History of Portugal in Timeline

Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic, is a country located on the Iberian Peninsula in Southwestern Europe. It is the westernmost country of continental Europe, bordering Spain to the north and east and the Atlantic Ocean to the south and west. The Azores and Madeira archipelagos are autonomous regions of Portugal. Lisbon is the capital and largest city, followed by Porto.

February 1908: Assassination of King Carlos I

On February 1, 1908, King Carlos I and his son Luís Filipe, Prince Royal, were assassinated by Republican and Carbonária members.

October 1910: Revolution replaces monarchy with Portuguese First Republic

In October 1910, a revolution occurred in Portugal, resulting in the replacement of the monarchy with the Portuguese First Republic.

October 1910: Coup overthrows monarchy

On October 5, 1910, a coup d'état overthrew the Monarchy, and the Republic was proclaimed in Portugal.

1910: End of the House of Braganza

In 1910, the House of Braganza, which had reigned since 1640, came to an end.

1911: Historical High Fertility Rate

In 1911, Portugal's fertility rate was 5 children born per woman, which is considerably higher than the rate in 2024.

1911: Spain claims Savage Islands

Since 1911, the Savage Islands have been claimed by Spain, causing some periods of political tension between the two countries.

December 1917: Coup leads to Sidónio Pais' rise to power

In December 1917, a coup d'état led to the rise of Sidónio Pais to power in Portugal.

1921: Bloody Night revolt

In 1921, the Bloody Night revolt resulted in the assassination of the Prime Minister and other high-ranking officials of the Republic of Portugal.

May 1926: Coup d'état creates National Dictatorship

On May 28, 1926, a coup d'état led to the creation of the National Dictatorship (Ditadura Nacional) in Portugal.

1933: Establishment of Estado Novo

In 1933, the right-wing dictatorship of the Estado Novo (New State) was established in Portugal under António de Oliveira Salazar.

1935: Death of Fernando Pessoa

Fernando Pessoa (1888-1935), a modern Portuguese poet, died in 1935.

1940: Concordata Between Portugal and the Holy See

In 1940, the Concordata between Portugal and the Holy See, which relates to religious freedom, was established; it was later amended in 1971.

1949: Portugal founding member of Organisation of Ibero-American States

In 1949 Portugal was a founding member of the Organisation of Ibero-American States

1949: Portugal founding member of NATO

In 1949, Portugal was a founding member of NATO.

1954: Dadra and Nagar Haveli separated from Portuguese rule

In 1954, pro-Indian residents of Dadra and Nagar Haveli separated those territories from Portuguese rule.

1955: Portugal joins United Nations

In 1955, Portugal became a member state of the United Nations.

1956: Establishment of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation

The Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation was established in Lisbon in 1956.

1957: Terrestrial volcanic eruption

In 1957–58, the last terrestrial volcanic eruption occurred in Portugal (Capelinhos).

1960: Portugal founding member of EFTA

In 1960, Portugal was a founding member of EFTA.

1961: Portugal founding member of OECD

In 1961, Portugal was a founding member of the OECD.

1961: Civil Procedure Code

In 1961, the Civil Procedure Code was established as one of the relevant laws.

1961: Annexation of Fort of São João Baptista de Ajudá and Loss of Goa

In 1961, the Fort of São João Baptista de Ajudá was annexed by the Republic of Dahomey. Also in 1961, Portugal refused to relinquish Goa, leading to armed conflict with India and the loss of Portuguese territories in the Indian subcontinent.

1961: Start of the Portuguese Colonial War

In the early 1960s, specifically in 1961, independence movements in the Portuguese provinces of Portuguese Angola, Portuguese Mozambique, and Portuguese Guinea in Africa resulted in the start of the Portuguese Colonial War.

1961: Loss of Indian Territory

Portugal lost its Indian territory in 1961, marking a period of decolonization. Later immigrants to Portugal came from former territories.

1966: Portuguese Civil Code

In 1966, the Portuguese Civil Code was established as one of the country's main laws.

1966: 1966 FIFA World Cup

In the 1966 FIFA World Cup, Portugal finished third.

1968: Salazar replaced by Marcelo Caetano

In 1968, Salazar suffered a brain hemorrhage and was replaced by Marcelo Caetano as the leader of Portugal.

