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The Portuguese people ( – masculine – or ''Portuguesas'') are a Romance-speaking
ethnic group An ethnicity or ethnic group is a group of people with shared attributes, which they collectively believe to have, and long-term endogamy. Ethnicities share attributes like language, culture, common sets of ancestry, traditions, society, re ...
and nation indigenous to
Portugal Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic, is a country on the Iberian Peninsula in Southwestern Europe. Featuring Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point in continental Europe, Portugal borders Spain to its north and east, with which it share ...
, a country that occupies the west side of the
Iberian Peninsula The Iberian Peninsula ( ), also known as Iberia, is a peninsula in south-western Europe. Mostly separated from the rest of the European landmass by the Pyrenees, it includes the territories of peninsular Spain and Continental Portugal, comprisin ...
in south-west Europe, who share
culture Culture ( ) is a concept that encompasses the social behavior, institutions, and Social norm, norms found in human societies, as well as the knowledge, beliefs, arts, laws, Social norm, customs, capabilities, Attitude (psychology), attitudes ...
,
ancestry An ancestor, also known as a forefather, fore-elder, or a forebear, is a parent or ( recursively) the parent of an antecedent (i.e., a grandparent, great-grandparent, great-great-grandparent and so forth). ''Ancestor'' is "any person from ...
and
language Language is a structured system of communication that consists of grammar and vocabulary. It is the primary means by which humans convey meaning, both in spoken and signed language, signed forms, and may also be conveyed through writing syste ...
. The Portuguese state began with the founding of the County of Portugal in 868. Following the Battle of São Mamede (1128), Portugal gained international recognition as a kingdom through the Treaty of Zamora and the
papal bull A papal bull is a type of public decree, letters patent, or charter issued by the pope of the Catholic Church. It is named after the leaden Seal (emblem), seal (''bulla (seal), bulla'') traditionally appended to authenticate it. History Papal ...
Manifestis Probatum. This Portuguese state paved the way for the Portuguese people to unite as a nation. The Portuguese explored distant lands previously unknown to Europeans—in the Americas, Africa, Asia and Oceania (southwest Pacific Ocean). In 1415, with the
conquest of Ceuta The Portuguese conquest of Ceuta took place on 21 August 1415, between Portuguese forces under the command of King John I of Portugal and the Marinid Sultanate, Marinid sultanate of Morocco at the city of Ceuta. The city's defenses fell unde ...
, the Portuguese took a significant role in the
Age of Discovery The Age of Discovery (), also known as the Age of Exploration, was part of the early modern period and overlapped with the Age of Sail. It was a period from approximately the 15th to the 17th century, during which Seamanship, seafarers fro ...
, which culminated in a colonial empire. It was one of the first global empires and one of the world's major economic, political and military powers in the 15th and 16th centuries, with territories that became part numerous countries. Portugal helped to launch the spread of Western civilization to other geographies. During and after the period of the
Portuguese Empire The Portuguese Empire was a colonial empire that existed between 1415 and 1999. In conjunction with the Spanish Empire, it ushered in the European Age of Discovery. It achieved a global scale, controlling vast portions of the Americas, Africa ...
, the Portuguese diaspora spread across the world.


Ancestry

The Portuguese people's
heritage Heritage may refer to: History and society * A heritage asset A heritage asset is an item which has value because of its contribution to a nation's society, knowledge and/or culture. Such items are usually physical assets, but some countries also ...
largely derives from the
Indo-European The Indo-European languages are a language family native to the northern Indian subcontinent, most of Europe, and the Iranian plateau with additional native branches found in regions such as Sri Lanka, the Maldives, parts of Central Asia (e. ...
('' Lusitanians, Conii''), and Celtic peoples ('' Gallaecians, Turduli and Celtici''). They were later
Romanized In linguistics, romanization is the conversion of text from a different writing system to the Roman (Latin) script, or a system for doing so. Methods of romanization include transliteration, for representing written text, and transcription, ...
after the Roman conquest. The
Portuguese language Portuguese ( or ) is a Western Romance language of the Indo-European language family originating from the Iberian Peninsula of Europe. It is the official language of Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal and São Tom ...
–the native language of the overwhelming majority of Portuguese people–stems from
Vulgar Latin Vulgar Latin, also known as Colloquial, Popular, Spoken or Vernacular Latin, is the range of non-formal Register (sociolinguistics), registers of Latin spoken from the Crisis of the Roman Republic, Late Roman Republic onward. ''Vulgar Latin'' a ...
. A number of male Portuguese lineages descend from Germanic tribes who arrived as ruling elites after the Roman period, starting in 409. These included the
Suebi file:1st century Germani.png, 300px, The approximate positions of some Germanic peoples reported by Graeco-Roman authors in the 1st century. Suebian peoples in red, and other Irminones in purple. The Suebi (also spelled Suavi, Suevi or Suebians ...
, Buri,
Hasdingi The Hasdingi were one of the Vandal peoples of the Roman era. The Vandals were Germanic peoples, who are believed to have spoken an East Germanic language, and were first reported during the first centuries of the Roman empire in the area which i ...
Vandals The Vandals were a Germanic people who were first reported in the written records as inhabitants of what is now Poland, during the period of the Roman Empire. Much later, in the fifth century, a group of Vandals led by kings established Vand ...
and
Visigoths The Visigoths (; ) were a Germanic people united under the rule of a king and living within the Roman Empire during late antiquity. The Visigoths first appeared in the Balkans, as a Roman-allied Barbarian kingdoms, barbarian military group unite ...
. The pastoral
North Caucasus The North Caucasus, or Ciscaucasia, is a subregion in Eastern Europe governed by Russia. It constitutes the northern part of the wider Caucasus region, which separates Europe and Asia. The North Caucasus is bordered by the Sea of Azov and the B ...
'
Alans The Alans () were an ancient and medieval Iranian peoples, Iranic Eurasian nomads, nomadic pastoral people who migrated to what is today North Caucasus – while some continued on to Europe and later North Africa. They are generally regarded ...
left traces in a few central-southern areas (e.g. Alenquer, from "''Alen Kerke''" or "Temple of the Alans"). The Umayyad conquest of Iberia, between the early 8th century until the
12th century The 12th century is the period from 1101 to 1200 in accordance with the Julian calendar. In the history of European culture, this period is considered part of the High Middle Ages and overlaps with what is often called the Golden Age' of the ...
, also left small Moorish,
Jewish Jews (, , ), or the Jewish people, are an ethnoreligious group and nation, originating from the Israelites of History of ancient Israel and Judah, ancient Israel and Judah. They also traditionally adhere to Judaism. Jewish ethnicity, rel ...
and Saqaliba genetic contributions. Other minor – as well as later – influences include small
Viking Vikings were seafaring people originally from Scandinavia (present-day Denmark, Norway, and Sweden), who from the late 8th to the late 11th centuries raided, pirated, traded, and settled throughout parts of Europe.Roesdahl, pp. 9 ...
settlements between the 9th and 11th centuries, made by
Norsemen The Norsemen (or Northmen) were a cultural group in the Early Middle Ages, originating among speakers of Old Norse in Scandinavia. During the late eighth century, Scandinavians embarked on a Viking expansion, large-scale expansion in all direc ...
who raided coastal areas mainly in the northern regions of
Douro The Douro (, , , ; ; ) is the largest river of the Iberian Peninsula by discharge. It rises near Duruelo de la Sierra in the Spanish Soria Province, province of Soria, meanders briefly south, then flows generally west through the northern par ...
and Minho. Low-incidence, pre-Roman influence came from Phoenicians and
Greeks Greeks or Hellenes (; , ) are an ethnic group and nation native to Greece, Greek Cypriots, Cyprus, Greeks in Albania, southern Albania, Greeks in Turkey#History, Anatolia, parts of Greeks in Italy, Italy and Egyptian Greeks, Egypt, and to a l ...
in southern coastal areas.


Name

The name Portugal is a
portmanteau In linguistics, a blend—also known as a blend word, lexical blend, or portmanteau—is a word formed by combining the meanings, and parts of the sounds, of two or more words together.
that comes from the
Latin Latin ( or ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken by the Latins (Italic tribe), Latins in Latium (now known as Lazio), the lower Tiber area aroun ...
word ''Portus'' (meaning port) and a second word ''Cale'', whose meaning and origin are unclear. ''Cale'' is probably a reminder of the Gallaeci (also known as Callaeci), a Celtic tribe that lived in part of Northern Portugal. Alternatively the name may have come from the early settlement of Cale (today's Gaia), situated on the mouth of the Douro River on the Atlantic coast (''Portus Cale''). The name Cale seems to come from the
Celts The Celts ( , see Names of the Celts#Pronunciation, pronunciation for different usages) or Celtic peoples ( ) were a collection of Indo-European languages, Indo-European peoples. "The Celts, an ancient Indo-European people, reached the apoge ...
– perhaps from one of their specifications, ''Cailleach'' – but which, in everyday life, was synonymous with shelter, anchorage or door. Among other theories, some suggest that Cale may stem from the Greek word for ''kalós'' (beautiful). Another theory for Portugal postulates a French derivation, ''Portus Gallus'' "port of the Gauls". During the
Middle Ages In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the 5th to the late 15th centuries, similarly to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire and ...
, the area around Cale became known through the
Visigoths The Visigoths (; ) were a Germanic people united under the rule of a king and living within the Roman Empire during late antiquity. The Visigoths first appeared in the Balkans, as a Roman-allied Barbarian kingdoms, barbarian military group unite ...
as ''Portucale''. Portucale could have evolved in the 7th and 8th centuries, to become ''Portugale'', or Portugal, from the 9th century. The term denoted the area between the Douro and Minho rivers.


Early inhabitants

Portuguese origins are predominantly from Southern and Western Europe. The earliest modern humans inhabiting Portugal are believed to have arrived in the
Iberian Peninsula The Iberian Peninsula ( ), also known as Iberia, is a peninsula in south-western Europe. Mostly separated from the rest of the European landmass by the Pyrenees, it includes the territories of peninsular Spain and Continental Portugal, comprisin ...
35,000 to 40,000 years ago. Y-chromosome and mtDNA data suggest that modern Portuguese trace a proportion of these lineages to the
Paleolithic The Paleolithic or Palaeolithic ( years ago) ( ), also called the Old Stone Age (), is a period in human prehistory that is distinguished by the original development of stone tools, and which represents almost the entire period of human prehist ...
peoples who began settling the European continent at the end of the last glaciation around 45,000 years ago. Northern Iberia is believed to have been a major
Ice age An ice age is a long period of reduction in the temperature of Earth's surface and atmosphere, resulting in the presence or expansion of continental and polar ice sheets and alpine glaciers. Earth's climate alternates between ice ages, and g ...
refuge from which Paleolithic humans later colonized Europe. Migrations from northern Iberia during the Paleolithic and
Mesolithic The Mesolithic (Ancient Greek language, Greek: μέσος, ''mesos'' 'middle' + λίθος, ''lithos'' 'stone') or Middle Stone Age is the Old World archaeological period between the Upper Paleolithic and the Neolithic. The term Epipaleolithic i ...
link modern Iberians to much of Western Europe, particularly the
British Isles The British Isles are an archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean off the north-western coast of continental Europe, consisting of the islands of Great Britain, Ireland, the Isle of Man, the Inner Hebrides, Inner and Outer Hebr ...
and Atlantic Europe. Y-chromosome haplogroup R1b is the most common haplogroup in the Iberian peninsula and western Europe. One of the best-characterized of Iberian haplotypes is the Atlantic Modal Haplotype (AMH). This haplotype reaches the highest frequencies there and in the British Isles. In Portugal it reckons generally 65% in the South, ranging from 87-96% northwards.


Neolithic

The
Neolithic The Neolithic or New Stone Age (from Ancient Greek, Greek 'new' and 'stone') is an archaeological period, the final division of the Stone Age in Mesopotamia, Asia, Europe and Africa (c. 10,000 BCE to c. 2,000 BCE). It saw the Neolithic Revo ...
colonization of Europe from Western Asia and the Middle East, beginning around 10,000 years ago, reached
Iberia The Iberian Peninsula ( ), also known as Iberia, is a peninsula in south-western Europe. Mostly separated from the rest of the European landmass by the Pyrenees, it includes the territories of peninsular Spain and Continental Portugal, compri ...
after reaching the rest of the continent. According to the demic diffusion model its impact was greatest in the southern and eastern regions.


Celts and Indo-Europeans

In the 3rd millennium BC, during the
Bronze Age The Bronze Age () was a historical period characterised principally by the use of bronze tools and the development of complex urban societies, as well as the adoption of writing in some areas. The Bronze Age is the middle principal period of ...
, the first wave of migrations by
Indo-European language The Indo-European languages are a language family native to the northern Indian subcontinent, most of Europe, and the Iranian plateau with additional native branches found in regions such as Sri Lanka, the Maldives, parts of Central Asia ( ...
speakers into Iberia occurred. The expansion of haplogroup R1b in Western Europe, most common in many areas of Atlantic Europe, was primarily due to massive migrations from the
Pontic–Caspian steppe The Pontic–Caspian Steppe is a steppe extending across Eastern Europe to Central Asia, formed by the Caspian and Pontic steppes. It stretches from the northern shores of the Black Sea (the ''Pontus Euxinus'' of antiquity) to the northern a ...
of Eastern Europe during the
Bronze Age The Bronze Age () was a historical period characterised principally by the use of bronze tools and the development of complex urban societies, as well as the adoption of writing in some areas. The Bronze Age is the middle principal period of ...
, along with carriers of
Indo-European languages The Indo-European languages are a language family native to the northern Indian subcontinent, most of Europe, and the Iranian plateau with additional native branches found in regions such as Sri Lanka, the Maldives, parts of Central Asia (e. ...
like
proto-Celtic Proto-Celtic, or Common Celtic, is the hypothetical ancestral proto-language of all known Celtic languages, and a descendant of Proto-Indo-European. It is not attested in writing but has been partly Linguistic reconstruction, reconstructed throu ...
and proto-Italic. Unlike older studies on uniparental markers, large amounts of autosomal DNA were analyzed in addition to paternal Y-DNA. An
autosomal An autosome is any chromosome that is not a sex chromosome. The members of an autosome pair in a diploid cell have the same morphology, unlike those in allosomal (sex chromosome) pairs, which may have different structures. The DNA in autosome ...
component was detected in modern Europeans that was not present in the Neolithic or Mesolithic, and which entered Europe with paternal lineages R1b and R1a, as well as the Indo-European languages. The first immigrations of Indo-European language speakers were followed by waves of
Celt The Celts ( , see Names of the Celts#Pronunciation, pronunciation for different usages) or Celtic peoples ( ) were a collection of Indo-European languages, Indo-European peoples. "The Celts, an ancient Indo-European people, reached the apoge ...
s. The Celts arrived in Portugal about 3,000 years ago. Migration was particularly intense from the 7th to the 5th centuries BC. These two processes defined Iberia's cultural landscape "Continental in the northwest and Mediterranean towards the southeast", as historian José Mattoso described. The northwest–southeast cultural shift also shows in genetic differences: based on 2016 findings, haplogroup H, a cluster within the haplogroup R category, is more prevalent along the
Atlantic The Atlantic Ocean is the second largest of the world's five oceanic divisions, with an area of about . It covers approximately 17% of Earth's surface and about 24% of its water surface area. During the Age of Discovery, it was known for se ...
façade, including the Cantabrian Coast and Portugal. Its highest frequency is in Galicia (northwestern corner of Iberia). The frequency of haplogroup H shows a decreasing trend from the Atlantic façade toward the Mediterranean. This finding adds strong evidence that Galicia and Northern Portugal was a cul-de-sac population, a kind of European edge for a major ancient central European migration. An interesting pattern of genetic continuity exists along the Cantabria coast and Portugal, a pattern observed previously when minor sub-clades of the mtDNA phylogeny were examined. Given the Paleolithic and Neolithic origins, as well as
Bronze Age The Bronze Age () was a historical period characterised principally by the use of bronze tools and the development of complex urban societies, as well as the adoption of writing in some areas. The Bronze Age is the middle principal period of ...
and
Iron Age The Iron Age () is the final epoch of the three historical Metal Ages, after the Chalcolithic and Bronze Age. It has also been considered as the final age of the three-age division starting with prehistory (before recorded history) and progre ...
Indo-European The Indo-European languages are a language family native to the northern Indian subcontinent, most of Europe, and the Iranian plateau with additional native branches found in regions such as Sri Lanka, the Maldives, parts of Central Asia (e. ...
migrations, the Portuguese ethnic origin was mainly a mixture of pre-Celts or para-
Celts The Celts ( , see Names of the Celts#Pronunciation, pronunciation for different usages) or Celtic peoples ( ) were a collection of Indo-European languages, Indo-European peoples. "The Celts, an ancient Indo-European people, reached the apoge ...
, such as the Lusitanians of
Lusitania Lusitania (; ) was an ancient Iberian Roman province encompassing most of modern-day Portugal (south of the Douro River) and a large portion of western Spain (the present Extremadura and Province of Salamanca). Romans named the region after th ...
, and Celtic peoples such as Gallaeci of Gallaecia, the Celtici and the Cynetes of Alentejo and the
Algarve The Algarve (, , ) is the southernmost NUTS statistical regions of Portugal, NUTS II region of continental Portugal. It has an area of with 467,495 permanent inhabitants and incorporates 16 municipalities (concelho, ''concelhos'' or ''município ...
.


