Population of Portugal: strength, characteristics

The country, in the language of which more than 230 million inhabitants of the planet speak, is the most conservative in Europe from the point of view of social views and at the same time a country with very emotional national music. All this is about Portugal.

A bit about the country

Portugal is one of the oldest countries in the Old World, whose borders have remained unchanged for more than 875 years. Once a powerful kingdom, the colonies of which were scattered all over the world, now represents a small state in the area of the Iberian Peninsula. However, Portugal remains one of the most developed countries in the world, which, among other things, can boast of the highest literacy of the population and one of the highest living standards of its citizens in the world.

Population

The population of Portugal has always been very much dependent on emigration. The Portuguese began to migrate to different continents in search of a better life and attempts to get rich in the era of the Great geographical discoveries. The main reason for emigration in our time is the poor development of the country's production capacities. Portugal also has a large number of immigrants who came here to find work from Brazil, Angola and European countries. The government supports them in every possible way: for immigrants courses are opened to study the Portuguese language, meetings are held with lawyers and psychologists, the right of all children to education is ensured (thanks to which the adult literacy of the country reaches 99%).

Since 1890, every 10 years in the country conducted a census of the population. By the beginning of the last century, the population of the country was about 5 million people, by the middle of the twentieth century it had grown to 8.5 million, in 1960 there were 8.9 million in the country, and in ten years the figure dropped to the level of 1950, 1985 the population of Portugal increased to 10 million. According to the census conducted in 2011, 10.76 million people live in Portugal.

In the spring of 2011, the country held the 5th census of housing stock and the 15th census, which became the most extensive static operations. As a result of the censuses, not only data on the number of people living in the country and their housing conditions became known, but also about their education, work, family availability and composition. According to Censos 2011, 4 079 577 families were registered in the country, which is 1.65% more than in 2001. Also, the number of residential buildings and dwellings increased by 12.4 and 16.3%, respectively. In the country since the 70s of last century there has been a tendency to reduce the size of the family, at the moment this figure is only 2.6 people.

National composition

In the national context, the population of Portugal is extremely homogeneous - this is one of the demographic features of Portugal. According to the 2011 census, 99% of the country's population is Portuguese (a combination of ethnic Romans, Visigoths and Iberians). Also in the country there are about 15,000 Spaniards, 10,000 Brazilians, 5,500 Angolans, and others.

Outside the territory of Portugal (mainly in the US, France, Canada and Brazil) is home to about 2.2 million of its citizens.

Sex and age structure of the population

The sex-age structure of the population of Portugal practically does not differ from that of other European countries, where, according to the census data for the last century, the numerical predominance of women is evident. At the beginning of the 1980s, there were 1.11 women per man, currently 5,241,519 men and 5,518,986 women live in the country (that is, 1.05 women per 1 male).

In more clear and detailed form, how many percent the population of Portugal on various indicators, it is possible to see in the table.

Fertility and mortality

According to 2014, in Portugal for the first time in the modern history of the country, the death rate exceeded the birth rate. According to the National Institute of Statistics, in 2014, 102.5 thousand children were born in the country (almost 3,000 less than in 2011), and 103.5 thousand people died.

This happened for the last time in 1918, when the population of Portugal, as well as citizens of other European countries, suffered from the strongest flu epidemic. But already in 1919 the natural growth of the population continued. Unfortunately, the current decline in the population is in keeping with the general trend, and it is unlikely that the situation will improve in the near future.

The main reason for this situation is the unwillingness to bear children in time. Last year, the average age of primiparous women reached 30 years. In this case, the overwhelming majority of families are confined to one child. But, despite the decline in the birth rate, the minimum natural increase in the population of Portugal continues.

Economically active population

The working population of Portugal is 5.252 million people, of which about 3.6 million are employed. Almost 33% of the economically active population is employed in industry, 28% in forestry and agriculture and fisheries, about 38% of the workforce absorbs transportation and services. However, the unemployment rate remains quite high in the country, which is about 13.5%.

The age of retirement is the same for men and women - 66 years.

Population distribution

The population of Portugal, the photo of which is given in the article, is distributed unevenly throughout the country. Average density per 1 sq. Km. Km is 116.8 people. The population of the coastal western regions is 5-10 times higher than that of the southern ones. The population of the cities of Portugal is about 70% of all citizens of the country. Uneven distribution is exacerbated by internal migration associated with fishing waste, harvesting in vineyards and grain areas, and temporary earnings in cities. Some migrants remain in new places, especially cities.

The cities in the country include settlements with a population of more than 2-2.5 thousand people. In total, Portugal has 33 cities with a population of more than 10,000 people, of which only more than 50,000 live in more than 7 cities, including 2 million-strong cities (Lisbon and Porto), home to 2/3 of the country's population.

The peculiarity of the urbanization of Portugal is the practically unchanged number of small towns against the backdrop of two actively growing "giants" - Porto and Lisbon. Powerful agglomerations are created mainly through the absorption of the central cities of suburbs and satellite cities.

Cities with a population of less than 10,000 people serve as administrative parish centers serving nearby rural areas. The average cities with a population of up to 50,000 belong to the administrative functions of provincial and district centers.

The villages vary greatly in different parts of the country, depending on the natural conditions and social relations in the village. In the northern regions, small villages and farm settlements are predominantly scattered. For the middle belt, there are large villages, while in the south there are mainly small, but densely populated villages.

Religious division

The church in Portugal is separated from the state. About 94% of the country's population are parishioners of the Roman Catholic Church, the rest are Muslims, Protestants and Evangelicals. The church has a great influence on the citizens of the country, due to which Portugal is recognized as one of the most socially conservative countries in Europe.

Features of the population of Portugal - high literacy, one of the highest in the world life expectancy, national homogeneity and great dependence on the church. But at the same time, the Portuguese are very hospitable and hospitable people, leading a measured and unhurried way of life.