1971: Amendment to Concordata

In 1971, the 1940 Concordata between Portugal and the Holy See, which relates to religious freedom, was amended.

1971: Government purchases Savage Islands

In 1971, the Portuguese government purchased the Savage Islands and established a natural reserve area covering the whole archipelago.

April 1974: Carnation Revolution leads to decolonization

In April 1974, the Carnation Revolution, a left-wing military coup in Lisbon, led the way for the independence of Portuguese overseas territories and the restoration of democracy.

1974: Coup leads to recognition of Indian sovereignty

In 1974, following a coup in Portugal, the regime recognized Indian sovereignty over the annexed territories.

1974: Carnation Revolution

In 1974, the Carnation Revolution culminated in the end of one of Portugal's most notable phases of economic expansion.

1974: Carnation Revolution restores democracy

In 1974, the Carnation Revolution occurred, leading to the restoration of democracy in Portugal, the end of the Portuguese Colonial War, and the independence of Portugal's African territories.

1974: End of the Portuguese Colonial War

In 1974, the Portuguese Colonial War, which began in 1961, came to an end.

1975: Independence of African territories

By 1975, all Portuguese African territories were independent, leading to a mass exodus of Portuguese citizens from those territories and Portugal held its first democratic elections in 50 years.

1975: Tensions rise towards civil war

In 1975, tensions in Portugal were so high that the country was on the verge of civil war, culminating in a coup attempt by extreme left-wing forces on November 25.

1976: Constitution

In 1976, the Constitution of Portugal was established as one of the country's main laws.

1976: Portuguese Socialist Party wins election

In 1976, the Portuguese Socialist Party won the Portuguese legislative election, and Mário Soares became prime minister.

1976: Ratification of the Constitution

Portugal has been a semi-presidential representative democratic republic since the ratification of the Constitution of 1976.

1976: Establishment of Autonomous Regions

Since 1976, Portugal's largest administrative units have been mainland Portugal and the autonomous regions of Azores and Madeira.

1976: Reiteration of Church-State Separation

The separation of church and state, initially established during the First Portuguese Republic, was reiterated in the 1976 Portuguese Constitution.

1977: IMF stabilization programmes begin

In 1977, Portugal began pursuing International Monetary Fund (IMF)-monitored stabilization programmes to address its economic situation.

1978: Mário Soares' term as prime minister ends

In 1978, Mário Soares' term as prime minister ended.

1982: Revisions to the Constitution

In 1982, revisions were made to the Portuguese Constitution.

1982: Penal Code of Portugal

In 1982, the Penal Code of Portugal was established as one of the country's main laws.

1983: Portugal becomes a full member of the Latin Union

In 1983 Portugal was a full member of the Latin Union.

1983: IMF stabilization programmes

In 1983, Portugal continued to pursue International Monetary Fund (IMF)-monitored stabilization programmes to address its economic situation.

1983: Soares becomes Prime Minister again

In 1983, Soares became prime minister again.

1985: End of Soares' second term

In 1985, Soares' second term as prime minister ended.

1986: Joining the EEC

In 1986, Portugal joined the European Economic Community (EEC), now known as the European Union, and has since been a net beneficiary of the EU budget.

1986: Portugal joins the European Economic Community

In 1986, Portugal joined the European Economic Community (EEC), which later became the European Union (EU).

1989: Further revisions to the Constitution

In 1989, further revisions were made to the Portuguese Constitution.

1990: Base Year for Emission Reduction

1990 is used as the base year for the EU's plan, which includes Portugal, to reduce emissions by a minimum of 55% by 2030.

1993: European Economic Community becomes the European Union

In 1993, the European Economic Community became the European Union, of which Portugal was a member.

1995: Implementation of Schengen Area rules

In 1995, Portugal started to implement Schengen Area rules, eliminating border controls with other Schengen members.

1996: Portugal co-founds Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP)

In 1996, Portugal co-founded the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP), also known as the Lusophone Commonwealth.

1998: José Saramago Receives Nobel Prize

José Saramago, a Portuguese author, received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1998.

1999: Macau handover and Euro founding

In 1999, Portugal peacefully handed over Macau to China and became one of the founding countries of the euro and eurozone.