Pre-Roman populations


Lusitanians

The Lusitanians (or ''Lusitānus'' – singular – ''Lusitani'' – plural – in
Latin Latin ( or ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken by the Latins (Italic tribe), Latins in Latium (now known as Lazio), the lower Tiber area aroun ...
) were an Indo-European people living in the Western
Iberian Peninsula The Iberian Peninsula ( ), also known as Iberia, is a peninsula in south-western Europe. Mostly separated from the rest of the European landmass by the Pyrenees, it includes the territories of peninsular Spain and Continental Portugal, comprisin ...
long before it became the Roman
province A province is an administrative division within a country or sovereign state, state. The term derives from the ancient Roman , which was the major territorial and administrative unit of the Roman Empire, Roman Empire's territorial possessions ou ...
of
Lusitania Lusitania (; ) was an ancient Iberian Roman province encompassing most of modern-day Portugal (south of the Douro River) and a large portion of western Spain (the present Extremadura and Province of Salamanca). Romans named the region after th ...
(modern
Portugal Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic, is a country on the Iberian Peninsula in Southwestern Europe. Featuring Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point in continental Europe, Portugal borders Spain to its north and east, with which it share ...
, Extremadura and part of
Salamanca Salamanca () is a Municipality of Spain, municipality and city in Spain, capital of the Province of Salamanca, province of the same name, located in the autonomous community of Castile and León. It is located in the Campo Charro comarca, in the ...
). They spoke Lusitanian, of which only a few short written fragments survive. Most Portuguese consider Lusitanians as their ancestors, although the northern regions ( Minho,
Douro The Douro (, , , ; ; ) is the largest river of the Iberian Peninsula by discharge. It rises near Duruelo de la Sierra in the Spanish Soria Province, province of Soria, meanders briefly south, then flows generally west through the northern par ...
, Trás-os-Montes) identify more with Gallaecians. Linguists such as Ellis Evans claimed that Gallaecian-Lusitanian was one language (thus not separate languages) of the "p" Celtic variant. They were a large
tribe The term tribe is used in many different contexts to refer to a category of human social group. The predominant worldwide use of the term in English is in the discipline of anthropology. The definition is contested, in part due to conflict ...
who lived between
Douro The Douro (, , , ; ; ) is the largest river of the Iberian Peninsula by discharge. It rises near Duruelo de la Sierra in the Spanish Soria Province, province of Soria, meanders briefly south, then flows generally west through the northern par ...
and
Tagus The Tagus ( ; ; ) is the longest river in the Iberian Peninsula. The river rises in the Montes Universales between Cuenca and Teruel, in mid-eastern Spain, flows , generally westward, and empties into the Atlantic Ocean in Lisbon. Name T ...
rivers. The Lusitanians may have originated in the
Alps The Alps () are some of the highest and most extensive mountain ranges in Europe, stretching approximately across eight Alpine countries (from west to east): Monaco, France, Switzerland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Germany, Austria and Slovenia. ...
and settled in the region in the 6th century BC. Scholars such as Dáithí Ó hÓgáin consider them to be indigenous. He claimed they were initially dominated by the
Celt The Celts ( , see Names of the Celts#Pronunciation, pronunciation for different usages) or Celtic peoples ( ) were a collection of Indo-European languages, Indo-European peoples. "The Celts, an ancient Indo-European people, reached the apoge ...
s, before gaining full independence. Romanian
archaeologist Archaeology or archeology is the study of human activity through the recovery and analysis of material culture. The archaeological record consists of Artifact (archaeology), artifacts, architecture, biofact (archaeology), biofacts or ecofacts, ...
, active in Portugal for many years, proposed that they were originally a tribal Celtic group, related to the Lusones. The first area settled by the Lusitanians was probably the Douro Valley and the region of Beira Alta; they subsequently moved south, and expanded on both sides of the Tagus river, before the Roman conquest. The Lusitanians originated from either
Proto-Celtic Proto-Celtic, or Common Celtic, is the hypothetical ancestral proto-language of all known Celtic languages, and a descendant of Proto-Indo-European. It is not attested in writing but has been partly Linguistic reconstruction, reconstructed throu ...
or Proto-Italic populations who spread from Central Europe into western Europe after Yamnaya migrations into the Danube Valley, while
Proto-Germanic Proto-Germanic (abbreviated PGmc; also called Common Germanic) is the linguistic reconstruction, reconstructed proto-language of the Germanic languages, Germanic branch of the Indo-European languages. Proto-Germanic eventually developed from ...
and
Proto-Balto-Slavic Proto-Balto-Slavic (PBS or PBSl) is a reconstructed hypothetical proto-language descending from Proto-Indo-European (PIE). From Proto-Balto-Slavic, the later Balto-Slavic languages are thought to have developed, composed of the Baltic and Sla ...
may have developed east of the
Carpathian Mountains The Carpathian Mountains or Carpathians () are a range of mountains forming an arc across Central Europe and Southeast Europe. Roughly long, it is the third-longest European mountain range after the Ural Mountains, Urals at and the Scandinav ...
, in present-day
Ukraine Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the List of European countries by area, second-largest country in Europe after Russia, which Russia–Ukraine border, borders it to the east and northeast. Ukraine also borders Belarus to the nor ...
, moving north and spreading with the Corded Ware culture in Middle Europe (third millennium BCE). One theory claimed that a European branch of Indo-European dialects, termed "North-west Indo-European" and associated with the Bell Beaker culture, may have been ancestral to Celtic, Italic, Germanic, and Balto-Slavic lanaguages. The Lusitanians' Celtic root, is further emphasized by research by the Max Planck Institute on the origins of Indo-European languages. One study identified one common Celtic branch of peoples and languages spanning most of Atlantic Europe, including Lusitania, at around 7,000 BC. This work contradicts previous theories that excluded Lusitanian from the Celtic linguistic family. In Roman times, the Roman province of
Lusitania Lusitania (; ) was an ancient Iberian Roman province encompassing most of modern-day Portugal (south of the Douro River) and a large portion of western Spain (the present Extremadura and Province of Salamanca). Romans named the region after th ...
was extended north of the areas occupied by the Lusitanians to include the territories of
Asturias Asturias (; ; ) officially the Principality of Asturias, is an autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community in northwest Spain. It is coextensive with the provinces of Spain, province of Asturias and contains some of the territory t ...
and Gallaecia, but these were soon ceded to the jurisdiction of the ''Provincia Tarraconensis'' in the north, while the south remained the ''Provincia Lusitania et Vettones''. After this, Lusitania's northern border was along the Douro river, while its eastern border passed through ''Salmantica'' and ''Caesarobriga'' to the ''Anas'' ( Guadiana) river.


Other Pre-Roman groups

As the Lusitanians fought the Romans, the name Lusitania was adopted by the Gallaeci, tribes living north of the Douro, and other surrounding tribes, eventually spreading as a label to the nearby peoples fighting Roman rule in western Iberia. This led the Romans to name their original province in the area, which initially covered the entire western side of the Iberian peninsula, Lusitania.


Romanization

Rome conquered the peninsula during the 2nd and 1st centuries B.C. from
Carthage Carthage was an ancient city in Northern Africa, on the eastern side of the Lake of Tunis in what is now Tunisia. Carthage was one of the most important trading hubs of the Ancient Mediterranean and one of the most affluent cities of the classic ...
during the
Punic Wars The Punic Wars were a series of wars fought between the Roman Republic and the Ancient Carthage, Carthaginian Empire during the period 264 to 146BC. Three such wars took place, involving a total of forty-three years of warfare on both land and ...
. After 193 B.C., the Lusitanians fought Rome's expansion peninsula following the defeat and occupation of
Carthage Carthage was an ancient city in Northern Africa, on the eastern side of the Lake of Tunis in what is now Tunisia. Carthage was one of the most important trading hubs of the Ancient Mediterranean and one of the most affluent cities of the classic ...
in North Africa. They fought for years, repeatedly defeating the Roman invaders. In the end they were punished by
Praetor ''Praetor'' ( , ), also ''pretor'', was the title granted by the government of ancient Rome to a man acting in one of two official capacities: (i) the commander of an army, and (ii) as an elected ''magistratus'' (magistrate), assigned to disch ...
Servius Galba in 150 B.C. He killed 9,000 Lusitanians and later sold 20,000 more as
slaves Slavery is the ownership of a person as property, especially in regards to their labour. Slavery typically involves compulsory work, with the slave's location of work and residence dictated by the party that holds them in bondage. Enslavemen ...
to the Roman provinces in
Gaul Gaul () was a region of Western Europe first clearly described by the Roman people, Romans, encompassing present-day France, Belgium, Luxembourg, and parts of Switzerland, the Netherlands, Germany, and Northern Italy. It covered an area of . Ac ...
(modern France). Three years later (147 B.C.),
Viriathus Viriathus (also spelled Viriatus; known as Viriato in Portuguese language, Portuguese and Spanish language, Spanish; died 139 Anno Domini, BC) was the most important leader of the Lusitanians, Lusitanian people that resisted Roman Republic, Roma ...
became the leader of the Lusitanians and attacked Roman rule in Lusitania and beyond. He commanded a confederation of Celtic tribes and prevented Roman expansion with guerrilla warfare. In 139 B.C. Viriathus was betrayed and killed in his sleep by his companions (emissaries to the Romans), Audax, Ditalcus and Minurus, bribed by Marcus Popillius Laenas. However, when Audax, Ditalcus and Minurus returned to receive their reward, Consul Quintus Servilius Caepio ordered their execution, declaring, ''"''Rome does not pay traitors''"''.
Viriathus Viriathus (also spelled Viriatus; known as Viriato in Portuguese language, Portuguese and Spanish language, Spanish; died 139 Anno Domini, BC) was the most important leader of the Lusitanians, Lusitanian people that resisted Roman Republic, Roma ...
was the first Portuguese ' national hero' . After Viriathus' rule, the celticized Lusitanians largely adopted
romanized In linguistics, romanization is the conversion of text from a different writing system to the Roman (Latin) script, or a system for doing so. Methods of romanization include transliteration, for representing written text, and transcription, ...
culture and the
Latin Latin ( or ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken by the Latins (Italic tribe), Latins in Latium (now known as Lazio), the lower Tiber area aroun ...
language. Lusitanian inhabitants, following the rest of the Roman-Iberian peninsula, eventually gained the status of " Citizens of Rome". Many saints emerged from the territory. These include Saint Engrácia, Saint Quitéria, and Saint Marina of Aguas Santas. The Romans impacted the population, both genetically and culturally; the
Portuguese language Portuguese ( or ) is a Western Romance language of the Indo-European language family originating from the Iberian Peninsula of Europe. It is the official language of Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal and São Tom ...
derives mostly from
Latin Latin ( or ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken by the Latins (Italic tribe), Latins in Latium (now known as Lazio), the lower Tiber area aroun ...
, mostly a later evolution of the Roman language after the fall of the
Western Roman Empire In modern historiography, the Western Roman Empire was the western provinces of the Roman Empire, collectively, during any period in which they were administered separately from the eastern provinces by a separate, independent imperial court. ...
. According to Mario Pei, the phonetic distance found between Portuguese and Latin stands at 31%. Roman domination lasted from the 2nd century BC to the 5th century AD.


Middle Ages

After the Romans,
Germanic peoples The Germanic peoples were tribal groups who lived in Northern Europe in Classical antiquity and the Early Middle Ages. In modern scholarship, they typically include not only the Roman-era ''Germani'' who lived in both ''Germania'' and parts of ...
, namely the
Suebi file:1st century Germani.png, 300px, The approximate positions of some Germanic peoples reported by Graeco-Roman authors in the 1st century. Suebian peoples in red, and other Irminones in purple. The Suebi (also spelled Suavi, Suevi or Suebians ...
, the Buri, and the
Visigoths The Visigoths (; ) were a Germanic people united under the rule of a king and living within the Roman Empire during late antiquity. The Visigoths first appeared in the Balkans, as a Roman-allied Barbarian kingdoms, barbarian military group unite ...
(an estimated 2–3% of the population), ruled the peninsula for centuries and assimilated into the local population. Some of the
Vandals The Vandals were a Germanic people who were first reported in the written records as inhabitants of what is now Poland, during the period of the Roman Empire. Much later, in the fifth century, a group of Vandals led by kings established Vand ...
( Silingi and
Hasdingi The Hasdingi were one of the Vandal peoples of the Roman era. The Vandals were Germanic peoples, who are believed to have spoken an East Germanic language, and were first reported during the first centuries of the Roman empire in the area which i ...
) and
Alans The Alans () were an ancient and medieval Iranian peoples, Iranic Eurasian nomads, nomadic pastoral people who migrated to what is today North Caucasus – while some continued on to Europe and later North Africa. They are generally regarded ...
lingered. The Suebians were the most numerous Germanic tribes. Portugal and Galicia, (along with
Catalonia Catalonia is an autonomous community of Spain, designated as a ''nationalities and regions of Spain, nationality'' by its Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia of 2006, Statute of Autonomy. Most of its territory (except the Val d'Aran) is situate ...
which was part of the Frankish Kingdom), are the regions with the highest ratios of Germanic Y-DNA. Other influences include small
Viking Vikings were seafaring people originally from Scandinavia (present-day Denmark, Norway, and Sweden), who from the late 8th to the late 11th centuries raided, pirated, traded, and settled throughout parts of Europe.Roesdahl, pp. 9 ...
settlements between the 9th and 11th centuries, made by
Norsemen The Norsemen (or Northmen) were a cultural group in the Early Middle Ages, originating among speakers of Old Norse in Scandinavia. During the late eighth century, Scandinavians embarked on a Viking expansion, large-scale expansion in all direc ...
who raided coastal areas mainly in
Douro The Douro (, , , ; ; ) is the largest river of the Iberian Peninsula by discharge. It rises near Duruelo de la Sierra in the Spanish Soria Province, province of Soria, meanders briefly south, then flows generally west through the northern par ...
and Minho. The
Moors The term Moor is an Endonym and exonym, exonym used in European languages to designate the Muslims, Muslim populations of North Africa (the Maghreb) and the Iberian Peninsula (particularly al-Andalus) during the Middle Ages. Moors are not a s ...
occupied what is now Portugal from the 8th century until the
Reconquista The ''Reconquista'' (Spanish language, Spanish and Portuguese language, Portuguese for ) or the fall of al-Andalus was a series of military and cultural campaigns that European Christian Reconquista#Northern Christian realms, kingdoms waged ag ...
movement expelled them in 1249. Some 2.000 of their population, mainly
Berbers Berbers, or the Berber peoples, also known as Amazigh or Imazighen, are a diverse grouping of distinct ethnic groups indigenous to North Africa who predate the arrival of Arab migrations to the Maghreb, Arabs in the Maghreb. Their main connec ...
and Christian Jews became New Christians (''Cristãos novos''); some descendants of these people are still identifiable by their new
surnames In many societies, a surname, family name, or last name is the mostly hereditary portion of one's personal name that indicates one's family. It is typically combined with a given name to form the full name of a person, although several giv ...
. Several genetic studies, including the most comprehensive genome-wide studies published on historical and modern populations of the
Iberian Peninsula The Iberian Peninsula ( ), also known as Iberia, is a peninsula in south-western Europe. Mostly separated from the rest of the European landmass by the Pyrenees, it includes the territories of peninsular Spain and Continental Portugal, comprisin ...
, conclude that the Moorish occupation left few to no
Jewish Jews (, , ), or the Jewish people, are an ethnoreligious group and nation, originating from the Israelites of History of ancient Israel and Judah, ancient Israel and Judah. They also traditionally adhere to Judaism. Jewish ethnicity, rel ...
,
Arab Arabs (,  , ; , , ) are an ethnic group mainly inhabiting the Arab world in West Asia and North Africa. A significant Arab diaspora is present in various parts of the world. Arabs have been in the Fertile Crescent for thousands of years ...
and
Berber Berber or Berbers may refer to: Ethnic group * Berbers, an ethnic group native to Northern Africa * Berber languages, a family of Afro-Asiatic languages Places * Berber, Sudan, a town on the Nile People with the surname * Ady Berber (1913–196 ...
genetic influences throughout Iberia, with higher incidence in the south and west, and ower incidence in the northeast, and almost none in Basque Country. Following the end of the Reconquista and the Conquest of Faro, religious and ethnic minorities such as the so-called "new Christians" or the "''Ciganos''" ( Roma gypsies) later suffered persecution from the state and the
Inquisition The Inquisition was a Catholic Inquisitorial system#History, judicial procedure where the Ecclesiastical court, ecclesiastical judges could initiate, investigate and try cases in their jurisdiction. Popularly it became the name for various med ...
. As a consequence, many were expelled, condemned, and subjected to auto-da-fé, or fled the country, creating a
Jewish diaspora The Jewish diaspora ( ), alternatively the dispersion ( ) or the exile ( ; ), consists of Jews who reside outside of the Land of Israel. Historically, it refers to the expansive scattering of the Israelites out of their homeland in the Southe ...
in the
Netherlands , Terminology of the Low Countries, informally Holland, is a country in Northwestern Europe, with Caribbean Netherlands, overseas territories in the Caribbean. It is the largest of the four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Nether ...
,
England England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...
, US,
Brazil Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the largest country in South America. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by area, fifth-largest country by area and the List of countries and dependencies by population ...
,
Balkans The Balkans ( , ), corresponding partially with the Balkan Peninsula, is a geographical area in southeastern Europe with various geographical and historical definitions. The region takes its name from the Balkan Mountains that stretch throug ...
, and beyond.


