent across 2023, led by hydropower, wind and a fast-growing solar fleet, and it ran for several consecutive days entirely on clean power in late 2023. It closed its last coal-fired plant at Pego in November 2021, becoming coal-free ahead of most of Europe. Emissions are low for a developed economy at about 3.41 tonnes of CO2 per person in 2024, and the country is working towards carbon neutrality by 2050 under its national roadmap. Continued reliance on imported gas for balancing remains the main gap.
What powers Portugal?
Renewable 80.9%Fossil 19.1%
Climate pollution per person
The safe amount, what the planet can absorb
2 tonnes
One person here
3.32 tonnes
The world average, for comparison
4.7 tonnes
The worst it ever got
5.27 tonnes
The grid
Portugal draws the majority of its electricity from renewables, roughly 61 per cent across 2023, led by hydropower, wind and a fast-growing solar fleet, and it ran for several consecutive days entirely on clean power in late 2023. It closed its last coal-fired plant at Pego in November 2021, becoming coal-free ahead of most of Europe.
Pollution
Air is very clean, with an annual mean PM2.5 of about 5.67 micrograms per cubic metre (UChicago AQLI, 2022), well inside health guidelines. A plastic bag charge has applied since 2015 and EU single-use plastic rules restrict plastic tableware, cutlery and straws, though some coastal and urban litter remains and summer wildfire smoke is a seasonal problem.
Water stress
Portugal draws on major rivers (Tagus, Douro, Guadiana) and reservoirs, and 95.2 per cent of the population uses safely managed drinking water (WHO/UNICEF JMP via World Bank, 2024). Supply is reliable in the north and centre, but the south (Algarve and Alentejo) leans heavily on reservoirs and now faces recurring drought and restrictions, with desalination being built to cope.
What pollutes most here
1The gridThe share of electricity still generated from fossil fuel.14.8%
2IndustryIntensive eucalyptus monoculture (fire and water stress) and Algarve mass-tourism enclaves..named
3AirModelled annual mean against a WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.5.67
4On the recordAir is very clean, with an annual mean PM2.5 of about 5.67 micrograms per cubic metre (UChicago AQLI, 2022), well inside health guidelines.
What has Portugal promised on climate?
Net zero, whole economy2050
Electricity renewable today64.9% (2021)
Land protected, against a 30% target23% by 2025
Sea protected, against a 30% target16.9% by 2025
The net-zero target year on file with Climate Watch is 2050, status: in law; in policy document. Measured against it, 64.9% of electricity is already renewable (2021, World Bank), so 35.1% of the grid is still to be converted. The pledge on file is measured here against what has actually been delivered, not taken on its own (UNFCCC NDC Registry, CBD Kunming-Montreal Target 3).
The biggest line item
One return flight against a whole year of living.
A resident's entire year3.32 t CO2e
Safe-climate budget, per year2 t CO2e
Sydney return, economy3.28 t CO2e
Singapore return, economy2.14 t CO2e
Los Angeles return, economy1.65 t CO2e
Johannesburg return, economy1.48 t CO2e
Dubai return, economy1.11 t CO2e
How much CO2 does flying to Portugal emit?
Tap where you would fly from. One return flight, economy.
Every prompt runs on a machine in a building on somebody’s grid. What that costs the planet depends less on the prompt than on what is burning to power it. Here is what would power one in Portugal.
Data centres
14
Registered colocation and interconnection facilities, PeeringDB, 2026
Grid renewable
80.9 %
What a machine here runs on.
What powers a data centre in Portugal?
Running AI here is about as clean as it currently gets.
Renewable 80.9%Fossil 19.1%
Cooling water. Every one of those halls runs on the national grid, which is 64.9% renewable today (World Bank). A data centre is only as clean as the electricity behind it, so the same figure that decides this country's climate score also decides the footprint of the AI running inside it. Cooling water use is not separately published by facility, and no operator here reports it.
The rules. Portugal has 14 colocation and interconnection facilities on the public PeeringDB register, concentrated in Lisbon (7), Sines (3), Prior Velho (1), alongside 6 internet exchanges (GigaPIX - LAN 1, Equinix Lisbon, DE-CIX Lisbon, GigaPIX - LAN 2). Named sites include Equinix LS1 - Lisbon, FCCN Lisbon, SE03, FCCN Lisbon, SE06, FCCN itconic.
Where the cables land. 19 landing points · Angra do Heroismo, Burgau, Carcavelos, Corvo
38% residents to 62% visitors across a year. 17,283,000 international arrivals in 2019 against 10,804,871 people who live here (2025, World Bank / UN Tourism).
Where a visitor dollar goes in Portugal
4,208k
Visitors a year
0.4
Visitors per resident
How deep in debt is Portugal?· for every $100 Portugal earns in a year, it owes…
Pay to the order of: the creditorsmemo · the 2020 peak
$ 134The worst year on the IMF record. Portugal owed $134 for every $100 it earned.