1999: Loss of Far East Asian Territories

Portugal lost its Far East Asian territories in 1999, marking a period of decolonization. Later immigrants to Portugal came from former territories.

2000: Euro Transition

In 2000, Portugal began transitioning from the Portuguese Escudo to the euro (€).

2000: Inclusion of land area in Natura 2000 network

Over 22% of Portugal's land area is included in the Natura 2000 network in 2000.

2000: WHO Ranking of Public Health Systems

Portugal's healthcare system was ranked 12th in the 2000 World Health Organisation ranking of best public health systems in the world.

2001: Drug Decriminalization

In 2001, Portugal decriminalized drugs, becoming the first country to allow the usage and personal possession of all common drugs.

2001: Gross Agricultural Product

In 2001, the gross agricultural product accounted for 4% of the Portuguese economy.

2001: Religious Freedom Act

The 2001 Religious Freedom Act is one of the most important documents relating to religious freedom in Portugal, along with the 1940 Concordata.

2002: Portugal recognizes East Timor independence

In 2002, Portugal formally recognized the independence of East Timor.

2002: Euro Consolidation

In 2002, the euro (€) was consolidated as Portugal's national currency.

2003: Establishment of Smaller Metropolitan Areas

From 2003 to 2008, several smaller metropolitan areas, including Algarve, Aveiro, Coimbra, Minho, and Viseu, held administrative legal status.

2003: Anti-Discrimination Employment Law

In 2003, Portugal introduced an anti-discrimination employment law based on sexual orientation.

2004: José Manuel Barroso nominated President of the European Commission

In 2004, José Manuel Barroso, the then Prime Minister of Portugal, was nominated President of the European Commission.

2004: Sexual Orientation Added to Constitution

In 2004, sexual orientation was added to the Constitution of Portugal as a characteristic protected from discrimination.

2004: Euro 2004

In Euro 2004, Portugal finished second.

2005: MTV Europe Music Awards in Lisbon

In 2005, Portugal hosted the MTV Europe Music Awards at Pavilhão Atlântico in Lisbon.

2005: Higher Education Statistics

In 2005, a total of 380,937 students, both domestic and international, attended higher education institutions in Portugal. About 47.6% of college-age citizens (20 years old) attend one of Portugal's higher education institutions.

2006: CP Passenger and Goods Transport

In 2006, Comboios de Portugal (CP) carried 133,000,000 passengers and 9,750,000 tonnes of goods.

2006: Lisbon Tourist Numbers

In 2006, Lisbon attracted the sixteenth-most tourists among European cities, with seven million tourists occupying the city's hotels.

2006: Adoption of the Bologna Process

In 2006, Portuguese universities and poly-technical institutes adopted the Bologna process.

2006: Moura Photovoltaic Power Station Begins Operating

In 2006, the world's then largest solar power plant, the Moura Photovoltaic Power Station, began operating. Also in 2006, 66% of the country's electrical production was from coal and fuel power plants, while 29% was derived from hydroelectric dams, and 6% by wind energy.

2006: 2006 FIFA World Cup

In the 2006 FIFA World Cup, Portugal finished fourth.

July 2007: First EU–Brazil summit held in Portugal

In July 2007, Portugal hosted the first EU–Brazil summit.

December 2007: Second EU–African Union summit held in Portugal

In December 2007, Portugal hosted the second EU–African Union summit and the signing of the Treaty of Lisbon.

2007: Start of financial crisis

In 2007, the financial crisis started.

2007: Financial Crisis Start

The financial crisis of 2007-2008 prompted emigrants to leave Portugal, which the government later tried to reverse by offering tax breaks.

2008: Foreign Residents Acquiring Citizenship

Between 2008 and 2022, more than 340,000 resident foreigners acquired Portuguese citizenship, constituting around 3.27% of the country's population in 2022.

2008: Conversion to Intermunicipal Communities

In 2008, smaller metropolitan areas in Portugal like Algarve, Aveiro, Coimbra, Minho and Viseu were converted into intermunicipal communities.

2008: Continuation of financial crisis

In 2008, the financial crisis continued.