Portuguese Nation (868-)

The political origin of the Portuguese state is in the founding of County of Portugal in 868 (; in period documents the name used was Portugalia). It was the first time that a cohesive nationalism emerged there, as even during the Roman Era, the indigenous populations were from diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds. Although the country began as a county, after the Battle of São Mamede on 24 June 1128 Portugal was officially recognised as a kingdom via the Treaty of Zamora and the
papal bull A papal bull is a type of public decree, letters patent, or charter issued by the pope of the Catholic Church. It is named after the leaden Seal (emblem), seal (''bulla (seal), bulla'') traditionally appended to authenticate it. History Papal ...
Manifestis Probatum of
Pope Alexander III Pope Alexander III (c. 1100/1105 – 30 August 1181), born Roland (), was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 7 September 1159 until his death in 1181. A native of Siena, Alexander became pope after a Papal election, ...
. The establishment of the Portuguese state in the 12th century led the Portuguese to group together as a nation. A subsequent turning point in Portuguese nationalism was the Battle of Aljubarrota in 1385, linked to Brites de Almeida, thereby putting an end to Castilian ambitions to take over the Portuguese throne.


Genetic comparisons

The Portuguese share some DNA with the
Basques The Basques ( or ; ; ; ) are a Southwestern European ethnic group, characterised by the Basque language, a Basque culture, common culture and shared genetic ancestry to the ancient Vascones and Aquitanians. Basques are indigenous peoples, ...
. The results of the present HLA study in Portuguese populations show that they have features in common with Basques and some
Madrid Madrid ( ; ) is the capital and List of largest cities in Spain, most populous municipality of Spain. It has almost 3.5 million inhabitants and a Madrid metropolitan area, metropolitan area population of approximately 7 million. It i ...
-area
Spaniards Spaniards, or Spanish people, are a Romance-speaking ethnic group native to the Iberian Peninsula, primarily associated with the modern nation-state of Spain. Genetically and ethnolinguistically, Spaniards belong to the broader Southern a ...
: a high frequency of the HLA- haplotypes A29-B44-DR7 (ancient Western Europeans) and A1-B8-DR3 are common characteristics. Many Portuguese and Basques do not show the Mediterranean A33-B14-DR1
haplotype A haplotype (haploid genotype) is a group of alleles in an organism that are inherited together from a single parent. Many organisms contain genetic material (DNA) which is inherited from two parents. Normally these organisms have their DNA orga ...
, confirming a lower admixture with Mediterraneans. The Portuguese have one unique characteristic: a high frequency of HLA-A25-B18-DR15 and A26-B38-DR13, which may reflect a founder effect from ancient Portuguese, i.e., Oestriminis and Cynetes. According to an early genetic study, the Portuguese are a relatively distinct population according to HLA data, as they have a high frequency of the HLA-A25-B18-DR15 and A26-B38-DR13 genes, the latter is a unique Portuguese marker. In Europe, the A25-B18-DR15 gene is found only in Portugal; it also observed in some North Americans and in
Brazilians Brazilians (, ) are the citizens of Brazil. A Brazilian can also be a person born abroad to a Brazilian parent or legal guardian as well as a person who acquired Brazilian nationality law, Brazilian citizenship. Brazil is a multiethnic society, ...
(very likely of Portuguese ancestry). The pan-European haplotype A1-B8-DR3 and the western-European haplotype A29-B44-DR7 are shared by Portuguese, Basques, and Spaniards. The latter is also common in Irish, southern English, and western French populations. Men from mainland Portugal, the Azores and
Madeira Madeira ( ; ), officially the Autonomous Region of Madeira (), is an autonomous Regions of Portugal, autonomous region of Portugal. It is an archipelago situated in the North Atlantic Ocean, in the region of Macaronesia, just under north of ...
belonged to 78–83% of the "Western European" haplogroup R1b, and Mediterranean J and E3b. The comparative table shows statistics by haplogroups of Portuguese men with men of European countries, and communities. Culturally and linguistically, the Portuguese are close to
Galicians Galicians ( or ''pobo galego''; ) are an ethnic group primarily residing in Galicia, northwest Iberian Peninsula. Historical emigration resulted in populations in other parts of Spain, Europe, and the Americas. Galicians possess distinct cu ...
. The similarities among the two groups are pronounced. Galician and Portuguese may be the same language (''see also: Reintegrationism'').


Demography


Demographics

Around 9.15 million (87%) Portuguese-born people live in the country, out of a total population of 10.467 million. About 782,000 foreigners live legally in the country (7%), thus approximately 9.685 million people living in Portugal hold Portuguese citizenship or legal residency. The median age stood at 46.8 years (versus 44.4 in the EU as a whole) as of 2023. People aged 65 or more accounted for 23%. The total fertility rate is 1.35 against the EU average of 1.53. Life expectancy at birth is 83. Due to the high percentage of senior citizens, the crude mortality rate (12%) is well in excess of the crude birth rate (8%). Portugal boasts one of the world's lowest infant mortality rates (3%), down from 9% in 1961. The average age of women at first childbirth was at 30 years, in contrast to the EU average of 28. About 67% live in urban settings, concentrated along the coast and in the
Lisbon metropolitan area The Lisbon Metropolitan Area (; abbreviated as AML) is a metropolitan areas in Portugal, metropolitan area in Portugal centered on Lisbon, the capital and largest city of the country. The metropolitan area, covering 17 List of cities in Portuga ...
, which hosts 2,883,645, or 28%. About 65% of the national population, or 6,760,989 people, live in the 56 municipalities with more than 50,000 inhabitants, about 18% of all national municipalities. The country hosts 122 municipalities, about 40% of all national municipalities, with a population of 10,000 inhabitants or less, totaling 678,855 inhabitants, about 7% of the national population.


Native minority languages

The main language spoken as first language is Portuguese. Other autochthonous languages include: * ''Caló'' (''see also Caló language''), the language of the Portuguese-Romani community. Some 52,000 Romani people live in Portugal. * ''Mirandês'' (''see also
Mirandese language Mirandese ( ) is an Asturleonese language, Asturleonese language or variety that is sparsely spoken in a small area of northeastern Portugal in eastern Terra de Miranda, Tierra de Miranda (made up of the municipalities of Miranda do Douro, Mi ...
'') is an officially recognised language. It enjoys special protection in the areas of Miranda do Douro, Vimioso, and Mogadouro. About 15,000 people speak the language (0.14%). The language is part of the Asturian-Leonese linguistic group which includes the Asturian and Leonese minority languages of Northwestern Spain. All of its speakers are bilingual and speak Portuguese:
code-switching In linguistics, code-switching or language alternation occurs when a speaker alternates between two or more languages, or language varieties, in the context of a single conversation or situation. These alternations are generally intended to ...
is common. * ''Barranquenhu (see also Barranquenho)'' is spoken in the town of Barrancos (in the border between
Extremadura Extremadura ( ; ; ; ; Fala language, Fala: ''Extremaúra'') is a landlocked autonomous communities in Spain, autonomous community of Spain. Its capital city is Mérida, Spain, Mérida, and its largest city is Badajoz. Located in the central- ...
and
Andalusia Andalusia ( , ; , ) is the southernmost autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community in Peninsular Spain, located in the south of the Iberian Peninsula, in southwestern Europe. It is the most populous and the second-largest autonomou ...
, in Spain). Some 3,000 speak the language (0.03%). It is a Portuquese dialect influenced by Extremaduran and, later, southern Spanish. * Minderico – a sociolect or
argot A cant is the jargon or language of a group, often employed to exclude or mislead people outside the group.McArthur, T. (ed.) ''The Oxford Companion to the English Language'' (1992) Oxford University Press It may also be called a cryptolect, argo ...
spoken in Minde, which is practically
extinct Extinction is the termination of an organism by the death of its Endling, last member. A taxon may become Functional extinction, functionally extinct before the death of its last member if it loses the capacity to Reproduction, reproduce and ...
(150 remaining speakers). *
Portuguese Sign Language Portuguese Sign language () is a sign language used mainly by deaf people in Portugal. It is recognized in the present Constitution of Portugal. It was significantly influenced by Swedish Sign Language, through a deaf education, school for the De ...
, the official language for the deaf community. About 30,000 deaf people (0.29%) use the language. The first teacher of deaf-mutes in France was Portuguese-Jew Jacob Rodrigues Pereira.


Ethnic minorities

People from Portugal's former colonies, particularly Brazil, Portuguese Africa (especially Afro-Portuguese),
Macau Macau or Macao is a special administrative regions of China, special administrative region of the People's Republic of China (PRC). With a population of about people and a land area of , it is the most List of countries and dependencies by p ...
, Portuguese India and Timor-Leste, have been migrating to Portugal since the 1900s. Many
Slavs The Slavs or Slavic people are groups of people who speak Slavic languages. Slavs are geographically distributed throughout the northern parts of Eurasia; they predominantly inhabit Central Europe, Eastern Europe, Southeastern Europe, and ...
, especially
Ukrainians Ukrainians (, ) are an East Slavs, East Slavic ethnic group native to Ukraine. Their native tongue is Ukrainian language, Ukrainian, and the majority adhere to Eastern Orthodox Church, Eastern Orthodoxy, forming the List of contemporary eth ...
(now one of the biggest ethnic minorities) and
Russians Russians ( ) are an East Slavs, East Slavic ethnic group native to Eastern Europe. Their mother tongue is Russian language, Russian, the most spoken Slavic languages, Slavic language. The majority of Russians adhere to Eastern Orthodox Church ...
, as well as
Moldovans Moldovans, sometimes referred to as Moldavians (, , ), are an ethnic group native to Moldova, who mostly speak the Romanian language, also referred to locally as Moldovan language, Moldovan. Moldovans form significant communities in Romania, It ...
,
Romanians Romanians (, ; dated Endonym and exonym, exonym ''Vlachs'') are a Romance languages, Romance-speaking ethnic group and nation native to Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe. Sharing a Culture of Romania, ...
,
Bulgarians Bulgarians (, ) are a nation and South Slavs, South Slavic ethnic group native to Bulgaria and its neighbouring region, who share a common Bulgarian ancestry, culture, history and language. They form the majority of the population in Bulgaria, ...
and
Georgians Georgians, or Kartvelians (; ka, ქართველები, tr, ), are a nation and Peoples of the Caucasus, Caucasian ethnic group native to present-day Georgia (country), Georgia and surrounding areas historically associated with the Ge ...
, have been migrating to Portugal since the late 20th century. A wave of Ukrainians arrived in Portugal after the
Russian invasion of Ukraine On 24 February 2022, , starting the largest and deadliest war in Europe since World War II, in a major escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian War, conflict between the two countries which began in 2014. The fighting has caused hundreds of thou ...
, approximately 60,000, making them the second largest migrant community after Brazilians. A Chinese minority of
Macau Macau or Macao is a special administrative regions of China, special administrative region of the People's Republic of China (PRC). With a population of about people and a land area of , it is the most List of countries and dependencies by p ...
Cantonese Cantonese is the traditional prestige variety of Yue Chinese, a Sinitic language belonging to the Sino-Tibetan language family. It originated in the city of Guangzhou (formerly known as Canton) and its surrounding Pearl River Delta. While th ...
origin as well as of Chinese mainlanders are present. Other relevant Asian communities include Indians, Nepalis, Bangladeshis and Pakistanis while, dealing with
Latin Americans Latin Americans (; ) are the citizens of Latin American countries (or people with cultural, ancestral or national origins in Latin America). Latin American countries and their diasporas are multi-ethnic and multi-racial. Latin Americans are ...
, Venezuelans – numbering about 27,700 – are present. A small minority of Romani live–about 52,000. Portugal is home to other EU and EEA/ EFTA nationals (French, Germans, Dutch, Swedes, Spaniards). The UK and France represented the largest senior resident communities as of 2019. They are part of a larger expatriate community including
Germans Germans (, ) are the natives or inhabitants of Germany, or sometimes more broadly any people who are of German descent or native speakers of the German language. The Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany, constitution of Germany, imple ...
, Dutch,
Belgians Belgians ( ; ; ) are people identified with the Kingdom of Belgium, a federal state in Western Europe. As Belgium is a multinational state, this connection may be residential, legal, historical, or cultural rather than ethnic. The majority ...
and
Swedes Swedes (), or Swedish people, are an ethnic group native to Sweden, who share a common ancestry, Culture of Sweden, culture, History of Sweden, history, and Swedish language, language. They mostly inhabit Sweden and the other Nordic countries, ...
. Officially registered foreigners amount to 7% of the population. Descendants of immigrants are excluded (Portugal, like many European countries, does not collect data on ethnicity) and those who, regardless of place of birth or citizenship at birth, were Portuguese citizens. Some 100,000
Muslims Muslims () are people who adhere to Islam, a Monotheism, monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic tradition. They consider the Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, to be the verbatim word of the God ...
and 5,000–6,000
Jews Jews (, , ), or the Jewish people, are an ethnoreligious group and nation, originating from the Israelites of History of ancient Israel and Judah, ancient Israel and Judah. They also traditionally adhere to Judaism. Jewish ethnicity, rel ...
(mostly Sephardi such as the Belmonte Jews, and
Ashkenazi Ashkenazi Jews ( ; also known as Ashkenazic Jews or Ashkenazim) form a distinct subgroup of the Jewish diaspora, that Ethnogenesis, emerged in the Holy Roman Empire around the end of the first millennium Common era, CE. They traditionally spe ...
).Portuguese district as of January 2022 File:1st foreign nationality PT 2022.png, Largest immigrant population by district. Brazilians plus Venezuelans in
Madeira Madeira ( ; ), officially the Autonomous Region of Madeira (), is an autonomous Regions of Portugal, autonomous region of Portugal. It is an archipelago situated in the North Atlantic Ocean, in the region of Macaronesia, just under north of ...
, Britons in
Algarve The Algarve (, , ) is the southernmost NUTS statistical regions of Portugal, NUTS II region of continental Portugal. It has an area of with 467,495 permanent inhabitants and incorporates 16 municipalities (concelho, ''concelhos'' or ''município ...
and Indians in Beja File:2nd nationality PT 2022.svg, Second largest. Cape Verdeans in Lisbon Area, Italians in
Porto Porto (), also known in English language, English as Oporto, is the List of cities in Portugal, second largest city in Portugal, after Lisbon. It is the capital of the Porto District and one of the Iberian Peninsula's major urban areas. Porto c ...
with Britons and
Romanians Romanians (, ; dated Endonym and exonym, exonym ''Vlachs'') are a Romance languages, Romance-speaking ethnic group and nation native to Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe. Sharing a Culture of Romania, ...
in the interior. File:3rd nationality PT 2022.svg, Third largest. US-citizens in the
Azores The Azores ( , , ; , ), officially the Autonomous Region of the Azores (), is one of the two autonomous regions of Portugal (along with Madeira). It is an archipelago composed of nine volcanic islands in the Macaronesia region of the North Atl ...
, Chinese in the north, Africans in
Lisbon metropolitan area The Lisbon Metropolitan Area (; abbreviated as AML) is a metropolitan areas in Portugal, metropolitan area in Portugal centered on Lisbon, the capital and largest city of the country. The metropolitan area, covering 17 List of cities in Portuga ...
. File:4th foreign nationality PT 2022.svg, Fourth largest. Angolans and Eastern Europeans (such as
Ukrainians Ukrainians (, ) are an East Slavs, East Slavic ethnic group native to Ukraine. Their native tongue is Ukrainian language, Ukrainian, and the majority adhere to Eastern Orthodox Church, Eastern Orthodoxy, forming the List of contemporary eth ...
in Santarém) present nationwide File:5th foreign nationality PT 2022.svg, Fifth largest. Chinese near the Spanish border and Europeans along the coast.


