Portugal: Flag and Facts
Portugal's flag is split vertically into green on the left (two fifths) and red on the right, with the national arms straddling the seam.
- Official name
- Portuguese Republic
- Capital
- Lisbon
- Region
- Southern Europe
- Population
- 10 million (2025)
- Languages
- Portuguese
- Currency
- Euro
- Area
- 92,090 km² (35,556 sq mi)
- People
- Portuguese
- Calling code
- +351
- Highest point
- Ponta do Pico (Pico or Pico Alto) on Ilha do Pico in the Azores 2,351 m
- Independence
- 1143 (Kingdom of Portugal recognized)
- National symbols
- armillary sphere (a spherical astrolabe for modeling objects…)
- Borders
- Spain
About Portugal
That emblem combines a shield with an armillary sphere, an old instrument for modeling objects in the heavens. Nobody agrees on what the colors mean, though one common reading links green to hope and red to blood spilled defending the nation.
Portugal's kingdom was recognized in 1143. In the 15th and 16th centuries, it ranked among the world's great sea powers. Then the losses piled up: an earthquake leveled Lisbon in 1755, Napoleon's wars brought occupation, and Brazil, the richest colony, broke away in 1822. A revolution ended the monarchy in 1910, and harsh governments held power through most of the following 60 years. A left-leaning military coup in 1974 opened the door to democracy, and a year later every African colony gained independence. Portugal helped found NATO and joined what is now the EU in 1986.
Did you know?
- Portugal's highest point, Ponta do Pico, is on an island in the Azores, at 2,351 meters.
- The Tagus River splits Portugal, with mountains to the north and rolling plains to the south.
- Half of Portugal's people are older than 46.8 years, the national median age.
Want to test yourself? The random flag generator has a quiz mode, and the full flags of the world page shows every flag at once.
Questions about Portugal
What is the capital of Portugal?
Lisbon, with about 3 million people in its urban area. Porto has about 1.3 million.
When is Portugal Day?
Portugal Day, or Dia de Portugal, falls on 10 June.
Sources
- CIA World Factbook, checked October 8, 2026
- REST Countries data (mledoze/countries), checked October 8, 2026
- Flag artwork: flag-icons (MIT), checked October 8, 2026
Facts are compiled from these open sources and rewritten in our own words. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.