IMF World Economic Outlook, 2020signed, the creditors
Pay to the order of: the creditorsmemo · today
$ 86What is owed now, for every $100 of national income (2026).
IMF World Economic Outlook, 2026signed, the creditors
Pay to the order of: the creditorsmemo · projected 2031
$ 74The IMF's own forecast has this falling to $74 by 2031.
IMF World Economic Outlook projection, 2031signed, the forecast
For every $100 Portugal earns in a year, it owes $86 (2026, IMF World Economic Outlook). The interest on that is paid before schools, clinics or coastline get their turn.
Where does a tourist dollar actually go in Portugal?
Play one tourist dollar around the board. Every square is a measured fact from this page.
START!
1
GO: a visitor lands
$100 goes on the table. 17,283,000 international arrivals in 2019 against 10,804,871 residents, 1.6 visitors for every resident (World Bank / UN Tourism).
$100 in play
2
The bed
Who owns the largest places to stay in Portugal is not published in the records we can check, so this square is left open rather than guessed. Where a listing names its owner, it is shown in the ownership table below.
not published
3
The plate
Food is 15.9% of everything Portugal imports (2025, World Bank), so a large part of every restaurant bill is paid to a supplier abroad. Eating what the land here actually grows, tomatoes, olives, grapes, maize, potatoes, apples, oranges, keeps that money with the grower.
sails in
4
The power
64.9% of the electricity is renewable (2021, World Bank), so the energy on the bill is mostly generated inside the country rather than shipped in.
made at home
5
What actually stays
On the parts that can be measured, the plate leaves and the power stays. It is genuinely a coin toss, decided by what you book.
split
6
Pay the bank first
Portugal owes $86 for every $100 it earns (IMF World Economic Outlook, 2026 projection). The interest is paid before anything else on this board.
$86 per $100
7
A spread hand
The largest single export, vehicles, is 12.6% of the total (2023, UN Comtrade). No one shock can take the whole board.
top export 12.6%
8
Community chest
Tourism earns 12.2% of everything Portugal makes from exports (2020, World Bank / UN Tourism). That is how much of the economy depends on the game continuing.
12.2% of exports
9
The flight
Getting here is usually the biggest single line on the bill. From Sydney a return economy seat is 3.28 t CO2, on the UK Government's published conversion factors. It is the one part of the trip this board cannot reduce.
3.28 t CO2
10
Back to GO
The economy turns over about US$381 billion a year (IMF World Economic Outlook, 2026 projection). Every lap of this board is a choice about how much of it stays.
US$381bn
GDPUS$346.6bn
Agriculture, share of GDP2%
Visitors a year4,208,000
Visitors per resident0.4
Residents~10,804,871
Agriculture
Farming is 2% of the economy. Portugal produces excellent olive oil, wine, tomatoes, fruit and fish, but it is a net food importer with a persistent agri-food trade deficit and buys in much of its cereals and meat.
Natural materials
Portugal produces roughly half the world's cork from its montado cork oak forests, a genuinely living natural-materials industry. It also keeps wool traditions alive (Serra da Estrela burel cloth and Arraiolos wool rugs) alongside linen and basketry.
Energy
Portugal draws the majority of its electricity from renewables, roughly 61 per cent across 2023, led by hydropower, wind and a fast-growing solar fleet, and it ran for several consecutive days entirely on clean power in late 2023. It closed its last coal-fired plant at Pego in November 2021, becoming coal-free ahead of most of Europe.
Who owns the biggest hotels in Portugal?
By rooms · company records and press.
Quinta do Abacate · ~6 roomsIndependentnot published
Vumba Organic Farm · ~3 roomsIndependentnot published
Bubulcus & Bolotas · ~4 roomsIndependentnot published
Calçada Guesthouse – B&B & Co-living · ~6 roomsIndependentnot published
Casa do Jardim Secreto · ~1 roomsIndependentnot published
Visitors, over time
201511,723k
201613,359k
201715,432k
201816,186k
201917,283k
20204,208k
International tourism receipts run at about US$10.52 billion in 2020 (World Bank / UN Tourism). That is 12.2% of everything the country earns from exports.
How much of your money actually stays here?
Tap the holiday you are planning.
All-inclusive resortForeign-owned hotel and tourist restaurantsLocally owned stay and local restaurantsGuesthouse, markets and public transport
Resort guest, villa renter, family, nomad or backpacker. The honest playbook for each, from the same sourced numbers.
Already booked a resort? · the rescue list
Five swaps that move your money back on-island
1. Eat where the country eats Choose kitchens cooking bread, olive oil, rice, beans and chickpeas, cabbage (caldo verde), tomatoes, citrus and salt cod (bacalhau). over imported menus. The checked list →
2. Book with a local operator Never the lobby desk. The margin on a tour is the part that stays. Eco tours →
3. Stay somewhere locally owned Ownership decides where the room rate books. Eco stays →
4. Use the transport residents use Good trains between cities and extensive buses; a car helps for the interior and Alentejo.