Surnames

A Portuguese surname is typically composed of a variable number of family names (rarely one, often two or three or more). The first additional names are usually the mother's surname(s) and the father's family surname(s). For practicality, usually only the final surname ( excluding prepositions) is used in greetings. Portugal's adaptable naming system complies with the country's legal framework. The law mandates that a child must be given at least one personal name and one surname from a parent. The limit is two personal names and four surnames. In pre-Roman times, inhabitants had either a single name or a name followed by a patronym, which reflected their ethnicity or their tribe/region. These names could be Celtic, Lusitanian, Iberian, or Conii. However, the Roman onomastic system began to slowly gain popularity after the first century AD. This system involved adopting a Roman name (''tria nomina''), which consisted of a ''praenomen'' (given name), ''nomen'' (gentile), and ''
cognomen A ''cognomen'' (; : ''cognomina''; from ''co-'' "together with" and ''(g)nomen'' "name") was the third name of a citizen of ancient Rome, under Roman naming conventions. Initially, it was a nickname, but lost that purpose when it became hereditar ...
''. Today, most Portuguese surnames have a Germanic patronymic (such as Henriques, Pires, Rodrigues, Lopes, Nunes, Mendes, Fernandes etc. where the ending -es means "son of"), locative ( Gouveia, Guimarães,
Lima Lima ( ; ), founded in 1535 as the Ciudad de los Reyes (, Spanish for "City of Biblical Magi, Kings"), is the capital and largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón River, Chillón, Rímac River, Rímac and Lurín Rive ...
, Maia, Mascarenhas, Serpa, Montes, Fonseca, Barroso), religious origin ( Cruz, Reis, De Jesus, Moysés, Nascimento), occupational ( Carpinteiro (carpenter), Malheiro (wool-maker, thresher), Jardineiro (gardener), or derived from physical appearance ( Branco (white), Trigueiro (brown, tanned), Louraço (blond). Toponymic, locative, and religion-derived surnames are often preceded by the preposition 'of' in its varying forms: (''De, de''), (''Do, do''- masculine), (''Da, da''- feminine) or 'of the' (''dos, Dos, das, Das'' – plural) such as ''De Carvalho'', ''Da Silva'', ''de Gouveia'', ''Da Costa'', ''da Maia'', ''do Nascimento'', ''dos Santos'', ''das Mercês''. If the preposition is followed by a vowel, sometimes apostrophes are used in surnames (or stage names) such as D'Oliveira, d'Abranches, d'Eça. In some previous Asian colonies (India, Malaysia, East Timor) alternative spellings are used such as 'D'Souza, Desouza, De Cunha, Ferrao, Dessais, Balsemao, Conceicao, Gurjao, Mathias, Thomaz. The majority of Portuguese have multiple surnames. Note: Percentages total > 100 because of individuals with multiple surnames.


Diaspora

Portugal was traditionally a land of emigration: according to estimates, more than one hundred million people could have recognizable Portuguese ancestors, with Portuguese diasporas found in diverse regions in all
continent A continent is any of several large geographical regions. Continents are generally identified by convention (norm), convention rather than any strict criteria. A continent could be a single large landmass, a part of a very large landmass, as ...
s. However, poor sources for statistics dating hundreds of years ago complicate any estimates. Explorations in the 15th and 16th centuries and colonial expansion encouraged worldwide emigration to South Asia, the Americas, Macau, East-Timor,
Malaysia Malaysia is a country in Southeast Asia. Featuring the Tanjung Piai, southernmost point of continental Eurasia, it is a federation, federal constitutional monarchy consisting of States and federal territories of Malaysia, 13 states and thre ...
,
Indonesia Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania, between the Indian Ocean, Indian and Pacific Ocean, Pacific oceans. Comprising over List of islands of Indonesia, 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, ...
,
Myanmar Myanmar, officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar; and also referred to as Burma (the official English name until 1989), is a country in northwest Southeast Asia. It is the largest country by area in Mainland Southeast Asia and has ...
and Africa, particularly to former colonies (''see Luso-Africans''). Portuguese emigration contributed to the settlement of the Atlantic islands, Brazil (where the majority of the population is of Portuguese descent), Goa Catholic Goans, Portuguese Burghers in Sri Lanka, in Malacca the Kristang and in Macau the Macaense. The
Portuguese Empire The Portuguese Empire was a colonial empire that existed between 1415 and 1999. In conjunction with the Spanish Empire, it ushered in the European Age of Discovery. It achieved a global scale, controlling vast portions of the Americas, Africa ...
, which lasted nearly 600 years, ended when
Macau Macau or Macao is a special administrative regions of China, special administrative region of the People's Republic of China (PRC). With a population of about people and a land area of , it is the most List of countries and dependencies by p ...
returned to
China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. With population of China, a population exceeding 1.4 billion, it is the list of countries by population (United Nations), second-most populous country after ...
in 1999. During the period, millions left Portugal. Inter-ethnic marriage and cultural influences, produced dialects based on Portuguese in the former colonies (e.g. Forro) and in other countries (e.g.
Papiamentu Papiamento () or Papiamentu (; ) is a Portuguese-based creole language spoken in the Dutch Caribbean. It is the most widely spoken language on Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao (ABC islands (Leeward Antilles), ABC Islands). The language, spelled ...
). In addition, a considerable segment of the diaspora is due to recent mass emigration, mainly for economic reasons. Between 1886 and 1966 Portugal had more emigrants than any Western European country save Ireland. Nearly two million left to live mainly in Brazil, but also significant numbers settled in the US, Canada, and the
Caribbean The Caribbean ( , ; ; ; ) is a region in the middle of the Americas centered around the Caribbean Sea in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, mostly overlapping with the West Indies. Bordered by North America to the north, Central America ...
. About 1.2 million Brazilian citizens are native Portuguese. By 1989 some 4,000,000 Portuguese citizens were living abroad, mainly in France, Germany, Brazil, South Africa, Canada,
Venezuela Venezuela, officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, is a country on the northern coast of South America, consisting of a continental landmass and many Federal Dependencies of Venezuela, islands and islets in the Caribbean Sea. It com ...
, and the US. Estimates from 2021 are that as much as 5 million Portuguese citizens (not descendants or citizens registered within the Portuguese consular authorities) may be living abroad. Within Europe, many Portuguese live in
Francophone The Francophonie or Francophone world is the whole body of people and organisations around the world who use the French language regularly for private or public purposes. The term was coined by Onésime Reclus in 1880 and became important a ...
countries like France,
Luxembourg Luxembourg, officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, is a landlocked country in Western Europe. It is bordered by Belgium to the west and north, Germany to the east, and France on the south. Its capital and most populous city, Luxembour ...
and Switzerland, spurred in part by the linguistic proximity of Portuguese and French. In fact, according to data from the General Directorate of Consular Affairs and Portuguese Communities of the Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the countries with the largest Portuguese communities are, in ascending order, France, the UK and Switzerland.


Sephardi Jews

Descendants of Portuguese
Sephardi Jews Sephardic Jews, also known as Sephardi Jews or Sephardim, and rarely as Iberian Peninsular Jews, are a Jewish diaspora population associated with the historic Jewish communities of the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal) and their descendant ...
established many communities around the world, including in significant numbers in Israel, the
Netherlands , Terminology of the Low Countries, informally Holland, is a country in Northwestern Europe, with Caribbean Netherlands, overseas territories in the Caribbean. It is the largest of the four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Nether ...
, the United States, France,
Venezuela Venezuela, officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, is a country on the northern coast of South America, consisting of a continental landmass and many Federal Dependencies of Venezuela, islands and islets in the Caribbean Sea. It com ...
, Brazil and
Turkey Turkey, officially the Republic of Türkiye, is a country mainly located in Anatolia in West Asia, with a relatively small part called East Thrace in Southeast Europe. It borders the Black Sea to the north; Georgia (country), Georgia, Armen ...
.


Expulsion

The Portuguese Jewish diaspora was mainly a result of the expulsion decree issued in 1496 by the Portuguese monarchy, which targeted Portuguese-Jews. This decree forced many Jews to either convert to Christianity (leading to the emergence of '' Cristão-novos'' and of '' Crypto-Judaism'' practices) or to leave, leading Portuguese Jews to settle throughout Europe and Brazil. In Brazil many of the early colonists were originally Sephardi Jews who, following their conversion, were known as
New Christians New Christian (; ; ; ; ; ) was a socio-religious designation and legal distinction referring to the population of former Jews, Jewish and Muslims, Muslim Conversion to Christianity, converts to Christianity in the Spanish Empire, Spanish and Po ...
''(see Anusim)''.


Emigration

Up to 10,000 Portuguese-Jews might have migrated to France from 1497; this phenomenon remained noticeable until the 1600s, when the
Netherlands , Terminology of the Low Countries, informally Holland, is a country in Northwestern Europe, with Caribbean Netherlands, overseas territories in the Caribbean. It is the largest of the four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Nether ...
became a favorite choice. The Netherlands and England became top destinations for these emigrants because those places had no
Inquisition The Inquisition was a Catholic Inquisitorial system#History, judicial procedure where the Ecclesiastical court, ecclesiastical judges could initiate, investigate and try cases in their jurisdiction. Popularly it became the name for various med ...
. Adding to the economical and cultural aspects of their host countries, Portuguese-Jews established institutions that continue, such as the Esnoga, in
Amsterdam Amsterdam ( , ; ; ) is the capital of the Netherlands, capital and Municipalities of the Netherlands, largest city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It has a population of 933,680 in June 2024 within the city proper, 1,457,018 in the City Re ...
, Congregation Shearith Israel (America's oldest Jewish congregation), Bevis Marks Synagogue (the UK's oldest synagogue) – the Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue of Montreal – (Canada's oldest synagogue) – ,
Mount Sinai Mount Sinai, also known as Jabal Musa (), is a mountain on the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt. It is one of several locations claimed to be the Mount Sinai (Bible), biblical Mount Sinai, the place where, according to the sacred scriptures of the thre ...
Hospital, City Lights Booksellers, and David Cardozo Academy in
Jerusalem Jerusalem is a city in the Southern Levant, on a plateau in the Judaean Mountains between the Mediterranean Sea, Mediterranean and the Dead Sea. It is one of the List of oldest continuously inhabited cities, oldest cities in the world, and ...
. Smaller communities thrived in the
Balkans The Balkans ( , ), corresponding partially with the Balkan Peninsula, is a geographical area in southeastern Europe with various geographical and historical definitions. The region takes its name from the Balkan Mountains that stretch throug ...
, Italy, the
Ottoman Empire The Ottoman Empire (), also called the Turkish Empire, was an empire, imperial realm that controlled much of Southeast Europe, West Asia, and North Africa from the 14th to early 20th centuries; it also controlled parts of southeastern Centr ...
and Germany, especially in
Hamburg Hamburg (, ; ), officially the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg,. is the List of cities in Germany by population, second-largest city in Germany after Berlin and List of cities in the European Union by population within city limits, 7th-lar ...
(''see Elijah Aboab Cardoso Joan d'Acosta and Samuel ben Abraham Aboab''). Portuguese-Jews were responsible for the appearance of
Papiamentu Papiamento () or Papiamentu (; ) is a Portuguese-based creole language spoken in the Dutch Caribbean. It is the most widely spoken language on Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao (ABC islands (Leeward Antilles), ABC Islands). The language, spelled ...
(a 300,000 strong Portuguese-based creole now the official language in
Aruba Aruba, officially the Country of Aruba, is a constituent island country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, in the southern Caribbean Sea north of the Venezuelan peninsula of Paraguaná Peninsula, Paraguaná and northwest of Curaçao. In 19 ...
,
Curaçao Curaçao, officially the Country of Curaçao, is a constituent island country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located in the southern Caribbean Sea (specifically the Dutch Caribbean region), about north of Venezuela. Curaçao includ ...
and
Bonaire Bonaire is a Caribbean island in the Leeward Antilles, and is a Caribbean Netherlands, special municipality (officially Public body (Netherlands), "public body") of the Netherlands. Its capital is the port of Kralendijk, on the west (Windward an ...
) and of
Sranan Tongo Sranan Tongo (Sranantongo, "Surinamese tongue", Sranan, Surinamese Creole) is an English-based creole language from Suriname, in South America, where it is the first or second language for 519,600 Surinamese people (approximately 80% of the popu ...
, a Portuguese-influenced, English-based creole by spoken by more than 500,000 in
Suriname Suriname, officially the Republic of Suriname, is a country in northern South America, also considered as part of the Caribbean and the West Indies. It is a developing country with a Human Development Index, high level of human development; i ...
.


Shoah

During the Shoah, nearly 4,000 Jews of Portuguese descent residing in the Netherlands lost their lives, making up the largest group of casualties with a Portuguese background. Among famous Portuguese-Jewish victims of the Shoah is painter Baruch Lopes Leão de Laguna. Although officially neutral, the Portuguese regime at that time, Estado Novo, aligned with Germany's ideology and failed to protect its citizens and other Jewish people living overseas. Despite the lack of support by the Portuguese authorities, Jews of both Portuguese and other descent were saved thanks to individuals such as Carlos Sampaio Garrido, Joaquim Carreira, José Brito Mendes and Aristides de Sousa Mendes, who alone helped 34,000 Jews


Twenty-first century

Over 500 years after the expulsion decree, in 2015 the Portuguese parliament officially acknowledged that the expulsion of its citizens of Jewish descent was wrong. The government then passed a
Law of Return The Law of Return (, ''ḥok ha-shvūt'') is an Israeli law, passed on 5 July 1950, which gives Jews, people with one or more Jewish grandparent, and their spouses the right to Aliyah, relocate to Israel and acquire Israeli nationality law, Isra ...
that aimed to address the wrongs of the Portuguese Inquisition. The law grants citizenship to any descendants of those persecuted Jews able to confirm their Sephardic Jewish ancestry and a "connection" to Portugal. Thereafter, more than 140,000 people of Sephardic descent, from 60 countries (mostly Israel and
Turkey Turkey, officially the Republic of Türkiye, is a country mainly located in Anatolia in West Asia, with a relatively small part called East Thrace in Southeast Europe. It borders the Black Sea to the north; Georgia (country), Georgia, Armen ...
) applied for Portuguese citizenship. Thereafter, foreigners with no legitimate links were granted Portuguese and thus EU citizenship, including Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich. Such abuse prompted the judiciary to review the law. Notable people of Portuguese-Jewish descent include: * Amatus Lusitanus (1511–1568): Jewish physician said to have discovered the valves in the azygos vein. * Gracia Mendes Nasi (1510–1569): Philanthropist and one of the wealthiest Jewish women of Renaissance Europe * Leonora Duarte (1610–1678): a Flemish composer and musician * Baruch Spinoza (1632–1677): Dutch philosopher of Portuguese-Jewish origin * Catherine da Costa (1679–1756): English miniaturist *
David Ricardo David Ricardo (18 April 1772 – 11 September 1823) was a British political economist, politician, and member of Parliament. He is recognized as one of the most influential classical economists, alongside figures such as Thomas Malthus, Ada ...
(1772–1823): a British political economist * Rehuel Lobatto (1797–1866): Dutch mathematician whose notable contributions include Gauss-Lobatto quadrature method and the Lobatto polynomials * Isaäc da Costa (1798–1860): a
Jewish Jews (, , ), or the Jewish people, are an ethnoreligious group and nation, originating from the Israelites of History of ancient Israel and Judah, ancient Israel and Judah. They also traditionally adhere to Judaism. Jewish ethnicity, rel ...
poet. * Pereire brothers (19th century): major figures in the development of France's finance and infrastructure * Samuel Sarphati (1813–1866): Dutch physician and
Amsterdam Amsterdam ( , ; ; ) is the capital of the Netherlands, capital and Municipalities of the Netherlands, largest city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It has a population of 933,680 in June 2024 within the city proper, 1,457,018 in the City Re ...
city planner * Solomon Nunes Carvalho (1815–1897): American painter, photographer, author and
inventor An invention is a unique or novel device, method, composition, idea, or process. An invention may be an improvement upon a machine, product, or process for increasing efficiency or lowering cost. It may also be an entirely new concept. If an ...
* Grace Aguilar (1816–1847): English novelist, poet and writer on Jewish history and religion * Camille Pissarro (1830–1903): a Danish-French Impressionist and Neo-Impressionist painter considered the "dean of the Impressionist painters" * Francis Lewis Cardozo (1836–1903): American clergyman, politician, and educator. When elected in South Carolina as Secretary of State in 1868, he was the first
African American African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from an ...
to hold a statewide office in the United States * Maud Nathan (1862–1946): American social worker, labor activist and women's suffragist *
Federigo Enriques Abramo Giulio Umberto Federigo Enriques (5 January 1871 – 14 June 1946) was an Italian mathematician, now known principally as the first to give a classification of algebraic surfaces in birational geometry, and other contributions in algebrai ...
(1871–1946): Italian mathematician, now known principally as the first to give a classification of algebraic surfaces in birational geometry, and other contributions in
algebraic geometry Algebraic geometry is a branch of mathematics which uses abstract algebraic techniques, mainly from commutative algebra, to solve geometry, geometrical problems. Classically, it studies zero of a function, zeros of multivariate polynomials; th ...
* Frieda Belinfante (1904–1995): Dutch cellist, philharmonic conductor, a prominent lesbian, and a member of the Dutch resistance during
World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
* William Leonard Pereira (1909–1985): American architect * Abraham Pais (1918–2000): Dutch-American physicist and science historian * Louisa Benson Craig (1941–2010): Burmese-born two-time beauty pageant winner and Karen rebel leader of Portuguese-Jewish descent * Alberto Portugheis (1941): Argentine pianist * Henrique Cymerman (1959): Israeli journalist * Shon Weissman (1996): Israeli footballer