2008: Aguçadoura Wave Farm Opens

In 2008, the world's first commercial wave power farm, the Aguçadoura Wave Farm, opened in the Norte region. Renewable energy resources were producing 43% of the nation's electricity in 2008, even as hydroelectric production decreased with severe droughts.

2008: Financial Crisis Peak

The financial crisis of 2007-2008 prompted emigrants to leave Portugal, which the government later tried to reverse by offering tax breaks.

December 2009: Treaty of Lisbon enters into force

On December 1, 2009, the Treaty of Lisbon entered into force, enhancing the efficiency and democratic legitimacy of the European Union.

2009: HIV Infection Cases Drop

By 2009, HIV infection cases had dropped 50 percent following the decriminalization of drugs in 2001.

2009: PISA Performance Level

In reading and mathematics, mean performance in 2018 was close to the level observed in 2009 to 2015.

November 2010: NATO summit held in Portugal

In November 2010, Portugal hosted the NATO summit.

2010: Electricity Exports Outnumber Imports

As of 2010, electricity exports had outnumbered imports and 70% of energy came from renewable sources.

2010: Same-Sex Marriage Legalized

In 2010, Portugal legalized same-sex marriage, becoming the sixth country in Europe and eighth in the world to do so at the national level.

2010: Diabetes Mortality Rate

In 2010, the diabetes mortality rate was at 4.5% in Portugal.

2010: Compulsory Secondary Education

Since 2010, secondary education (three years) has been compulsory in Portugal.

2010: Incarceration Rate on the Rise

Since 2010, the incarceration rate in Portugal has been on the rise, with a 15% increase over the past eight years.

May 2011: European Union and International Monetary Fund Bailout

In May 2011, Portugal received a 78-billion-euro bailout from the European Union and the International Monetary Fund due to a severe economic recession.

2011: Portugal negotiates loan with IMF and EU

In 2011, Portugal negotiated a loan with the IMF and the European Union to stabilize its finances due to economic disruption and unsustainable growth in government debt during the financial crisis.

2011: European Innovation Scoreboard

The European Innovation Scoreboard 2011, placed Portugal-based innovation 15th, with increase in innovation expenditure and output.

2012: PISA Science Performance Level

In science, mean performance in 2018 was near the level observed in 2009 and 2012.

2013: Administrative Reform

In 2013, a reform subdivided Portugal's 308 municipalities into 3,092 civil parishes.

2013: Local Government Reform

Since the 2013 local government reform, Lisbon and Porto are the only two metropolitan areas in Portugal with administrative legal status.

2014: The Best European Country

In 2014, Portugal was elected 'The Best European Country' by USA Today.

2014: Discovery of Aroeira 3 H. Heidelbergensis skull

In 2014, the 400,000-year-old Aroeira 3 H. Heidelbergensis skull, the oldest human fossil found in Portugal, was discovered in the Cave of Aroeira.

2015: PISA Performance Level

In reading and mathematics, mean performance in 2018 was close to the level observed in 2009 to 2015; in science, mean performance in 2018 was below that of 2015.

2016: Births to Unmarried Women

In 2016, 53% of births in Portugal were to unmarried women.

2016: UEFA Euro 2016 victory

In 2016, the Portugal national football team won the UEFA European Championship, defeating France 1–0 in the final.

2016: LGBT Adoption Allowed

Since 2016, LGBT adoption has been allowed in Portugal, alongside female same-sex couples' access to medically assisted reproduction.

2017: Europe's Leading Destination

In 2017, Portugal was elected 'Europe's Leading Destination'.

2017: Portugal wins Eurovision Song Contest 2017

In 2017, Portugal won the Eurovision Song Contest in Kyiv with the song "Amar pelos dois" presented by Salvador Sobral.

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2017: Law of Gender Identity Simplified

In 2017, the Law of Gender Identity simplified the legal process for transgender people to change their gender and name, making it easier for minors to change their sex marker in legal documents.

2017: Selvagens Islands added to UNESCO's world heritage list tentatively

The Selvagens Islands have been tentatively added to UNESCO's world heritage list in 2017.

2018: PISA Scores

According to the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2018, Portugal scored around the OECD average in reading, mathematics, and science.