5. Buy the craft, not the souvenir Natural-materials work made here pays the maker directly; imported gifts pay a shipping line.
swipe →
First time here
Portugal pairs very clean air and a renewables-heavy grid with living cork oak landscapes and strong Mediterranean food culture, though the south is increasingly water stressed.
Best time: Spring and early autumn for mild weather and harvest.
Getting around
Good trains between cities and extensive buses; a car helps for the interior and Alentejo.
Transport is where the fare either stays or leaves.
Eating here
The everyday plate is bread, olive oil, rice, beans and chickpeas, cabbage (caldo verde), tomatoes, citrus and salt cod (bacalhau).. The Mediterranean diet (UNESCO listed) puts vegetables, pulses (grao chickpeas and beans), bread, olive oil and fruit at the centre of the table, so unprocessed plant eating is easy.
Eating what the country grows is the cheapest way to cut the import bill.
Good to know
Cards widely accepted; EUR. The Alentejo rewards a slow pace.
Rate my hotel. Tap yours for the honest verdict.
Ownership from company records and press.
Quinta do AbacateVumba Organic FarmBubulcus & BolotasCalçada Guesthouse – B&B & Co-livingCasa do Jardim Secreto
None of the 5 properties listed here publishes who ultimately owns it, so no claim is made either way. Ownership is what decides how much of a room rate stays in the country, which is why we show it when a listing states it.
Society and Governance in Portugal.
How well is Portugal actually run?
Governance, measured · World Bank WGI
Four measured answers, none of them opinion. Averaged across corruption control, delivery and accountability, Portugal scores 71 out of 100 (2024, World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators). That is a state that generally does what it says it will do, which is what makes a climate pledge worth reading.
How well is Portugal run? · each scored out of 100, higher is better
Clean government, scored 65 of 100
Control of corruption scores 64.5 out of 100 (2024, World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators). That is above the halfway mark of governments measured.
65
Freedom and rights, scored 79 of 100
Voice and accountability, which measures free expression, free media and the ability to choose a government, scores 79 out of 100 (2024, World Bank WGI). Citizens here can question their government openly.
79
Government effectiveness, scored 70 of 100
Government effectiveness, which measures the quality of public services and how well policy is actually delivered, scores 69.8 out of 100 (2024, World Bank WGI). Delivery is rated above average.
70
Income equality, scored 34 of 100
The Gini index of income inequality reads 33.9 (2023, World Bank). Zero is perfect equality and 100 is one person holding everything. Below 40 is the level usually treated as manageable, and Portugal sits inside it.
34
LGBTQ+ status: HighSolo female travel: Easy94.5% adult literacyIndustry to avoid: Intensive eucalyptus monoculture (fire and water stress) and Algarve mass-tourism enclaves.
What is daily life in Portugal really like? Measured
Getting around, breathing, throwing away, learning. The honest checklist.
TransportAirWaterWastePower
✓How you get around Good trains between cities and extensive buses; a car helps for the interior and Alentejo.
✓Air quality, measured Modelled annual mean 5.67. The WHO guideline is 5 µg/m³.
✓Where the air is cleanest Interior mountains such as Serra da Estrela and the Peneda-Geres uplands.
✓Tap water Varies
✓What to drink Lisbon and Porto tap is drinkable; Madeira and rural wells are better bottled.
✓Plastic rules Plastic bag charge since 2015 and EU Single-Use Plastics rules from 2021 restricting single-use tableware, cutlery and straws.
✓Sockets and voltage Type C/F, 230V
94.5%
literacy. Public spending on education runs at 4.6% of GDP and 10.4% of all government spending, and secondary enrolment stands at 120.3% gross (UNESCO Institute for Statistics, 2022 to 2023).
Made in Portugal.
Portugal produces roughly half the world's cork from its montado cork oak forests, a genuinely living natural-materials industry. It also keeps wool traditions alive (Serra da Estrela burel cloth and Arraiolos wool rugs) alongside linen and basketry. Every step of processing done at home is value that stops leaving the country.
What Portugal actually sells the world
The single biggest thing Portugal sells the world is vehicles, 12.6% of all exports in 2023 (about US$10.57 billion, UN Comtrade). The next four are electrical machinery and electronics at 8.5%, machinery and mechanical appliances at 6.9%, mineral fuels and oils at 6.5%, plastics at 4.7%.
Sells now · 12.6% of exports
Vehicles
Vehicles is 12.6% of everything Portugal sold abroad in 2023, worth about US$10.57 billion. UN Comtrade.
Sells now · 8.5% of exports
Electrical machinery and electronics
Electrical machinery and electronics is 8.5% of everything Portugal sold abroad in 2023, worth about US$7.13 billion. UN Comtrade.
Sells now · 6.9% of exports
Machinery and mechanical appliances
Machinery and mechanical appliances is 6.9% of everything Portugal sold abroad in 2023, worth about US$5.74 billion. UN Comtrade.
Sells now · 6.5% of exports
Mineral fuels and oils
Mineral fuels and oils is 6.5% of everything Portugal sold abroad in 2023, worth about US$5.41 billion. UN Comtrade.