Americas outside of Brazil


United States

The US established bilateral relations with Portugal when Portugal became the first
neutral country A neutral country is a sovereign state, state that is neutral towards belligerents in a specific war or holds itself as permanently neutral in all future conflicts (including avoiding entering into military alliances such as NATO, Collective Sec ...
to acknowledge the United States. Despite Portugal never attempting to colonize any territory that became part of the US, navigators such as
João Fernandes Lavrador João Fernandes Lavrador (1453–1501) () was a Portuguese explorer of the late 15th century. He was one of the first modern explorers of the Northeast coasts of North America, including the large Labrador peninsula, which was named after him ...
, Miguel Corte-Real and João Rodrigues Cabrilho are among its earliest documented European explorers. Dighton Rock, in Southeastern Massachusetts, is a marker of early Portuguese presence. Mathias de Sousa, who was potentially a Sephardic Jew of mixed African background, is believed to be the first documented Portuguese resident of colonial United States. Another Portuguese Jew, Isaac Touro, is commemorated in the name of the US' oldest synagogue, the Touro Synagogue. Portuguese started to settle in significant numbers only in the 19th century, with major migration waves occurring in the first half of the 20th century, especially from the
Azores The Azores ( , , ; , ), officially the Autonomous Region of the Azores (), is one of the two autonomous regions of Portugal (along with Madeira). It is an archipelago composed of nine volcanic islands in the Macaronesia region of the North Atl ...
. Of the 1,4 million Portuguese Americans found in the US (0.4% of its
population Population is a set of humans or other organisms in a given region or area. Governments conduct a census to quantify the resident population size within a given jurisdiction. The term is also applied to non-human animals, microorganisms, and pl ...
) the majority are originally from the Azores. The arrival of Azorean emigrants was easier because of geographic proximity and was encouraged by the Azorean Refugee Act of 1958, sponsored by then-Senator John F. Kennedy and John Pastore to help the population affected by the 1957–58, the Capelinhos volcano eruption. Moreover, the 1965 Immigration Act stated that if someone had legal or American relatives in the US who would serve as a sponsor, they could obtain the status of legal aliens. This act dramatically increased Portuguese immigration in the 1970s and 1980s.Ponta-Garça, Nelson, director. ''Portuguese in New England''. 2016. Major Portuguese communities arose in
New Jersey New Jersey is a U.S. state, state located in both the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. Located at the geographic hub of the urban area, heavily urbanized Northeas ...
(particularly in Newark), the
New England New England is a region consisting of six states in the Northeastern United States: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. It is bordered by the state of New York (state), New York to the west and by the ...
states, California and along the Gulf Coast (Louisiana).
Springfield, Illinois Springfield is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of Illinois. Its population was 114,394 at the 2020 United States census, which makes it the state's List of cities in Illinois, seventh-most populous cit ...
once hosted the largest Portuguese community in the
Midwest The Midwestern United States (also referred to as the Midwest, the Heartland or the American Midwest) is one of the four census regions defined by the United States Census Bureau. It occupies the northern central part of the United States. It ...
. In the Pacific, Hawaii (''see Portuguese immigration to Hawaii'') sports a sizable Portuguese population, encouraged by the availability of labor contracts 150 years ago. Elements of Hawaiian cuisine, such as malasadas, originate from Portuguese immigrants to Hawaii.


Canada

Canada, particularly
Ontario Ontario is the southernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Located in Central Canada, Ontario is the Population of Canada by province and territory, country's most populous province. As of the 2021 Canadian census, it ...
, Quebec and
British Columbia British Columbia is the westernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Situated in the Pacific Northwest between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains, the province has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that ...
, developed a significant Portuguese community since the 1940s. The availability of more job opportunities in Canada attracted Portuguese migrants, leading to Portuguese culture to flourish. Many Portuguese residents took the initiative to purchase homes and establish businesses. According to the 2016 Census, 482,610, or 1.4% of Canadians claimed Portuguese ancestry. Two major neighbourhoods where Portuguese are notable include the Little Portugals in
Toronto Toronto ( , locally pronounced or ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, most populous city in Canada. It is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Ontario. With a p ...
and
Montréal Montreal is the List of towns in Quebec, largest city in the Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Quebec, the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, second-largest in Canada, and the List of North American cit ...
. Montréal's Little Portugal, known as "''Petit Portugal''" in French, hosts Portuguese shops, restaurants, and cafes, and is also home to "''Parc du Portugal''" (Portugal's park), featuring vibrant murals and elements inspired by Portuguese design. The
Portuguese language Portuguese ( or ) is a Western Romance language of the Indo-European language family originating from the Iberian Peninsula of Europe. It is the official language of Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal and São Tom ...
is spoken by over 330,000 Canadians, making up around 1% of the population. Significant testimonies of the Portuguese presence in Canada include the name of one of the 10 provinces of Canada:
Newfoundland and Labrador Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada, in the country's Atlantic region. The province comprises the island of Newfoundland and the continental region of Labrador, having a total size of . As of 2025 the populatio ...
. King Henry VII coined the name "New found land" for the territory explored by Sebastian and
John Cabot John Cabot ( ; 1450 – 1499) was an Italians, Italian navigator and exploration, explorer. His 1497 voyage to the coast of North America under the commission of Henry VII of England, Henry VII, King of England is the earliest known Europe ...
. In Portuguese, the land is known as ''Terra Nova'', which translates to "new land," and is also referred to as ''Terre-Neuve'' in French, the name for the province's island region. The name Terra Nova is commonly used on the island, including in the name of Terra Nova National Park. The influence of early Portuguese exploration is also evident in the name of Labrador, which is derived from the surname of Portuguese navigator
João Fernandes Lavrador João Fernandes Lavrador (1453–1501) () was a Portuguese explorer of the late 15th century. He was one of the first modern explorers of the Northeast coasts of North America, including the large Labrador peninsula, which was named after him ...
. Other remnants of early Portuguese exploration include toponyms such as Baccalieu (from ''bacalhau'', Portuguese for codfish) and Portugal Cove. Portuguese cartographer Diogo Ribeiro is responsible for one of the earliest maps depicting the territory of modern-day Canada.


Caribbean

The first Portuguese who settled in the
Caribbean The Caribbean ( , ; ; ; ) is a region in the middle of the Americas centered around the Caribbean Sea in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, mostly overlapping with the West Indies. Bordered by North America to the north, Central America ...
were merchants or Portuguese-Jews fleeing the Portuguese Inquisition. Migrants from the 1830s came as indentured labourers, especially from
Madeira Madeira ( ; ), officially the Autonomous Region of Madeira (), is an autonomous Regions of Portugal, autonomous region of Portugal. It is an archipelago situated in the North Atlantic Ocean, in the region of Macaronesia, just under north of ...
. The 19th century migration coincided with the abolition of slavery in the British colonies. As a result, the Portuguese, along with Indians and Chinese, arrived to replace the slave labor. The Portuguese took a prominent part in shaping the population of the West Indies. Their descendants form an active minority in many countries. As part of a larger system of low-wage labour, about 2,500 Portuguese left for
Antigua and Barbuda Antigua and Barbuda is a Sovereign state, sovereign archipelagic country composed of Antigua, Barbuda, and List of islands of Antigua and Barbuda, numerous other small islands. Antigua and Barbuda has a total area of 440 km2 (170 sq mi), ...
(where, more than 1,000 people still speak the
language Language is a structured system of communication that consists of grammar and vocabulary. It is the primary means by which humans convey meaning, both in spoken and signed language, signed forms, and may also be conveyed through writing syste ...
), 30,000 to Guyana (4.3% of the population in 1891) and another 2,000 settled in
Trinidad and Tobago Trinidad and Tobago, officially the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, is the southernmost island country in the Caribbean, comprising the main islands of Trinidad and Tobago, along with several List of islands of Trinidad and Tobago, smaller i ...
between the mid-1800s and the mid-1900s. Portuguese culture survives in the enterprises established by community members. In 2016 the second international airport of the country was renamed after a Portuguese Guyanese individual. Portuguese fishermen, farmers and indentured labourers inhabited other
Caribbean The Caribbean ( , ; ; ; ) is a region in the middle of the Americas centered around the Caribbean Sea in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, mostly overlapping with the West Indies. Bordered by North America to the north, Central America ...
countries, especially
Jamaica Jamaica is an island country in the Caribbean Sea and the West Indies. At , it is the third-largest island—after Cuba and Hispaniola—of the Greater Antilles and the Caribbean. Jamaica lies about south of Cuba, west of Hispaniola (the is ...
(about 5,700 people, primarily of Portuguese-Jewish descent), St. Vincent and the Grenadines (0.7% of the population), and
Suriname Suriname, officially the Republic of Suriname, is a country in northern South America, also considered as part of the Caribbean and the West Indies. It is a developing country with a Human Development Index, high level of human development; i ...
, whose first capital, Torarica (literally "''rich
Torah The Torah ( , "Instruction", "Teaching" or "Law") is the compilation of the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, namely the books of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. The Torah is also known as the Pentateuch () ...
"'' in Portuguese), was established by Portuguese-Jewish settlers. Minor communities exist in
Grenada Grenada is an island country of the West Indies in the eastern Caribbean Sea. The southernmost of the Windward Islands, Grenada is directly south of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and about north of Trinidad and Tobago, Trinidad and the So ...
,
Saint Lucia Saint Lucia is an island country of the West Indies in the eastern Caribbean. Part of the Windward Islands of the Lesser Antilles, it is located north/northeast of the island of Saint Vincent (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines), Saint Vincent ...
,
Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Kitts and Nevis, officially the Federation of Saint Christopher (St Kitts) and Nevis, is an island country consisting of the two islands of Saint Kitts and Nevis, both located in the West Indies, in the Leeward Islands chain of the Less ...
and the
Cayman Islands The Cayman Islands () is a self-governing British Overseas Territories, British Overseas Territory, and the largest by population. The territory comprises the three islands of Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, which are located so ...
About 4,000 Portuguese people live in the Caribbean territories of Overseas France, especially in
Saint Barthélemy Saint Barthélemy, officially the Collectivité territoriale de Saint-Barthélemy, also known as St. Barts (English) or St. Barth (French), is an overseas collectivity of France in the Caribbean. The island lies about southeast of the island ...
(where they constitute about a third of the population),
Guadeloupe Guadeloupe is an Overseas departments and regions of France, overseas department and region of France in the Caribbean. It consists of six inhabited islands—Basse-Terre Island, Basse-Terre, Grande-Terre, Guadeloupe, Grande-Terre, Marie-Galant ...
and
Martinique Martinique ( ; or ; Kalinago language, Kalinago: or ) is an island in the Lesser Antilles of the West Indies, in the eastern Caribbean Sea. It was previously known as Iguanacaera which translates to iguana island in Carib language, Kariʼn ...
. Portuguese heritage lives on in
Aruba Aruba, officially the Country of Aruba, is a constituent island country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, in the southern Caribbean Sea north of the Venezuelan peninsula of Paraguaná Peninsula, Paraguaná and northwest of Curaçao. In 19 ...
,
Bonaire Bonaire is a Caribbean island in the Leeward Antilles, and is a Caribbean Netherlands, special municipality (officially Public body (Netherlands), "public body") of the Netherlands. Its capital is the port of Kralendijk, on the west (Windward an ...
and
Curaçao Curaçao, officially the Country of Curaçao, is a constituent island country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located in the southern Caribbean Sea (specifically the Dutch Caribbean region), about north of Venezuela. Curaçao includ ...
. In the three territories, the official language,
Papiamentu Papiamento () or Papiamentu (; ) is a Portuguese-based creole language spoken in the Dutch Caribbean. It is the most widely spoken language on Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao (ABC islands (Leeward Antilles), ABC Islands). The language, spelled ...
, includes numerous Portuguese elements. The North Atlantic archipelago of
Bermuda Bermuda is a British Overseas Territories, British Overseas Territory in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean. The closest land outside the territory is in the American state of North Carolina, about to the west-northwest. Bermuda is an ...
(10% to 25% of the population) experienced sustained immigration especially from the
Azores The Azores ( , , ; , ), officially the Autonomous Region of the Azores (), is one of the two autonomous regions of Portugal (along with Madeira). It is an archipelago composed of nine volcanic islands in the Macaronesia region of the North Atl ...
, as well as from Madeira and the Cape Verde Islands since the 1840s. Portuguese communities are also present in countries such as
Cuba Cuba, officially the Republic of Cuba, is an island country, comprising the island of Cuba (largest island), Isla de la Juventud, and List of islands of Cuba, 4,195 islands, islets and cays surrounding the main island. It is located where the ...
,
Dominican Republic The Dominican Republic is a country located on the island of Hispaniola in the Greater Antilles of the Caribbean Sea in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean. It shares a Maritime boundary, maritime border with Puerto Rico to the east and ...
, and
Puerto Rico ; abbreviated PR), officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, is a Government of Puerto Rico, self-governing Caribbean Geography of Puerto Rico, archipelago and island organized as an Territories of the United States, unincorporated territo ...
. Notable members of the community include activist Ada Bello, businesswoman Alexis Victoria Yeb, former Nicaraguan First Lady Lila Teresita Abaunza and Felipa Colón de Toledo.