2018: Portugal hosted the Eurovision Song Contest 2018

Following their win in 2017, Portugal hosted the Eurovision Song Contest in 2018.

2018: UEFA Nations League

In 2018, Portugal finished first in the 2018–19 UEFA Nations League.

2018: World's Leading Destination

In 2018, Portugal was elected 'World's Leading Destination'.

2018: Budget Plan with Tax Breaks for Emigrants

In 2018, Portugal's parliament approved a budget plan for 2019 that included tax breaks for returning emigrants, aiming to attract those who left during the financial crisis of 2007–2008.

2018: Protection of Gender Identity and Intersex Minors

In 2018, the right to gender identity and gender expression self-determination became protected. Intersex minors also gained protection under the law from unnecessary medical procedures until their gender identity manifests.

2018: OECD Economic Reports show recovery

Since 2018, OECD economic reports indicate Portugal's economic recovery.

2019: World's Leading Destination

In 2019, Portugal was elected 'World's Leading Destination'.

2019: Social Justice Index Ranking

In 2019, Portugal was ranked 24th in the Social Justice Index within the EU, indicating social inequality.

2019: Global Competitiveness Report

In 2019, the World Economic Forum's Global Competitiveness Report placed Portugal 34th.

2021: National Statistics Institute (INE) Study

According to a National Statistics Institute (INE) study, conducted shortly after the 2021 census, between 2022 and 2023, data on self-identified ethnicities was collected.

2021: Religious Demographics

According to the 2021 Census, 80.2% of the Portuguese population was Roman Catholic Christian. There are also small Protestant, Latter-day Saint, Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, Eastern Orthodox Church, Jehovah's Witnesses, Baháʼí, Buddhist, Jewish, and Spiritist communities. Some 14.1% of the population declared themselves to be non-religious.

2021: Diabetes Mortality Rate

By 2021, the diabetes mortality rates decreased, from 4.5% in 2010 down to 2.8%.

2021: Phasing Out Coal-Fired Generation

In 2021, Portugal phased out coal-fired generation and has been developing renewable energies and investing in public transport and electric vehicles.

2021: Human Development Index

In 2021, Portugal's Human Development Index (HDI) was 0.874, ranking it 42nd highest in the world.

2021: Adult Literacy Rate

In 2021, the total adult literacy rate in Portugal was 99.8%.

2021: Recognition and Protection of Barranquenho

Since 2021, the Barranquenho dialect, spoken in Barrancos, is officially recognised and protected in Portugal.

2022: INE Study Data Collection

According to a National Statistics Institute (INE) study, conducted shortly after the 2021 census, between 2022 and 2023, 6,4 million people aged between 18 and 74 years old identified themselves as White (84%), more than 262,000 identify as Mixed-race (3%), nearly 170,000 as Black (2%), 57,000 as Asian (<1%), and 47,500 as Romani (<1%).

2022: Citizenship Acquisition by Foreign Residents

In 2022 alone, almost 21,000 foreign residents acquired Portuguese citizenship, of which 11,170 were female and 9,674 were male.

2022: Emigration and Immigration Rates

In 2022, Portugal's emigration rate increased to 6.9‰, but it was still well below the immigration rate of around 11.3‰. A significant portion of Portuguese emigrants leave the country for short periods, with 56.8% of those leaving in 2022 doing so for less than a year.

2022: Labour productivity

In 2022, labour productivity had fallen to the fourth lowest among the 27 member-states of the European Union (EU) and was 35% lower than the EU average.

2022: Rents Jump and Inflation

In 2022, rents in Portugal, particularly in Lisbon, jumped 37%, and the inflation rate was 8%.

2022: Gross Agricultural Product

In 2022, the gross agricultural product accounted for 2% of the Portuguese economy.

2022: Statistical Office Figures on Immigrants

In 2022, the statistical office figures suggested that 16.1% of the country's population, or 1,683,829 people, were first generation immigrants.

January 2023: Prison Population

As of January 2023, Portugal's prison population was about 12,257 inmates, representing about 0.12% of the country's entire population.

December 2023: Population Statistics

Statistics Portugal estimates that by 31 December 2023, the population of Portugal was 10,639,726, with 52.2% female and 47.8% male.