Sells now · 4.7% of exports
Plastics
Plastics is 4.7% of everything Portugal sold abroad in 2023, worth about US$3.91 billion. UN Comtrade.
Could make · grown here already
Bread
Grown in Portugal and mostly sold raw. Processing it here would keep the margin here.
Could make · grown here already
Olive oil
Grown in Portugal and mostly sold raw. Processing it here would keep the margin here.
Could make · grown here already
Rice
Grown in Portugal and mostly sold raw. Processing it here would keep the margin here.
The maths for an entrepreneur. Portugal produces about US$347 billion a year, which is roughly US$32,082 per person (2025, World Bank). Farming is 2% of that, while food is 15.9% of everything the country imports. The country buys in more food than its own farms contribute to the economy, and every point of that gap is a business someone could build here rather than ship in. With 10.1% of the land arable, the raw material for that is already in the ground.
A living tradition of Portugal, still practised rather than archived.
Cante Alentejano singing
A living tradition of Portugal, still practised rather than archived.
Vira
A living tradition of Portugal, still practised rather than archived.
Corridinho
A living tradition of Portugal, still practised rather than archived.
Folk dancingA living tradition of Portugal, still practised rather than archived.
Caretos de Podence ancestral midwinter masqueradeA living tradition of Portugal, still practised rather than archived.
Does Portugal protect its heritage by law?
Partly, and the gaps say as much as the protections.
What is kept alive. Portugal keeps a deep well of living tradition, from Fado, the melancholic urban song of Lisbon and Coimbra recognised by UNESCO, to the collective a cappella singing of Cante Alentejano. Rural folk dances such as the vira and corridinho are still danced at festas and romarias across the country. Ancestral midwinter masquerades survive in the northeast, where young men in fringed suits and metal masks perform the Caretos rites at Podence, a custom with pre-Christian roots.
Who it belongs to. Rooted regional cultures remain strong, from fado and village festivals to cooperatives and agritourism, and rural and interior tourism keeps money local. Overtourism in Lisbon, Porto and the Algarve, however, extracts value and drives housing pressure.
Only here. Cork: Portugal produces around half of the world's cork from its montado cork oak forests (APCOR, Portuguese Cork Association)..
Three futures for Portugal, every one run forward from measured data.
Where the making actually happens
Named cultural and craft sites on the open map: Letraria, Craft Beer Garden (Porto), Catraio Craft Beer Shop & Bar (Porto), Levare Craft Brewery (Porto), Baobab Craft Beer (Porto), National Museum of Ancient Art (Lisbon). OpenStreetMap. Named craft workshops on the open map: ABC d'arte, Alladin, Arte Mínima, Artes e Tradições, Artesanato Diana, Artifex.
Every measured trend on one line
Run forward at the pace already recorded.
-1%
Forest cover
1995: 36.5 % → 2023: 36.2 %
+130%
Renewable electricity
1995: 28.2 % → 2021: 64.9 %
-37%
CO2 per person
1995: 5.27 t → 2024: 3.33 t
-56%
Tourist arrivals
1995: 9511 k → 2020: 4208 k
0%
Protected land
2013: 23.1 % → 2025: 23 %
-56%
Farm workforce
1995: 6.24 % → 2025: 2.78 %
+156%
Protected sea
2013: 6.6 % → 2025: 16.9 %
+1%
Agricultural land
1995: 42.9 % → 2023: 43.3 %
+21%
Urban population
1995: 51 % → 2025: 61.5 %
-35%
Air pollution
1995: 13.4 µg/m³ → 2023: 8.8 µg/m³
-4%
Fresh water per person
1995: 3790.1 m³ → 2022: 3641.8 m³
+9%
Adult overweight
1995: 50 % → 2022: 54.7 %
+0%
Electricity access
1995: 100 % → 2024: 100 %
+172%
GDP per person
1995: 11781 → 2025: 32082
+8%
Population
1995: 10026 k → 2025: 10805 k
+36%
Renewable energy use
1995: 23.7 % → 2021: 32.3 %
-10%
Energy per person
1995: 2014 kg → 2024: 1815 kg
+132%
Protected area, total
2013: 7.4 % → 2025: 17.2 %
+9%
Life expectancy
1995: 75.3 yrs → 2024: 82.4 yrs
+157%
Cereal yield
1995: 2064 ha → 2024: 5309 ha
+58%
Fertiliser use
1995: 113.3 ha → 2023: 179.2 ha
-21%
Rural population
1995: 49 % → 2025: 38.5 %
+204%
Water productivity
1995: 12.3 $/m3 → 2022: 37.5 $/m3
+19%
Health spending
2000: 8.6 % → 2024: 10.2 %
-1%
Forest area
1995: 33400 km2 → 2023: 33120 km2
+72%
Electric power use
1995: 3078 kWh → 2024: 5294 kWh
-19%
Emissions: Agriculture
1990: 8.33 e → 2023: 6.75 e
+2%
Emissions: Building
1990: 2.63 e → 2023: 2.67 e
-56%
Emissions: Electricity/Heat
1990: 16.6 e → 2023: 7.4 e
-11%
Emissions: Energy
1990: 39 e → 2023: 34.6 e
+50%
Emissions: Industrial Processes
1990: 3.8 e → 2023: 5.71 e
-37%
Emissions: Manufacturing/Construction
1990: 8.19 e → 2023: 5.18 e
+80%
Emissions: Transportation
1990: 9.9 e → 2023: 17.9 e
World Bank open data, recorded series
How much forest is left?