Latin America (excluding Brazil)

Mexico Mexico, officially the United Mexican States, is a country in North America. It is the northernmost country in Latin America, and borders the United States to the north, and Guatemala and Belize to the southeast; while having maritime boundar ...
had flows of Portuguese immigration from the colonial period through the early 20th century, most importantly in northeastern cities such as Saltillo,
Monterrey Monterrey (, , abbreviated as MtY) is the capital and largest city of the northeastern Mexican state of Nuevo León. It is the ninth-largest city and the second largest metropolitan area, after Greater Mexico City. Located at the foothills of th ...
,
Durango Durango, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Durango, is one of the 31 states which make up the Political divisions of Mexico, 32 Federal Entities of Mexico, situated in the northwest portion of the country. With a population of 1,832,650 ...
and Torreon. Santiago Tequixquiac, due to its lime and stone mining deposits, was a place of settlement for Portuguese Crypto-Jews during the colonial period. They were brought there together with the Tlaxcaltec, Tlaxcalans and Spaniards, peninsular Spaniards to appease the Otomi, Otomi indigenous people in that town. Many Lusitanian cultural traits were preserved through the 19th century, such as forcados, Portuguese cuisine, gastronomy, some Sephardic customs and its inhabitants' surnames. Bullfighting is a Portuguese tradition that continues in Mexico. A notable Portuguese-Mexican Jew was Francisca Nuñez de Carabajal, executed by burning at the stake by the Mexican Inquisition, Inquisition for Judaizers, judaizing in 1596. Portuguese Venezuelans, Venezuela has the most Portuguese people in Latin America after Brazil. Portuguese started arriving to Venezuela in the early and middle 20th century as economic immigrants, particularly from
Madeira Madeira ( ; ), officially the Autonomous Region of Madeira (), is an autonomous Regions of Portugal, autonomous region of Portugal. It is an archipelago situated in the North Atlantic Ocean, in the region of Macaronesia, just under north of ...
. Some 1.3 million people (4.61%) are of Portuguese descent. Migration occurred mainly in the 1940s and 1950s. The extensive Luso-Venezuelan community includes personalities such as María Gabriela de Faría, Marjorie de Sousa, Vanessa Gonçalves, Kimberly Dos Ramos and Laura Gonçalves. Colombia did not welcome mass Portuguese immigration. Although Portuguese may have explored the area, they did not establish communities there. Colombia became a Spanish colony, as defined by the Treaty of Tordesillas. The Portuguese embassy in Bogota estimated that around 800 Portuguese nationals live there. The number with Portuguese ancestry is not known, but they left little mark on the culture, except for some surnames. In Peru, a modest migration began at the time of the Viceroyalty of Peru. Sailors who traveled along the Peruvian coast, and later entered the country from the Atlantic via the Amazon River settled there. Records of Portuguese Brazilians, Luso-Brazilians survive in the cities surrounding the Brazil–Peru border, Brazil-Peru border. Portuguese citizens in Peru number about 2,000, Peruvians with Portuguese ancestry could approach 1 million, including direct and indirect descendants, or about 3% of the total. A famous Peruvian of Portuguese descent is popular TV presenter . The Southern Cone, Cono Sur region had Portuguese immigration beginning in the early 20th century. The Portuguese Argentine, Portuguese and Cape Verdean Argentine, Cape Verdean community in Argentina, Portuguese Uruguayan, Uruguay and Chile numbers around 255,000 people combined (0.37% of the region's population). Portuguese Uruguayans are mainly of Azores, Azorean descent. Portuguese presence in the country dates to colonial times, in particular to the establishment of Colonia del Sacramento by the Portuguese in 1680, which eventually turned into a regional smuggling center. Other Portuguese entered Uruguay from Portuguese Brazilians, Brazil. During the second half of the 19th century and part of the 20th, several additional Portuguese immigrants arrived; the last wave came during 1930–1965. As of 2021, 3,069 Portuguese citizens had registered as residing in Uruguay. Many luso-descendants also reside there, but numbers are lacking. Argentina–Portugal relations, Argentina-Portugal relations date back to the early explorers, as the Río de la Plata (literally, silver river) was first explored by the Portuguese in the 1510s. In Argentina, Portuguese immigration remained limited due to a preference for Brazil. However, the Portuguese constituted the second-largest immigrant group after the Spanish before Argentine Declaration of Independence, 1816 and continued to arrive throughout the 19th century. While a significant number settled in the interior, the primary destination was Buenos Aires. Many men from Lisbon,
Porto Porto (), also known in English language, English as Oporto, is the List of cities in Portugal, second largest city in Portugal, after Lisbon. It is the capital of the Porto District and one of the Iberian Peninsula's major urban areas. Porto c ...
, and coastal regions of Portugal, predominantly in maritime professions, were already present. During the 1970s, they began to organize ethnically, and community life developed.Olavarria Portuguese society participated in "Buenos Aires celebrates Portugal" A popular member of the Portuguese community in Argentina was best-selling author Silvina Bullrich.


Africa

In the early twentieth century the Portuguese government encouraged migration to Overseas Province of Angola, Angola and Overseas Province of Mozambique, Mozambique, and by the 1970s, up to 1 million Portuguese settlers were living in Portugal's overseas African provinces. Minor communities settled in Portuguese Guineans, Guinea-Bissau, Demographics of Equatorial Guinea, Equatorial Guinea, Demographics of Cape Verde, Cape Verde and Demographics of São Tomé and Príncipe, São Tomé and Príncipe, Portuguese influences continue there: Portuguese enjoys the status of official language. Following the Carnation Revolution, as the country's African possessions gained independence in 1975, an estimated 800,000 Portuguese emigrated from the former colonies. Returnees to Portugal are often referred as ''Retornados'' (literally, those who came back). Some Portuguese moved to South Africa, Botswana, and Algeria. In particular, South Africa hosts the largest Portuguese community in the continent, numbering about 700,000 (more than Lisbon). Portuguese descendants make up a significant minority in the former colonies where, they make up the bulk of ''Mulatto, Mestiços'' (Mixed African-European people).


Europe outside of Portugal


France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Monaco, Andorra and Switzerland

Due to the linguistic similarity between Portuguese and French language, French and the many Education in Portugal, schools in Portugal that promote Français langue étrangère, French as foreign language, many Portuguese nationals started migrating to Portuguese in France, France, Belgium,
Luxembourg Luxembourg, officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, is a landlocked country in Western Europe. It is bordered by Belgium to the west and north, Germany to the east, and France on the south. Its capital and most populous city, Luxembour ...
, Monaco and the Swiss French, French-speaking part of Switzerland in the 1960s, for economic reasons, and to avoid conscription to fight in Portuguese colonies. Interestingly, migration to Andorra - where, although Catalan language, Catalan is the official language, French is widely spoken - made the Portuguese the third largest ethnic group in the state, after Demographics of Andorra, Andorrans and
Spaniards Spaniards, or Spanish people, are a Romance-speaking ethnic group native to the Iberian Peninsula, primarily associated with the modern nation-state of Spain. Genetically and ethnolinguistically, Spaniards belong to the broader Southern a ...
. Around 15% of Portuguese people are fluent in French. French has been dwindling, often replaced by English. In 2005 French fluency stood at 24%. Nevertheless, 70% of middle school students study French. French media are widely available in Portugal (newspapers, magazines, Radio broadcasting, radio stations and Lists of television channels, TV channels) and many Library, libraries offer a French-language section. Portuguese migration to the more affluent French speaking countries in Europe continues, although at a lower rate. More than 2,260,000 Portuguese citizens live in these countries. In addition, France alone hosts 450,000 Luso-descendants''.'' Records of Portuguese living in France date to the early centuries of the Portuguese kingdom, notably merchants, Spanish and Portuguese Jews, Portuguese-Jews and Portuguese nobility, Portuguese nobles: Louis XIV was of Portuguese descent through his grandfather Philip III of Spain, Philip II. Despite a centuries-long presence, Portuguese nationals only started to move to France in large numbers following World War 2. From the 1960s, History of Brazil, Brazil's economic stagnation, French efforts to attract Portuguese workers, and António de Oliveira Salazar's Estado Novo (Portugal), dictatorship and the Portuguese Colonial War, colonial wars were factors that contributed to 1,000,000 people migrating to France from 1960 to 1974. After 1974, Portuguese nationals started moving to Luxembourg and Monaco (1980s), Switzerland (1990s) and – Belgium and Andorra (2000s). This is also due to France's tightened immigration control. Portuguese in Luxembourg, Portuguese constitute 23.4% of
Luxembourg Luxembourg, officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, is a landlocked country in Western Europe. It is bordered by Belgium to the west and north, Germany to the east, and France on the south. Its capital and most populous city, Luxembour ...
's population, second to native Luxembourgers''.'' Andorra is inhabited by 16,300 Portuguese nationals (19.4% of the population)'','' Monaco hosts around 1,000 (3.3% of the Population), while Belgium is home to around 80,000 (0.7% of the population). In Switzerland, Portuguese settled mainly in Romandy. Official figures suggest that Portuguese is spoken by 5% of the population at home and 10.1% in Romandy, French speaking Switzerland, thus making Portuguese second only to French. Notable Portuguese Swiss include snooker player Alexander Ursenbacher, models Pedro Mendes (model), Pedro Mendes and Nomi Fernandes, actress Yaël Boon and Olympic medalist Stéphane Lambiel. Notable Portuguese Belgians include – nobles such as Elisabeth of Bavaria, Queen of the Belgians, Queen Elizabeth or Leopold III of Belgium, King Leopold III, fashion designer Veronique Branquinho, footballer Yannick Carrasco, actress Rose Bertram, sprinter Jonathan Sacoor, and actress Helena Noguerra. Portuguese migration towards these countries has steadily declined over the years, although from 2003 to 2022 around 615,000 Portuguese nationals migrated there, especially following the 2008 financial crisis. As of 2021 around 40% had returned to Portugal, as the economic outlook improved.


Germany

After WWII hundreds of thousands of Portuguese settled as Foreign worker, guest workers in Western European countries. On 17 March 1964, the recruitment agreement between the West Germany, Federal Republic of Germany and Portugal was signed under the Erhard I cabinet. Armando Rodrigues de Sá was officially welcomed in 1964 as the millionth "guest worker" in Germany and was given a certificate and a two-seater Zündapp Sport Combinette – Mokick. The number of Portuguese citizens living in Germany was estimated at 245,000 as of 2021. The largest Portuguese community is located in
Hamburg Hamburg (, ; ), officially the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg,. is the List of cities in Germany by population, second-largest city in Germany after Berlin and List of cities in the European Union by population within city limits, 7th-lar ...
numbering about 25,000. A ''Portugiesenviertel'' (Portuguese quarter) in Hamburg sits near the Port of Hamburg and between the subway stations of Landungsbrücken station, Landungsbrücken and Baumwall station, Baumwall.


United Kingdom

In the Portuguese in the United Kingdom, United Kingdom, people of Portuguese origin were estimated at 400,000 in 2021. Other sources claim as many as 500,000 Portuguese there, considerably higher than the estimated 170,000 Portuguese-born people residing in the country in 2021 (excluding British-born people of Portuguese descent). In areas such as Thetford and the crown dependencies of Jersey and Guernsey, Portuguese form the largest ethnic minority groups at 30%. London is home to the largest group of Portuguese in the UK, with the majority settling in the Western boroughs of Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, Kensington and Chelsea, Lambeth and City of Westminster, Westminster.


Brazil


Colonial period

Portuguese are the Demographics of Brazil, largest European immigrant group in Brazil. In Colonial Brazil, colonial times, over 700,000 Portuguese settled there, mostly during the 18th century gold rush. Brazil received more European settlers during its colonial era than any other country in the Americas. Between 1500 and 1760, about 700,000 Europeans immigrated to Brazil, compared to 530,000 to the US. They were the only significant migrants to the country during the colonial era, despite France Antarctique, French and Dutch Brazil, Dutch invasions. The Portuguese migration was predominantly men. The Jesuits asked the Portuguese King to send any kind of Portuguese women to Brazil, even the socially undesirable (e.g. prostitutes or women with mental maladies), if necessary. The Crown responded by sending groups of orphans to marry nobles and peasants alike. They included many ''Órfãs do Rei'' (orphans of the king) of what was considered "good birth". They were noble and non-noble maidens, often daughters of soldiers killed in battle or noblemen who died overseas and whose upbringing was paid by the Crown. Bahia's port in the East received one of the first groups of orphans in 1551. Portuguese men also competed successfully for local women with Afro-Brazilians, slaves and Indigenous peoples of the Americas, indigenous peoples.Ribeiro, Darcy. O Povo Brasileiro, Companhia de Bolso, fourth reprint, 2008 (2008) Their better quality of life and lower mortality rate were important advantages. Then, even though the 700,000 Portuguese colonial migration was smaller than 3.2 million indigenous inhabitants and the 4.8million Africans, their descendants numbered as many as the "non-white" population in the early 19th century. After Independence of Brazil, independence from Portugal in 1822, around 1.7 million additional Portuguese immigrants settled there.


Post-independence

Portuguese immigration in the 19th and 20th centuries was marked by its concentration in São Paulo (state), São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro (state), Rio de Janeiro. The immigrants opted mostly for urban centers. Portuguese women began to migrate independently, although even at the turn of the 20th century, 319 men came each 100 women. The Portuguese were different from German Brazilians, Germans or Italian Brazilians, Italians who brought many more women with them. Despite the small female proportion, Portuguese men typically chose Portuguese women, while female immigrants rarely married indigenous men. Portuguese endogamy was higher than any other European immigrant community, behind only the Japanese Brazilians, Japanese. Many Portuguese-Brazilians identified as Brazilian, perhaps encouraged by the dominance of Portuguese culture there. In 1872, 3.7 million White people, Whites lived in Brazil (the vast majority of Portuguese ancestry), along with 4.1 million mixed-race people (mostly of Portuguese-Afro-Brazilians, African-Indigenous peoples in Brazil, Amerindian ancestry) and 1.9 million Black people, Blacks. Thus 80% of Brazilians had at least partial Portuguese ancestry in the 1870s. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a new large wave of Portuguese immigrants arrived, including over 1.5 million Portuguese from 1881 to 1991. In 1906, for example, 133,393 Portuguese-born people lived in Rio de Janeiro, comprising 16% of the city's population. Rio remains the largest "Portuguese city" outside of Portugal, with 1% Portuguese natives.


Genetic evidence

Genetic studies confirm the strong Portuguese genetic influence. At least half of the Brazilian population's male inheritance (based on Y Chromosome, Y chromosomes) comes from Portugal. Afro-Brazilians, Black Brazilians have an average of 48% non-African genes, mostly with Portuguese ancestors. By contrast, 33% Amerindian and 28% African contribution to the total female inheritance (Mitochondrial DNA, mtDNA) of white Brazilians was found. An Autosome, autosomal study from 2013, with nearly 1300 samples from across Brazil, found a predominant degree of Portuguese ancestry. European ancestry was the most prevalent in all urban populations (with values from 51% to 74%, increasing northern to southern Brazil). Northern populations included a significant proportion of indigenous ancestry, twice the African contribution. In the northeast, centerwest and southeast, African ancestry exceeded them. All urban populations were highly admixed, and most of the variation was observed between individuals within each population. A large, community-based multicenter autosomal study considered representative samples from three urban communities Salvador, Bahia, Salvador, Bambuí, and Pelotas, estimated European, mostly Iberian, ancestry to be 42.4%, 83.8% and 85.3%, respectively. An estimated 5 million Brazilians (2.3% of the total) were eligible for Portuguese citizenship.


Oceania


Australia

In Australia, although their numbers are smaller than the Greek Australians, Greek and Italian Australians, Italian communities, Portuguese are an active community. They were among the early European settlers, and Theory of the Portuguese discovery of Australia, might have discovered Australia. Portuguese immigration to Australia experienced a boom after the Carnation Revolution and Indonesian invasion of East Timor, the Indonesian Invasion of Timor-Leste. Portuguese spread across the country and even have a designated Petersham, New South Wales, Portuguese neighborhood. The 74,000 people of Portuguese descent constitute about 0.28% of the Demographics of Australia, population. Portuguese cuisine is popular, exemplified by restaurants such as Nando's, Oporto (restaurant), Oporto, and Ogalo. ''Pastel de nata'' is widely consumed. Many Portuguese are from
Madeira Madeira ( ; ), officially the Autonomous Region of Madeira (), is an autonomous Regions of Portugal, autonomous region of Portugal. It is an archipelago situated in the North Atlantic Ocean, in the region of Macaronesia, just under north of ...
. Notable Portuguese Australians include Naomi Sequeira, Kate DeAraugo, Junie Morosi, Lyndsey Rodrigues, Sophie Masson and Irina Dunn.


New Zealand

The community in New Zealand is much smaller and the 1,500 Portuguese people living there (although the numbers could be significantly higher) constitute about 0.03% of the Demographics of New Zealand, population. On 22 April 2010, the Department of Internal Affairs, Office of Ethnic Affairs officially recognized Portuguese New Zealanders as a distinct community, marked by tying the 70th ribbon to Parliament's mooring stone in the Parliament House, Wellington, Parliament House Galleria. The Portuguese community organizes annual gatherings and celebrations, such as Portugal Day, and maintains a friendship association. Portuguese individuals were among the early settlers in New Zealand, although immigration declined gradually until the 1960s. After the Carnation Revolution, the community started to increase again.


New Caledonia

About 900 Portuguese live in the Overseas France, French collectivity of New Caledonia (0.38% of the Demographics of New Caledonia, population).