2023: Adult Health Self-Assessment

A Eurostat opinion-poll in 2023 found that 55.4% of adults rated their health as good or very good, the third lowest rate collected in the European Union.

2023: INE Study on Immigrant Background

A National Statistics Institute (INE) study conducted between 2022 and 2023 found that 1.4 million people, or 13% of the population, have an immigrant background, with 947,500 being first-generation immigrants.

2023: INE Study Data Collection

2023: Tourism's Impact on GDP

As of 2023, nearly half of Portugal's real GDP growth was due to the tourism sector, accounting for 16.5% of GDP.

2023: Oil in Portugal's Energy Supply

As of 2023, oil made up 44% of Portugal's total energy supply.

2023: Foreign Tourists

By 2023, Portugal was among the top 20 most-visited countries in the world, receiving more than 26,5 million foreign tourists.

2023: GDP (PPP) per capita

By the end of 2023, Portugal's GDP (PPP) was $47,209 per capita, according to the World Bank.

2023: Debt Reduction

By the end of 2023, the share of debt as percentage of GDP fell below 100 percent, to 97.9%.

2023: Euthanasia Legalised

In 2023, Euthanasia was legalized in Portugal for national residents over 18 who are terminally ill and in extreme suffering, but Euthanasia legislation is yet to be defined and implemented.

2023: Population Estimates

In 2023, Population estimates are available for Portugal's nine NUTS regions within the European Union NUTS system.

2023: Portugal's Greenhouse Gas Emissions

In 2023, Portugal emitted around 339 million tonnes of greenhouse gases, equivalent to about 1% of global total emissions or approximately 5 tonnes per person.

2023: Economic Growth and Decreasing Inflation

In 2023, Portugal experienced continued economic growth, although modest, while inflation continued decreasing to 5%.

2023: Population and Foreign Residents

In 2023, Portugal had 10,639,726 inhabitants, with 1,044,606 legal resident foreigners, making up approximately 10% of the population.

2023: Economic Indicators

In 2023, Portugal's GDP per capita was 83% of the EU27 average, and exports represented 47.4% of its GDP.

2023: Median Age of Population

In 2023, Portugal's population was aging, with a median age of 46 years, making it the 11th oldest in the world. The country also had the world's 4th highest number of citizens over 65 years old, at 21.8% of the total population.

2023: Numbeo Quality of Life Index

In 2023, the Numbeo quality of life index placed Portugal 20th in the world.

2023: Armed Forces Personnel and Expenditure

In 2023, the Portuguese armed forces, comprising the Navy, Army, and Air Force, numbered 24,000 military personnel. The military expenditure in 2023 exceeded 4 billion US dollars, which was 1.48% of Portugal's GDP.

2024: Infant Mortality Rate

As of 2024, Portugal's infant mortality rate (IMR) stood at 2.25 deaths per 1,000 live births.

2024: Debt Reduction

By the end of 2024, the share of debt as percentage of GDP fell to 95.3%.

2024: Decreasing Inflation and Economic Growth

In 2024 the annual inflation continued a downward trend ending at 2.3% and accompanied by a small economic growth.

2024: Global Innovation Index Ranking

In 2024, Portugal was ranked 31st in the Global Innovation Index.

2024: Average Gross Salary

In 2024, the average gross salary in Portugal was €1,602 per month.

2024: Median Life Expectancy

In 2024, the median life expectancy in Portugal was 82.8 years, and United Nations projections point to 90 or above by 2100.

2025: Minimum Wage

As of 2025, the minimum wage in Portugal, regulated by law, is €870 per month (paid 14 times per annum).

2025: Healthcare System Ranking

In 2025, Portugal was ranked as the 23rd best healthcare system in the world.

2025: Expected Economic Growth and Inflation

In 2025, the economy is expected to continue growing at 1.9 annually, while inflation is forecast at 2.1% for the fiscal year.

2027: Portuguese national rugby union team qualified for the 2027 Rugby World Cup

The Portuguese national rugby union team qualified for the 2027 Rugby World Cup.

2030: EU Emission Reduction Plan

Portugal, as an EU member state, is part of the joint EU plan to reduce emissions by a minimum of 55% by 2030 compared to the level of emissions in 1990.