Forest cover moved from 36.5% to 36.2% across 28 recorded years.
World Bank AG.LND.FRST.ZS
How clean is the grid?
Renewable electricity moved from 28.2% to 64.9% across 26 recorded years.
World Bank EG.ELC.RNEW.ZS
How much climate pollution per person?
CO2 per person moved from 5.3 t to 3.3 t across 29 recorded years.
World Bank EN.GHG.CO2.PC.CE.AR5
How many people visit?
Tourist arrivals moved from 9511k to 4208k across 25 recorded years.
World Bank ST.INT.ARVL
How much land is protected?
Protected land moved from 23.1% to 23.0% across 12 recorded years.
World Bank ER.LND.PTLD.ZS
How many people still farm?
Farm workforce moved from 6.2% to 2.8% across 30 recorded years.
World Bank SL.AGR.EMPL.ZS
How much sea is protected?
Protected sea moved from 6.6% to 16.9% across 12 recorded years.
World Bank ER.MRN.PTMR.ZS
How much land is farmed?
Agricultural land moved from 42.9% to 43.3% across 28 recorded years.
World Bank AG.LND.AGRI.ZS
How fast is it urbanising?
Urban population moved from 51.0% to 61.5% across 30 recorded years.
World Bank SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS
Is the air getting cleaner?
Air pollution moved from 13.4 µg/m³ to 8.8 µg/m³ across 28 recorded years.
World Bank EN.ATM.PM25.MC.M3
Is water getting scarcer?
Fresh water per person moved from 3790.1 m³ to 3641.8 m³ across 27 recorded years.
World Bank ER.H2O.INTR.PC
Is diet-related disease rising?
Adult overweight moved from 50.0% to 54.7% across 27 recorded years.
World Bank SH.STA.OWAD.ZS
Who has power?
Electricity access moved from 100.0% to 100.0% across 29 recorded years.
World Bank EG.ELC.ACCS.ZS
Is income rising?
GDP per person moved from 11781 to 32082 across 30 recorded years.
World Bank NY.GDP.PCAP.CD
How fast is it growing?
Population moved from 10026k to 10805k across 30 recorded years.
World Bank SP.POP.TOTL
What share of all energy is renewable?
Renewable energy use moved from 23.7% to 32.3% across 26 recorded years.
World Bank EG.FEC.RNEW.ZS
How much energy does one person use?
Energy per person moved from 2014 kg to 1815 kg across 29 recorded years.
World Bank EG.USE.PCAP.KG.OE
How much land and sea is protected together?
Protected area, total moved from 7.4% to 17.2% across 12 recorded years.
World Bank ER.PTD.TOTL.ZS
How long do people live?
Life expectancy moved from 75.31 yrs to 82.38 yrs across 29 recorded years.
World Bank SP.DYN.LE00.IN
How much does a hectare of cereal produce?
Cereal yield moved from 2064 kg/ha to 5309 kg/ha across 29 recorded years.
World Bank AG.YLD.CREL.KG
How much fertiliser goes on the land?
Fertiliser use moved from 113.33 kg/ha to 179.16 kg/ha across 28 recorded years.
World Bank AG.CON.FERT.ZS
How many people still live rurally?
Rural population moved from 48.99% to 38.5% across 30 recorded years.
World Bank SP.RUR.TOTL.ZS
How much value per cubic metre of water?
Water productivity moved from 12.34 $/m3 to 37.52 $/m3 across 27 recorded years.
World Bank ER.GDP.FWTL.M3.KD
How much goes on health?
Health spending moved from 8.6% to 10.24% across 24 recorded years.
World Bank SH.XPD.CHEX.GD.ZS
How much forest is there in total?
Forest area moved from 33400 km2 to 33120 km2 across 28 recorded years.
World Bank AG.LND.FRST.K2
How much electricity per person?
Electric power use moved from 3078 kWh to 5294 kWh across 29 recorded years.
World Bank EG.USE.ELEC.KH.PC
How have agriculture emissions moved?
Agriculture emissions moved from 8.33 to 6.75 MtCO2e across 33 recorded years.
Climate Watch (WRI), historical emissions
How have building emissions moved?
Building emissions moved from 2.63 to 2.67 MtCO2e across 33 recorded years.
Climate Watch (WRI), historical emissions
How have electricity/heat emissions moved?
Electricity/Heat emissions moved from 16.56 to 7.35 MtCO2e across 33 recorded years.