Asia

Portuguese influences are found throughout Asia, especially in
Macau Macau or Macao is a special administrative regions of China, special administrative region of the People's Republic of China (PRC). With a population of about people and a land area of , it is the most List of countries and dependencies by p ...
, Timor-Leste and Luso-Indian, India'','' all territories where the Portuguese maintained colonies.


Southeast Asia

Luso-Asian communities have had a presence in Southeast Asia since the 15th century. As a result of inter-ethnic marriage, Portuguese-based dialects have emerged in Kristang people, Malaysia and Eurasian Singaporeans, Singapore. Notable Kristangs include Kimberley Leggett, , Joan Margaret Marbeck, , , Melissa Tan, Andrea Fonseka, and . People of Portuguese descent from Singapore include Pilar Arlando, Mary Klass and Vernetta Lopez. Other communities are found in Portuguese Indonesians, Indonesia, with significant populations living in Lamno (the so-called "''mata biru''" or blue-eyed people), Aceh, Maluku Islands, Maluku Islands and Kampung Tugu. Portuguese vestiges include dozens of List of loanwords in Indonesian, loanwords as well as the introduction of Roman Catholicism (3.12% of the population, but still the major religion in East Nusa Tenggara, NTT) and Kroncong, ''Keroncong'', similar to ''Cavaquinho, Portuguese cavaquinho.'' In recent years many Indonesians of Portuguese descent have been active in the entertainment industry such as Puteri Indonesia Elfin Pertiwi Rappa or actress . In the Philippines, actress Sophie Albert is another Portuguese-South Asian. Communities of Portuguese descent are found in Bayingyi people, Myanmar and Kudi Chin, Thailand. In Thailand, during the reign of Narai, King Narai the Great the Portuguese community in Ayutthaya is thought to have peaked at 6,000 people. Notable Thai of Portuguese descent include Francis Chit, Maria Guyomar de Pinha, , Krystal Vee, and .


Indian Subcontinent

Portuguese Burghers, Sri Lanka is home to around 40,000 Portuguese Burghers. A notable example is Rosemary Rogers. In addition, as a consequence of the Portuguese Ceylon, Portuguese invasion of Sri Lanka, during the 16th and 17th centuries, many
Portuguese language Portuguese ( or ) is a Western Romance language of the Indo-European language family originating from the Iberian Peninsula of Europe. It is the official language of Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal and São Tom ...
surnames were adopted among the Sinhalese people, Sinhalese. As a result, Perera and Fernando eventually became the most common surnames. Sri Lanka Kaffirs, Afro Sri-Lankans also retain a Portuguese identity. Major Portuguese contributions to Sri Lanka include 1,000 List of Sinhala words of Portuguese origin, loanwords in Sinhala, Baila music (from the Portuguese ''bailar'', meaning ''to dance''), culinary innovations such as ''Love cake, "Bolo di amor"'' (literally Love cake) or Bolo fiado, "''Bolo Folhado"'' (literally Puff Pastry) as well as Catholic Church in Sri Lanka, Roman Catholicism (approximately 6.1% of the population identifies as Catholic) and the endangered Sri Lankan Portuguese creole. In Portuguese in Pakistan, Pakistan a small Portuguese community numbers about 64 people, even though other estimates point to 400 in Karachi. Notable Portuguese Pakistani include Dilshad Vadsaria and Bernadette Louise Dean. Before partition of India, partition, it is estimated that the Goans, Goan community in Karachi numbered up to 15,000. The majority returned to Goa, to other Portuguese territories, or to the UK. The Portuguese community contributed to the Music of Pakistan, musical scene of pre-partition Karachi. As of today, about 6,000 Goans remain in Pakistan, mainly in that city. Portuguese heritage continues in Bangladesh: they were the first Europeans. The Portuguese introduced Catholicism, now professed by Catholic Church in Bangladesh, about 375,000 Bangladeshis. This heritage added more than 1,500 Bengali language, words to Bengali. In Portuguese settlement in Chittagong, colonial times, the population may have reached 40,000 people before most resettled elsewhere. Those who remained integrated in Bangladeshis, Bangladeshi society. Notable examples of Portuguese influence in Bangladesh are their surnames, as well as Bangladesh's oldest church, the Holy Rosary Church, Dhaka, Holy Rosary Church in Dhaka. As of now, the Portuguese community in Bangladesh consists of a few expatriates and some descendants of the early settlers.


East Asia

A small but growing Portuguese community – consisting mainly of recent expats and numbering about 3,500 people – is found in Japan, South Korea, China and Taiwan, whose name in European texts until the 20th century – ''Formosa'', meaning "beautiful (island)" – is Portuguese. A 20,700 people-strong community continues in Hong Kong, mainly of Macanese people, Macanese descent. Notable people include Joe Junior, Michelle Reis, Rowan Varty, Rita Carpio and Ray Cordeiro. The most important Portuguese community in Eastern Asia is in Macau, which was a Portuguese colony until 1999. It harbors more than 150,000 Portuguese citizens, accounting for 22.34% of the total, the largest concentration of Portuguese nationals in Asia as well as one of the most important in the world. Notables include .


Diaspora populations


Literature

Portuguese literature has a long and varied history, with roots in the
Middle Ages In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the 5th to the late 15th centuries, similarly to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire and ...
. In the 16th century, Portugal's literature entered its "Golden Age", during which time poets such as Luís de Camões and Francisco de Sá de Miranda were renowned. Portuguese is often referred as to the ''"língua de Camões"'' (Camões's language), highlighting this author's importance in forging the national identity. Portuguese authors from the Age of Discovery include Públia Hortênsia de Castro, Gomes Eanes de Zurara, Joana Vaz, Fernão Mendes Pinto (author of ''Peregrinação),'' Joana da Gama'','' Fernão Lopes and Violante do Céu. 19th authors included Almeida Garrett, who is credited with founding modern Portuguese literature. His writings reflect the political and social revolutions then taking place in Portugal, and his writing style is recognized as original. Authors such as Fernando Pessoa and Guerra Junqueiro gained international acclaim for their writings in the 20th century. Literary production mushroomed. Modern authors such as Nobel Prize in Literature, Nobel Laureate José Saramago and António Lobo Antunes. These authors write about identity, culture, and society. Other notable Portuguese authors include Ana Vicente, Richard Zimler, Ana Plácido, Mário Cesariny de Vasconcelos, Mário Cesariny, Ana Hatherly, Cesário Verde, Isabel Stilwell, Miguel Torga, Ana de Castro Osório, Alves Redol, Maria Archer, Antero de Quental, Isabel Alçada, Wenceslau de Moraes, Vimala Devi, Alexandre Herculano, Dulce Maria Cardoso, Maria Gabriela Llansol, Abel Botelho, Fernanda Botelho (writer), Fernanda Botelho, Isabel da Nóbrega, , Maria Gabriela Llansol and Natália Correia, , and Ana Daniel. Susan Lowndes Marques, writer and journalist, was a leading figure in the Portuguese-British community in Lisbon, and promoted
Portugal Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic, is a country on the Iberian Peninsula in Southwestern Europe. Featuring Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point in continental Europe, Portugal borders Spain to its north and east, with which it share ...
in the UK.


Law and Justice

Portugal created a List of national legal systems, legal system for its colonies, with traces visible in international law. Portugal has contributed to human rights law. The European Convention on Human Rights, which was established in 1950 with the purpose of defending human rights and basic freedoms, was championed by Portugal. Portuguese active in the field of Law and Justice include Paula Teixeira da Cruz (previous Minister of Justice), Boaventura de Sousa Santos Military Order of Saint James of the Sword, GOSE (one of the most prominent Portuguese living left-wing intellectuals. ), Susana Amador, Henrique O'Neill, 1st Viscount of Santa Mónica, Henrique O'Neill, Marta Santos Pais, Maria Santos Pais (served as Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General on Violence against Children), Januário Lourenço (invented the Electronic Power of Attorney and the Electronic Divorce.), Isabel Oneto, Guilherme d'Oliveira Martins, Heloísa Apolónia and António Vitorino (former List of European Commission portfolios#Justice, Freedom and Security, European Commissioner for Justice and Home Affairs).


Science and technology

Research and development, Research and development (R&D) is conducted mainly by State university system, state universities and autonomous state research institutes. However, non-state research institutes and some private projects also operate. During the Age of Discovery technical requirements for navigation were a topic of great importance. Portuguese contributions to the scientific world included the Caravel – a light and fast ship designed for coastal navigation and the Portolan chart, Portolan – a maritime map used from the early Middle Ages. The Portuguese also introduced the Compass rose on maps and for guidance and navigation devices such as the cross-staff, Nonius (device), nonius, the Astrolabe, nautical astrolabe, and the Black Maple Sword. João Faras named the Southern Cross while Francisco de Pina, in Asia invented the modern Vietnamese alphabet (''Quốc ngữ)''. Botanist João de Loureiro also worked in Vietnam. One of the oldest learned societies of Portugal, the Lisbon Academy of Sciences, was founded in 1779. During this time the Passarola was conceived. Natural philosopher Jean Hyacinthe de Magellan was active. Bento de Moura Portugal improved Thomas Savery's steam engine. In 1792 Portugues founded the oldest engineering school of Latin America (Real Academia de Artilharia, Fortificação e Desenho), as well as the oldest medical college of Asia (Escola Médico-Cirúrgica de Goa) in 1842. During the late 19th century Bartolomeu de Gusmão introduced the Pyreliophore and Herrmann wall telephone, Maximiliano Augusto Herrmann developed the Herrmann Wall Phone, Herrmann wall telephone. Spectrography pioneer Francisco Miranda da Costa Lobo and telectroscope pioneer Adriano de Paiva were active. In 1949, neurologist António Egas Moniz, an early developer of cerebral angiography, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, Nobel Prize in Medicine. Other contributions include the drug Zebinix, the All-on-4, All-on-4 method (dentistry), the Multibanco, the Coloradd and the prepaid mobile phone. Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência (IGC), an international centre for biomedical research, was founded in 1961 and ranked as one of the Top Ten places for post-docs, by The Scientist (magazine), ''The Scientist''. Champalimaud Foundation focuses on neuroscience and oncology. International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory operates in Braga. In 2001 Portugal ranked 28th among countries for contributions to the top 1% of the world's highly cited publications. Portugal ranked 32nd in the 2022 Global Innovation Index. Portugal has full membership and citizens working in pan-European scientific organizations such as European Space Agency (ESA), European Laboratory for Particle Physics (CERN), ITER, and the European Southern Observatory (ESO). From 2005–2007, Portugal was the EU member state with the highest growth rate in research and development (R&D) investment as a percentage of GDP at 46%, totaling 1.2% of GDP. This ranked 15th among the 27 EU member states in 2007.Portugal é o país da UE onde despesa em investigação e desenvolvimento mais cresceu
Público (Portugal), Público (13 December 2008)
Notable Portuguese people who made important contributions to science and technology: * Agronomy (Alexandre Rodrigues Ferreira) * Anthropology (Miguel Vale de Almeida, Jill Rosemary Dias, Leopoldina Ferreira Paulo, Teresa Joaquim) * Astronomy (Paulo Freire (astronomer), Paulo Freire) * Astrophysics (David Sobral) * Biochemistry (Sónia Rocha, Mónica Bettencourt-Dias, ) * Biology () * Botany (António Xavier Pereira Coutinho, Rosette Batarda Fernandes, Seomara da Costa Primo) * Chemical engineering (Alírio Rodrigues, Isabel Gago, Armando J. L. Pombeiro) * Chemistry (Roberto Duarte Silva, Branca Edmée Marques) * Computer science (Diogo Vasconcelos, Fernando Boavida, Pedro Pedrosa Mendes, Isabel Cruz) * Economics (Francisco Luís Gomes, Moisés Bensabat Amzalak, Rita Almeida, Lúcio Mauro Vinhas de Souza) * Ethnology (António dos Santos Graça), * Fluid dynamics (Silvana Cardoso) * Geography (Orlando Ribeiro (geographer), Orlando Ribeiro) * Geology (Paul Choffat, Léon Paul Choffat, Venceslau de Lima, Carlos Ribeiro) * Immunology (Benedita Barata da Rocha) * Malariology (Maria Manuel Mota) * Marine biology (Alexandra Cunha) * Medical analysis (Mortó Dessai, Mortó Sitarama Dessai) * Meteorology, Metereology (Ilda Aurora Pinheiro de Moura Machado) * Mycology (Mathilde Bensaude) * Neuroscience (Megan Carey, Paula Isabel da Silva Moreira, Susana Lima, Ana Domingos, Hanna Damasio) * Nuclear physics (Lidia Salgueiro) * Paleontology (Miguel Telles Antunes) * Pathology (Fátima Carneiro) * Pharmaceutical Science (Luís Prista) * Planning, Planning theory (Elisabete A. Silva) * Primatology (Claudia Sousa) * Protein Crystallography (Maria Arménia Carrondo) * Psychology (Armindo Freitas-Magalhães, Ana Cristina Silva) * Physics (José Mendes (physicist), José Mendes, Luís Amaral) * Oncobiology (Raquel Seruca) * Romance philology (Carolina Michaëlis de Vasconcelos, Karoline Michaelis) * Somnology (Teresa Paiva) * Systems theory (Tessaleno Devezas) * Theoretical physics (Pedro Vieira, João Penedones) Other notable Portuguese scientists include: * Corino Andrade – initially described Familial amyloid polyneuropathy, familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy * Odette Ferreira – identified Subtypes of HIV, HIV-2 * Froilano de Mello – 20th century medical researcher and biologist * Graça Freitas Order of Merit (Portugal), GCM – Directorate-General of Health, Director-General of Health during the Covid pandemic * Diogo de Carvalho e Sampayo – amateur scientist who authored two important works on chromatics. Portuguese archaeology was inaugurated by André de Resende in the 16th century. Portuguese contributors include Estácio da Veiga, José Leite de Vasconcelos, Irisalva Moita, Luís Raposo, Samuel Schwarz (historian), Samuel Schwarz, , and João de Barros. Manuel Valadares pioneered the use of X-rays for art restoration. Paleoethnobotany, Paleoethnobotanist António Rodrigo Pinto da Silva contributed to the study of Portuguese history.


Governance

Politics of Portugal, Portuguese politics is defined within the framework of a Parliamentary republic, parliamentary, representative Multi-party system, multy-party democratic republic, where the Prime Minister of Portugal, Prime Minister is the head of government. The President of Portugal, President is the head of the country and has significant political power. He is elected for a 5-year term by Direct election, direct vote, and he is the commander-in-chief of the Portuguese Armed Forces, armed forces. His powers include the election of the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers (Portugal), Council of Ministers, in accordance with Elections in Portugal, general elections results. The Council of State (Portugal), Council of State is a presidential oversight body, composed of six senior civilian officers, any former president elected since 1976, five members elected by the Assembly of the Republic (Portugal), Assembly, and five directly appointed by the President. Executive power is assigned to the Council of Ministers. Both the Government of Portugal, Government and the Assembly of the Republic (Portugal), Portuguese Parliament (''Assembleia da República'') are equipped with Right of initiative (legislative), legislative rights. The Assembly is elected by universal suffrage via proportional representation. Deputies serve a four-year term. Given extreme unrest or of inability to form a government, the President can dissolve the Assembly and call for new elections. Since 1976, the Socialist Party (Portugal), Socialist Party (PS) and Social Democratic Party (Portugal), Social Democratic Party (PSD) have dominated the political landscape. The judiciary is independent of the executive and legislative branches and the Supreme Court of Justice (Portugal), national Supreme Court is the court of last appeal. Military, administrative and fiscal courts are independent systemsce. A nine-member Constitutional Court verifies the constitutionality of legislation.


Education

Education has been gradually modernized and expanded since the 1970s. According to the Programme for International Student Assessment, Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) in 2015, 15-year-old students were significantly above the OECD average for reading skills, mathematics and science. Portugal has recognized List of universities and colleges in Portugal, universities and business schools that have contributed international leaders and which attract an increasing number of foreign students. Portugal is among the top senders and receivers country within the Erasmus Programme, Erasmus+ programme, with more student entering than leaving.