Climate Watch (WRI), historical emissions
How have energy emissions moved?
Energy emissions moved from 39.02 to 34.55 MtCO2e across 33 recorded years.
Climate Watch (WRI), historical emissions
How have industrial processes emissions moved?
Industrial Processes emissions moved from 3.8 to 5.71 MtCO2e across 33 recorded years.
Climate Watch (WRI), historical emissions
How have manufacturing/construction emissions moved?
Manufacturing/Construction emissions moved from 8.19 to 5.18 MtCO2e across 33 recorded years.
Climate Watch (WRI), historical emissions
How have transportation emissions moved?
Transportation emissions moved from 9.92 to 17.88 MtCO2e across 33 recorded years.
Climate Watch (WRI), historical emissions
Worst caseCurrent pathBest case
Worst case
Every measured decline continues at the pace already recorded. The weakest pillar, food and farming at 3/5, is the one that gives way first.
Computed from: recorded series extended with no policy change
Current path
Every line above is a recorded World Bank series for this country. The current path is simply those series continuing at the pace already measured.
Computed from: recorded series, no policy change assumed
Best case
The pledges are met on their own stated timetables and the weakest pillars are lifted to match the strongest. Portugal already shows it can do this: pollution scores 4/5.
Computed from: each published target delivered on its own date
What the best case actually asks for
Lift food and farming
It scores 3 out of 5 today, among the weakest parts of Portugal's record. Portugal produces excellent olive oil, wine, tomatoes, fruit and fish, but it is a net food importer with a persistent agri-food trade deficit and buys in much of its cereals and meat. Local, seasonal eating is easy through daily markets, yet overall self-sufficiency is only moderate. Lifting it toward the 4/5 the strongest pillars already reach is what the best case turns on.
measured each year
Costs: spending and enforcement, not new technology
Lift natural fibres
It scores 3 out of 5 today, among the weakest parts of Portugal's record. Portugal produces roughly half the world's cork from its montado cork oak forests, a genuinely living natural-materials industry. It also keeps wool traditions alive (Serra da Estrela burel cloth and Arraiolos wool rugs) alongside linen and basketry. Lifting it toward the 4/5 the strongest pillars already reach is what the best case turns on.
measured each year
Costs: spending and enforcement, not new technology
Lift recycling
It scores 3 out of 5 today, among the weakest parts of Portugal's record. Portugal recycled about 32.8 per cent of its municipal waste in 2024 (Eurostat, recycling rate of municipal waste), below the EU average and only slowly improving. Lifting it toward the 4/5 the strongest pillars already reach is what the best case turns on.
measured each year
Costs: spending and enforcement, not new technology
Government and Goals in Portugal.
Who is in charge of Portugal now · office-holders and institutions as published by the state itself; scores from the World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators 2024
Luís Montenegro
Prime Minister
Luís Montenegro is the head of government of Portugal, in office since 2 April 2024. Every climate, protection and energy pledge on this page is delivered, or not, under this administration.
Public opinion, measured
Voice and accountability, the freedom to question government: 79 / 100. Among the strongest measured. World Bank WGI 2024
Control of corruption: 64.5 / 100. Above the halfway mark of governments measured. World Bank WGI 2024
Political stability and absence of violence: 75.1 / 100. Among the strongest measured. World Bank WGI 2024
Rule of law: 75.4 / 100. Among the strongest measured. World Bank WGI 2024
Regulatory quality: 66.5 / 100. Above the halfway mark of governments measured. World Bank WGI 2024
Luís MontenegroPrime Minister
Assembly of the Republic (Assembleia da Republica)Legislature, unicameral
Next electionJanuary 2026
Last election24 January 2021
Constitutioncurrent text dates from 1976
Government typesemi-presidential republic
Portugal national goals: climate commitments on record · as recorded by Climate Watch, World Resources Institute
2050
Net zero
In Law<br>In Policy Document
Net-zero target as recorded by Climate Watch. Status: In Law (12/31/2021) In Policy Document (9/20/2019) ↗
The questions people actually type, answered in full sentences from the sourced data above.
swipe →
Is Portugal sustainable?
Portugal scores 72 out of 100 on the Throne Eco Index, across twelve equally weighted pillars. Portugal pairs very clean air and a renewables-heavy grid with living cork oak landscapes and strong Mediterranean food culture, though the south is increasingly water stressed.
Is the water in Portugal safe and plentiful?
Portugal draws on major rivers (Tagus, Douro, Guadiana) and reservoirs, and 95.2 per cent of the population uses safely managed drinking water (WHO/UNICEF JMP via World Bank, 2024). Supply is reliable in the north and centre, but the south (Algarve and Alentejo) leans heavily on reservoirs and now faces recurring drought and restrictions, with desalination being built to cope. Several key rivers rise in Spain, adding transboundary dependence.
Can Portugal feed itself?
Portugal produces excellent olive oil, wine, tomatoes, fruit and fish, but it is a net food importer with a persistent agri-food trade deficit and buys in much of its cereals and meat. Local, seasonal eating is easy through daily markets, yet overall self-sufficiency is only moderate.
Is it easy to eat plant-based in Portugal?
The Mediterranean diet (UNESCO listed) puts vegetables, pulses (grao chickpeas and beans), bread, olive oil and fruit at the centre of the table, so unprocessed plant eating is easy. Traditional dishes still lean on pork and salt cod, but since 2017 public canteens must offer a vegetarian option and cities such as Lisbon have a strong vegan scene.
How much of Portugal is actually protected?
Terrestrial protected areas cover about 23 per cent of the country and marine protected areas about 16.9 per cent of territorial waters (World Bank, 2025), anchored by the Peneda-Geres National Park and an extensive Natura 2000 network. Enforcement is moderate and marine protection is often light-touch, but the overall coverage is strong.
What wildlife is left in Portugal?
Portugal holds notable wildlife including the recovering Iberian lynx and Iberian wolf, the Iberian imperial eagle and rich cork oak (montado) biodiversity, with 264 threatened species recorded (IUCN via World Bank, 2022). Active rewilding in the Greater Coa Valley is returning large herbivores and raptors to the landscape.
Is Portugal on clean energy?
Portugal draws the majority of its electricity from renewables, roughly 61 per cent across 2023, led by hydropower, wind and a fast-growing solar fleet, and it ran for several consecutive days entirely on clean power in late 2023. It closed its last coal-fired plant at Pego in November 2021, becoming coal-free ahead of most of Europe. Emissions are low for a developed economy at about 3.32 tonnes of CO2 per person in 2024, and the country is working towards carbon neutrality by 2050 under its national roadmap.
How polluted is Portugal?
Air is very clean, with an annual mean PM2.5 of about 5.67 micrograms per cubic metre (UChicago AQLI, 2022), well inside health guidelines. A plastic bag charge has applied since 2015 and EU single-use plastic rules restrict plastic tableware, cutlery and straws, though some coastal and urban litter remains and summer wildfire smoke is a seasonal problem.
Does recycling work in Portugal?
Portugal recycled about 32.8 per cent of its municipal waste in 2024 (Eurostat, recycling rate of municipal waste), below the EU average and only slowly improving.
Is the farming in Portugal organic?
About 8.1 per cent of Portugal's agricultural land was organic in 2020 (FiBL, The World of Organic Agriculture), well above the world average and rising, driven by olive groves, vineyards and Alentejo pasture.
Are there natural materials and craft in Portugal?
Portugal produces roughly half the world's cork from its montado cork oak forests, a genuinely living natural-materials industry. It also keeps wool traditions alive (Serra da Estrela burel cloth and Arraiolos wool rugs) alongside linen and basketry.
Is there living culture in Portugal?
Rooted regional cultures remain strong, from fado and village festivals to cooperatives and agritourism, and rural and interior tourism keeps money local. Overtourism in Lisbon, Porto and the Algarve, however, extracts value and drives housing pressure.
What heritage does Portugal keep alive?
Portugal keeps a deep well of living tradition, from Fado, the melancholic urban song of Lisbon and Coimbra recognised by UNESCO, to the collective a cappella singing of Cante Alentejano. Rural folk dances such as the vira and corridinho are still danced at festas and romarias across the country. Ancestral midwinter masquerades survive in the northeast, where young men in fringed suits and metal masks perform the Caretos rites at Podence, a custom with pre-Christian roots.
So is Portugal actually green? The measured answer
What is working: renewable electricity at 64.9%.
What is not: the gaps are narrower here than in most of the directory, and each remaining one is named below.
Portugal sits 21 of 77 at 72/100. Every name links to its own destination page, built exactly like this one. The full ranking →
What is Portugal particularly good at?
✓Conservation, scored 4/5. Terrestrial protected areas cover about 23 per cent of the country and marine protected areas about 16.9 per cent of territorial waters (World Bank, 2025), anchored by the Peneda-Geres National Park and an extensive Natura 2000 network. Enforcement is moderate and marine protection is often light-touch, but the overall coverage is strong.
✓Culture, scored 4/5. Rooted regional cultures remain strong, from fado and village festivals to cooperatives and agritourism, and rural and interior tourism keeps money local. Overtourism in Lisbon, Porto and the Algarve, however, extracts value and drives housing pressure.
✓Energy, scored 4/5. Portugal draws the majority of its electricity from renewables, roughly 61 per cent across 2023, led by hydropower, wind and a fast-growing solar fleet, and it ran for several consecutive days entirely on clean power in late 2023. It closed its last coal-fired plant at Pego in November 2021, becoming coal-free ahead of most of Europe. Emissions are low for a developed economy at about 3.41 tonnes of CO2 per person in 2024, and the country is working towards carbon neutrality by 2050 under its national roadmap. Continued reliance on imported gas for balancing remains the main gap.
Where does Portugal score worst?
✕Recycling, scored 3/5. Portugal recycled about 32.8 per cent of its municipal waste in 2024 (Eurostat, recycling rate of municipal waste), below the EU average and only slowly improving.