Economy

Portugal's economy ranked 34th on the World Economic Forum's Global Competitiveness Report in 2019. The majority of its trade is with the EU, the source and destination of more than 70% of the 2020 total. International trade amounted to approximately 153.3 billion Euros in 2022. Spain is by far its largest trading partner, accounting for 11.61% of exports and 32.07% of imports. Other important trading partners include North American Free Trade Agreement, NAFTA (6.3% of exports and 2% of imports), Portuguese language in Africa, PALOP (5.7% of exports and 2.5% of imports), Maghreb (3.7% of exports and 1.3% of import and Mercosur, Mercosul (1.4% of exports and 2.5% of imports). The Portuguese currency is the euro (€). The country has been part of the Eurozone since its founding. The country's national bank is Banco de Portugal, and it is part of the European System of Central Banks. Most stock trading takes place on Euronext Lisbon, owned by NYSE Euronext. Important Portuguese banks include Banco Espírito Santo (now Novo Banco), Caixa Geral de Depósitos and Millennium BCP. Portugal's largest companies include The Navigator Company (paper); Sonae Indústria (world's largest producer of wood panels); Corticeira Amorim (world's largest Cork (material), cork producer); Conservas Ramirez (canned food); Cimpor (top 10 cement); EDP Renováveis (#3 producer of Wind power, wind energy); Jerónimo Martins (supermarket chain); Grupo José de Mello, José de Mello Group (Conglomerate (company), conglomerate), TAP Air Portugal; and Brisa - Autoestradas de Portugal. Other companies include Sumol + Compal (drinks); Renova (company), Renova (Tissue paper, tissue); Vista Alegre (company), Vista Alegre (ceramics); Nelo, Nelo (MAR Kayaks Ltda) (boats); GestiFute (public relations); Pestana Group (tourism and leisure) and Salvador Caetano. Media companies include Impresa, Sociedade Independente de Comunicação, Sociedade Independente de Comunicação (SIC), the first Portuguese private television network, NOS (Portuguese company), NOS and MEO (telecommunication company), MEO. Portuguese businesswomen include Catarina Fagundes, CEO of Wind Birds, Catarina Portas, owner of A Vida Portuguesa, Fernanda Pires da Silva, President of Grupo Grão-Pará, a conglomerate focusing on construction, real estate, tourism, hotel management, and marble, Julia Carvalho, Corporate Manager at IBM, Maria da Conceição Zagalo, awarded by Amnesty International, as one of 25 women worldwide, "for her special dedication to social causes", Carla Castro and Eugénia Cândida da Fonseca da Silva Mendes, 1st Baroness of Silva, Eugénia Cândida da Fonseca da Silva Mendes. Portuguese businessmen include Raul Pires Ferreira Chaves, inventor of a precursor to modular construction systems; Paulo Maló, founder of Malo Clinic; Zeinal Bava, Zeinal Abedin Mohamed Bava; António Miguel Ferreira; Paulo Morgado, Executive Vice-president of Capgemini, Capgemini Group; Henrique de Sommer; Fernando Van Zeller Guedes, co-founder of Sogrape and the inspiration behind Mateus (wine), Mateus; Narciso Ferreira; Henrique de Mendonça, helping the Portuguese colony of São Tomé and Príncipe become a leading Cocoa bean, cocoa producers; Diogo Mónica, co-founder of Anchorage Digital. Expat Portuguese businessmen include Pedro José Lobo; Joe Berardo, entrepreneur; Arnaldo de Oliveira Sales; José Filipe Torres, branding expert; António Augusto Carvalho Monteiro, Quinta da Regaleira. Fishing is a prominent occupation, notably for sardines. Both men and women work as fishermen.


Cuisine

The oldest cookbook on Portuguese cooking is from the 16th century, ''Livro de Cozinha da Infanta D. Maria de Portugal'' (Crown-Princess Maria's cookbook). It describes recipes made of beef, fish, fowl, and other traditional ingredients. Even in the High Middle Ages, agriculture had already a regional character. Small peasant allotments and large Latifundium, latifundia were cultivated. The latter are particularly characteristic of southern regions, which were annexed as a result of the Reconquista and distributed among Feudalism, feudal lords, whereas further north, agricultural lots were typically smaller. In modern times, fruit and grapes began to play an important role. Portugal is a world leader in Fortified wine, fortified red and Dry wines, dry white wines. Port wine and Madeira wine come from there. Portuguese farmers grow pears, apples, plums, Cherry, cherries, olives, Citrus, citrus fruits and grain crops such as wheat, rye, Maize, corn, oats, and vegetables such as legumes. Portuguese cuisine relies on meats (pork, cattle, chicken and Game (hunting), game among others). High seafood (fish, crustaceans including lobster, crab, shrimp, prawns, and octopus) consumption is supported by rich fisheries along Portugal's Geography of Portugal, 1,800 km of coastline (1,115 miles). This is balanced by vegetables, legumes, and sweets (notably, cakes). The diet is rich in carbohydrates that often includes fresh breads like ''broa'', rice, and potatoes. The Portuguese lead the Europeans in rice consumption per capita, 16.1 kg per year. Rice specialities include, ''Arroz de Tamboril'' (Lophius, Monkfish rice), ''Arroz de Pato'' (duck rice) and ''Arroz de Cabidela'' (Chicken, rooster rice) enjoy high popularity. Portuguese are among the largest European potato consumers, consuming 62 kg potatoes per capita per year,. Portugal has one of the largest livestock EU populations. António-Maria De Oliveira Bello, also known as Olleboma, wrote "''Culinária Portuguesa''" (Portuguese Cuisine) in 1936. Portuguese cuisine also draws from Mediterranean cuisine, Mediterranean sources – Portugal is among the countries recognised by UNESCO for its Mediterranean diet – and from all over the world, especially from the onetime Portuguese Empire. Portugal's role in the spice trade influenced its cuisine, particularly in the broad variety of spices used. These spices include Peri-peri, ''piri piri'' (tiny, spicy chili peppers), white and black pepper, saffron, paprika, clove, allspice, cumin, and nutmeg. Many dishes contain cinnamon, vanilla, lemon, orange, anise, clove, and allspice. Portuguese merchants introduced oranges in Middle Eastern countries. Today the Turkish language, Turkish ("Portakal"), Persian language, Farsi (نارنجی or "portaqal") and Arabic (البرتقالي or "lburtuqaliiu") words for orange all reflect a Portuguese origin. This term extended to the Ottoman Empire and beyond, today appearing in languages such as Romanian language, Romanian (portocale), Albanian language, Albanian (portokalli), Greek (πορτοκάλι-portokáli) and Georgian language, Georgian (ფორთოხალი-portokhali). One popular dish is ''Feijoada''. ''Feijão'' is Portuguese for bean. With ''feijoada'' ''salada de tomate'' and ''vinagrete'' or ''molho vinagrete'' are sometimes served. The Portuguese have 365 ways of cooking cod (''bacalhau''). Other emblematic Portuguese traditional dishes are ''Cozido à portuguesa'' (Portuguese stew) and ''Caldo verde'' (green soup). The most globally appreciated pastry is ''pastel de nata'', sometimes known as ''Natas'' or ''Portuguese custard tarts''. Portugal has 19 named wine regions ''Denominação de Origem Controlada'': Alenquer DOC, Alenquer, Arruda DOC, Arruda, Bairrada DOC, Bairrada, Beira Interior DOC, Beira Interior, Bucelas DOC, Bucelas, Carcavelos DOC, Carcavelos, Colares DOC, Colares, Dão DOC, Dão, Douro DOC, Douro, Encostas d'Aire DOC, Encostas d'Aire, Lagoa DOC, Lagoa, Lagos DOC, Lagos, Óbidos DOC, Óbidos, Palmela DOC, Palmela, Portimão DOC, Portimão, Setúbal DOC, Setúbal, Tavira DOC, Tavira, Távora-Varosa DOC, Távora-Varosa, and Torres Vedras DOC, Torres Vedras. The most famous Portuguese wine isPort wine, ''Vinho do Porto'' (port), which is grown only in the ''região demarcada do Douro''. Several unique types of Port wine are made, namely ''Porto Branco'', ''Porto Ruby,'' and ''Porto Tawny''. Also famous is the slightly sparkling ''Vinho Verde'' (green wine), from the Minho region. Notable Portuguese chefs include , Louise Bourrat and .


Architecture

Portuguese architecture encompasses work in Portugal and its former colonies, reflecting these diverse cultures. Roman people, Romans and
Moors The term Moor is an Endonym and exonym, exonym used in European languages to designate the Muslims, Muslim populations of North Africa (the Maghreb) and the Iberian Peninsula (particularly al-Andalus) during the Middle Ages. Moors are not a s ...
each left marks. Epitomes of the Portuguese architectural style are Romanesque architecture, Romanesque, Gothic architecture, Gothic and, above all, Manueline, Manueline style. Baroque and Rococo were influential. After the 1755 Lisbon earthquake the Pombaline style (now candidate to become a listed UNESCO heritage site) took over and is still visible, especially in Estremadura Province (historical), Estremadura (the region of the capital city, Lisbon). Other influences include Romanesque evolving into Modern architecture, contemporary styles. The Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian, built in the 1960s is one of defining examples of 20th-century Portuguese architecture. 19th century architects include Maria José Marques da Silva, Helena Roseta, Miguel Ventura Terra and José Marques da Silva. Modern architects include Pritzker Architecture Prize, Pritzker Architecture Prize winners Eduardo Souto de Moura and Álvaro Siza Vieira, Siza Vieira. Others include Raul Lino, Fernando Távora and Álvaro Siza Vieira. Tomás Taveira is noted particularly for stadium design. Other Portuguese architects include Diogo de Arruda (chapter house window at the Convent of Christ (Tomar), Convent of Christ, in Tomar), Pedro Nunes Tinoco and Filippo Terzi (Monastery of São Vicente de Fora), André Soares (architect), André Soares (Falperra Church), José António Caldas (Darkroom, dark room pioneer in Brazil), Carlos Amarante (Bom Jesus do Monte), João Luís Carrilho da Graça, José da Costa e Silva (established Neoclassical architecture in Portugal and Brazil), José Luís Monteiro, José Luis Monteiro, João Abel Manta, Huguet and Mateus Fernandes (architect), Mateus Fernandes (Monastery of Batalha) Portuguese architects who made contributions abroad include Alfredo Azancot in Chile, Emanuele Rodriguez Dos Santos in Italy, and Jo Palma in Canada.


Music

From Italian folk music, folk music to European classical music, classical, music has always played an important role in Culture of Portugal, Portuguese culture. From traditional songs from the North Region, Portugal, north of the country to the rhythms of Portuguese-influenced samba, from ''fado'' to Pop rock, Portuguese pop-rock, Portuguese music has delighted listeners all over the world. Portuguese music dates back to the
Middle Ages In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the 5th to the late 15th centuries, similarly to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire and ...
, when troubadours, poets and musicians sang love songs throughout the Portugal, country. The 16th century brought musical influences such as the stringed instrument, the Kroncong, Krencong, which traveled from Portugal to Indonesia and made a lasting contribution to Indonesian culture. Another instrument of Portuguese origin that gained acclaim in Hawaiian music is the ukulele, which originated on Madeira Island. ''Fado'' is the leading modern genre. Originating in Lisbon in the 19th century, it symbolizes Portuguese culture. ''Fado'' songs often express love, ''saudade'' (longing) and difficulties in life. The great ambassador of Portuguese fado, Amália Rodrigues, had carried the music across the world during the 1950s and 1960s. Musicians such as Mariza, Ana Moura and Cristina Branco, Katia Guerreiro modernized and invigorated this musical art alive. The genre is one of two Portuguese music traditions in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists, along with ''Cante Alentejano''. Besides ''fado'', the country produced other popular music, including Portuguese Pop Rock, developed in the 1980s and 1990s by artists such as Xutos & Pontapés, Rui Veloso, and the Madredeus. The latter are noted for their innovative use of the traditional Portuguese guitar. Other popular imported genres include dance, House music, house, ''kizomba'', ''pimba'', pop, reggae, ska and Zouk (musical movement), ''zouk''. World music stars include Waldemar Bastos. A notable Portuguese ''kizomba'' author is Soraia Ramos. Boss AC, Ângelo César do Rosário Firmino and IAMDDB, Diana De Brito are important rap artists. Hip hop arrived in the early 1990s. The first artist to sign a major record deal was General D. Other important artists from the Hip hop tuga genre include Sam the Kid and Regula. In jazz, notable Portuguese performers include Carmen Souza, Marta Dias, Vânia Fernandes, Maria João (singer), Maria João and Luísa Sobral. while in the ''kuduro'' musical genre in Portugal Valete, Keidje Torres Lima is notable. Other authors are Lura (singer), Lura, Georgina Ribas, Filipa Azevedo, Nenny, Ana Free, and Bárbara Bandeira.


Cinema

Cinema of Portugal, Portuguese cinema appeared at the end of the 19th century, via silent films. In the 1920s that cinema became an important cultural and artistic element. The first Portuguese film, shot in Porto, was directed by in 1896. In homage to the Departure of the Workers from the Lumière Factory (''Workers Leaving the Lumière Factory, La Sortie de l'usine Lumière à Lyon'') by Auguste and Louis Lumière shot in 1895, he filmed the Departure of the Workers from the Confiança Factory (''Saída do Pessoal Operário da Fábrica Confiança''). José Leitão de Barros pioneered the Portuguese film industry, producing and directing silent films starting in the 1910s. One of the first notable female actresses was Cremilda de Oliveira. Manoel de Oliveira extended de la Velle's legacy. His film "''Aniki-Bóbó'' (1942), is notable for its innovation and vision of adolescence. Manoel de Oliveira made more than 30 films, including I'm Going Home (film), ''I'm Going home'' (2001), produced at age 93. In the 1950s, attention pivoted to technically advanced Hollywood, Los Angeles, Hollywood films. In the 1960s, attention returned home. In the 1960s innovative cinema flourished, notably with director Fernando Lopes (filmmaker), Fernando Lopes. He made films that touched on themes of politics and religion, generating debate and controversy at the time. His film ''Belarmino'' (1964), won the Golden Lion at that year's Venice Film Festival, Venice exhibition. Fernando Lopes led a new generation of directors in the 70s and 80s. This period saw films like ''Mudar de Vida'' (1966) by Paulo Rocha (film director), Paulo Rocha. In the 70s the The School of Reis, School of Reis – a concept related to the teachings of Portuguese director António Reis and Margarida Cordeiro – emerged. Notable proponents are João Pedro Rodrigues and Pedro Costa. Despite national success, Portuguese films were largely ignored by international festivals until the emergence of directors such as Marco Martins. In 1989, the first of a new wave of filmmakers, Pedro Costa, presented ''O Sangue''. This film, along with its follow-up efforts in the 90s, ''Ossos'' and Down to Earth (1995 film), ''Casa de Lava'', shaped a distinctive style. Portuguese directors have influenced the international film industry. Manoel de Oliveira was the first Portuguese director to compete for the Palme d'Or at Cannes in 1985. Since then, other Portuguese filmmakers have competed at major international festivals. The ''telenovela'' is a popular genre, brought from Brazilian telenovela, Brazil, and the country is a major producer and consumer. Many Portuguese telenovelas have reached international audiences, such as ''A Única Mulher'', ''Floribella'', ''Morangos com Açúcar'', ''Laços de Sangue'' and ''Conta-me como foi''. Telenovela stars include Liliana Santos, Lúcia Moniz, Diogo Morgado, Vera Kolodzig, Sílvia Alberto, Diogo Amaral, Rita Pereira (actress), Rita Pereira, Joana Ribeiro, Ricardo Pereira (actor), Ricardo Pereira, Mariana Monteiro, and Luciana Abreu. Portuguese authors have participated in international productions; among them Daniela Melchior, Nuno Lopes, Cris Huerta, Helena D'Algy and Rafael Morais. Nuno Sá Pessoa and Diana Andringa are known for documentaries, Nuno Markl, Rita Camarneiro, Ricardo Araújo Pereira, Filomena Cautela and Eduardo Serra are TV hosts (''Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1'' and ''Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2)''.


Influencers


See also

* Ethnic groups in Europe *
Galicians Galicians ( or ''pobo galego''; ) are an ethnic group primarily residing in Galicia, northwest Iberian Peninsula. Historical emigration resulted in populations in other parts of Spain, Europe, and the Americas. Galicians possess distinct cu ...
* Luso-Asians * Luso-Africans * Spanish and Portuguese Jews, Iberian Jews * Portuguese American * Portuguese Canadians * List of Portuguese people * Portuguese cuisine * Portuguese culture * Lusitanics * Lusophone *
Portuguese language Portuguese ( or ) is a Western Romance language of the Indo-European language family originating from the Iberian Peninsula of Europe. It is the official language of Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal and São Tom ...
* :Portuguese people


Notes


References


External links


Ethnographic Map of Pre-Roman Iberia (circa 200 BC)
*

{{Authority control Portuguese people, Ethnic groups in Brazil, Ethnic groups in Portugal, Demographics of Portugal Romance peoples