✕Water, scored 3/5. Portugal draws on major rivers (Tagus, Douro, Guadiana) and reservoirs, and 95.2 per cent of the population uses safely managed drinking water (WHO/UNICEF JMP via World Bank, 2024). Supply is reliable in the north and centre, but the south (Algarve and Alentejo) leans heavily on reservoirs and now faces recurring drought and restrictions, with desalination being built to cope. Several key rivers rise in Spain, adding transboundary dependence.
✕Wildlife, scored 3/5. Portugal holds notable wildlife including the recovering Iberian lynx and Iberian wolf, the Iberian imperial eagle and rich cork oak (montado) biodiversity, with 264 threatened species recorded (IUCN via World Bank, 2022). Active rewilding in the Greater Coa Valley is returning large herbivores and raptors to the landscape.
Similar countries doing it better and worse
FranceScored on the same twelve pillars as Portugal.78
SwitzerlandScored on the same twelve pillars as Portugal.75
GermanyScored on the same twelve pillars as Portugal.75
United KingdomScored on the same twelve pillars as Portugal.65
MontenegroScored on the same twelve pillars as Portugal.63
SerbiaScored on the same twelve pillars as Portugal.58
A note from the lens of mother natureswipe →
Energy, 4/5
Portugal draws the majority of its electricity from renewables, roughly 61 per cent across 2023, led by hydropower, wind and a fast-growing solar fleet, and it ran for several consecutive days entirely on clean power in late 2023. It closed its last coal-fired plant at Pego in November 2021, becoming coal-free ahead of most of Europe.
Consequence: It is the lowest-scoring part of Portugal's record, so it is where the score moves first.
Food and farming, 3/5
Portugal produces excellent olive oil, wine, tomatoes, fruit and fish, but it is a net food importer with a persistent agri-food trade deficit and buys in much of its cereals and meat. Local, seasonal eating is easy through daily markets, yet overall self-sufficiency is only moderate.
Consequence: It is the lowest-scoring part of Portugal's record, so it is where the score moves first.
Heritage, 4/5
Portugal keeps a deep well of living tradition, from Fado, the melancholic urban song of Lisbon and Coimbra recognised by UNESCO, to the collective a cappella singing of Cante Alentejano. Rural folk dances such as the vira and corridinho are still danced at festas and romarias across the country.
Consequence: It is the lowest-scoring part of Portugal's record, so it is where the score moves first.
The Portugal Directory.
Everything on Hold The Throne that sits in Portugal, checked and listed.
World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators, 2024. Percentile among all governments measured.
Government effectiveness
69.8 / 100
World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators, 2024. Percentile among all governments measured.
Rule of law
75.4 / 100
World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators, 2024. Percentile among all governments measured.
Political stability
75.1 / 100
World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators, 2024. Percentile among all governments measured.
Voice and accountability
79 / 100
World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators, 2024. Percentile among all governments measured.
Environmental Performance Index
61.9 / 100 · 26 of 180
Yale Environmental Performance Index 2024, ranked 26 of 180 countries assessed.
Ecosystem vitality
62.4 / 100 · 41 of 180
Yale Environmental Performance Index 2024, ranked 41 of 180 countries assessed.
Biodiversity and habitat
59.8 / 100 · 48 of 180
Yale Environmental Performance Index 2024, ranked 48 of 180 countries assessed.
Air pollution
88.7 / 100 · 32 of 180
Yale Environmental Performance Index 2024, ranked 32 of 180 countries assessed.
Terrestrial biomes protected
76.6 / 100 · 46 of 180
Yale Environmental Performance Index 2024, ranked 46 of 180 countries assessed.
Marine protected areas
26.4 / 100 · 126 of 131
Yale Environmental Performance Index 2024, ranked 126 of 131 countries assessed.
How Portugal Is Scored. The Throne Standard.
Every destination on the index is scored the same way, so a 4 in Barbados means exactly what a 4 means in Iceland. No self-declared data and no brochure claims are accepted. Every figure on this page carries its named source and year, and the history on each page names what empire took as plainly as it scores the present.
The 12 pillars every destination is scored on, equally weighted
01
Conservation
Land and sea actually protected, not pledged
02
Wildlife
What survives, what is endemic, what is lost
03
Water
Fresh water per person, and the ocean’s health
04
Food & farming
Whether the place can feed itself
05
Organic & clean
Certified land and pesticide reality
06
Climate & energy
Emissions per person, how the grid is powered
07
Waste
Where the rubbish goes, what comes back
08
Health
What people eat and die of
09
Heritage
Living culture, and what the law keeps standing
10
Ownership
Who owns the economy, how much of a dollar stays
11
Governance
Freedom, honesty, promises kept
12
Future
Measured trends run forward, pledges against pace
What each 0 to 5 pillar score means, in plain words
One index, every destination. This same sectioned page renders for all 77 scored destinations, each with its own researched history, comparison charts and three-way future. Read the full methodology
