Lisbon, Portugal

LISBON, PORTUGAL

Lisbon is one of the world's great historical cities, with characteristic and surprising sights, cultural treasures, and a beautiful setting that is paradise for walkers and photographers. It is a friendly city, welcoming to all visitors. Its climate makes it an ideal year-round destination. Even in winter, when most other European cities are freezing, Lisbon's high temperatures rarely go below 50F. It is the only European capital located so close to sandy beaches, letting it's visitors combine culture with fun by the sea. It's a compact and intimate city, ideal for a short city break or a longer romantic stay, with a lively café culture and a nightlife that is one of the most vibrant in Europe.

pixshark.com

http://www.orangesmile.com/travelguide/lisbon/photo-gallery.htm

www.savespendsplurge.com

http://paradiseintheworld.com/lisbon-portugal/

http://www.charmingasiatours.com/tours/portugal-tour/

www.tripadvisor.com.br

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lisbon_Bridge.jpg

http://www.noholidaynolife.com/2010/10/07/some-interesting-facts-about-lisbon-2/

Economic Activites

Economic Activities of Portugal (2011)

www.focus-economics.com

Exports (Total = $51,675,924,491)

Some big exports...

Live Animals/Animal Products $1,463,210,191

Vegetable Products $922,858,062

Animal and Vegetable Fats/Oils $536,675,707

Prepared Foodstuffs $3,479,577,449

Plastic and Rubber Products $3,869,575,340

Articles of Animal such as leather, fur, etc. $118,978,853

Wood, Cork, Straw, etc. $1,820,888,447

Recovered wood, paper, etc. $1,417,893,570

Textiles $5,387,308,474

Pearls, Semi- Precious Gems, Precious Metals & Imitation Jewelry $781,264,786

Machinery, Appliances, Electrical Equipments, etc. $8,076,999,612

Vehicles, Aircraft Vessels, Transport Equipment $7,809,823,836

Arms and Ammunition $53,240,674

Works of Art, Antiques $11.595,519

* Between 2005 and 2011, exports have risen $16,766,786,043. From 2005 to 2008, exports were on the rise. Exports fell from 2008 to 2009, and began to rise again in 2010. 

Imports

Live Animals/Animal Products $3,813,623,563

Vegetable Products $3,229,361,054

Animal and Vegetable Fats/Oils $780,618,085

Prepared Foodstuffs $3,539,815,784

Plastic and Rubber Products $4,313,334,485

Articles of Animal such as leather, fur, etc. $322,591,993

Wood, Cork, Straw, etc. $916,375,845

Recovered wood, paper, etc. $1,189,510,555

Textiles $4,340,283,519

Pearls, Semi- Precious Gems, Precious Metals & Imitation Jewelry $273,021,104

Machinery, Appliances, Electrical Equipments, etc. $9,893,130,155

Vehicles, Aircraft Vessels, Transport Equipment $8,509,216,578

Arms and Ammunition $75,367,431

Works of Art, Antiques $7,182,922

Commodity Prices

http://www.indexmundi.com/commodities/

Agriculture

Agriculture of Portugal

www.trekearth.com

Portugal's climatic and topographic conditions allow for an extremely large number of crops. The main crops grown in Portugal are cereals (wheat, barley, corn and rice), potatoes, grapes (for wine), olives and tomatoes. Portugal is one of the world's largest exporters of tomato paste and a leading exporter of wines. These overseas sales help offset the cost of imported wheat and meat. Portugal also produces green vegetables, figs, oilseeds, nuts, cherries, bilberry, and edible mushrooms and is also well known for beef, cheeses, fruit and pork.

www.shutterstock.com

www.dailymail.co.uk

saltofportugal.com

More than one-third of Portugal is forested. Most of the mountainous areas are well suited to forestry and forest products, such as cork, resins and pine and eucalyptus timber. The market value of these natural products has increased and there is a growing demand for the industry.

portugalhomeholidays.blogspot.com

Portugal's long coastline and the abundance of fish in the surrounding waters have favoured the development of the fishing industry. Sardines, anchovies and tuna caught near the coasts, together with other species such as codfish from the North Atlantic, largely contribute to food supplies. The fish industry has prospered and its products are exported all over the world.

Human Development Report

What is Human Development?

imgarcade.com

The Human Development Index is a summary of human development around the world that implies if a country is developed, still developing, or underdeveloped based on certain aspects of life such as health, education, income, etc. Health is measured by life expectancy at birth and those with higher life expectancies rank higher than those with lower life expectancies. Knowledge level is measured by the adult literacy rate and the gross enrollment ratios of students in primary school through the university level. Those with higher standards of living rank higher than those with lower standards of living. This is measured with the gross domestic product per capita in purchasing power parity terms, based on United States dollars.

The results of the HDI are published in the Human Development Report, commissioned by the United Nations Development Program and written by scholars who study world development and members of the Human Development Report Office. According to the United Nations Development Program, human development is “about creating an environment in which people can develop their full potential and lead productive, creative lives in accord with their needs and interests. People are the real wealth of nations. Development is thus about expanding the choices people have to lead lives that they value.” The generated political competition is seen as a positive result of the HDI.

For more information on Human Development Reports :

Human Development in Portugal

Index: 0.822 (out of 1.00)

Rank: 41

HEALTH

www.unomaha.edu

Life expectancy at birth : 79.95

Infant mortality rate (per 1000 live births): 3

Mortality rate under 5 (per 1000 children under 5): 4

Adult mortality rate (female): 50

Adult mortality rate (male): 117

Standardized obesity rate (% 20+): 21.6

Health expenditure(% GDP): 10.36

EDUCATION

freedomoutpost.com

Mean years of schooling: 8.25

Expected years of schooling: 16.3

Adult literacy rate: 95.4

Enrollment rate percentage for pre-primary schooling: 83

Enrollment rate percentage for primary schooling: 112

Enrollment rate percentage for secondary schooling: 110

Enrollment rate percentage for tertiary schooling: 66

Pupil/teacher ratio: 11

Expenditure on education: 5.79 

INCOME

future-success.org

Gross national income per capita : 24,130.07

GDP (in billions): 263.88

GDP per capita: 25,096.32

Gross fixed capital formation (% GDP): 15.83

Consumer price index: 116.08

***The HDI results indicate that Portugal has very high human development. 

Education in Portugal

Educational System in Portugal

Pre-school Education

Run by State organizations, charitable institutions, private and cooperative organizations, pre-school education is an optional schooling offered in Portugal that will accept children ages three to five. Pre-school education is considered very important because it is a foundational structure for lifelong learning, and considered a social and cultural necessity.

Pre-school education aims at teaching children social skills, comprehension reading and writing in multiple languages, a positive sense of ones self while recognizing and respecting different cultures, critical thinking and active learning, health and environment issues, and democratic participation for their age level.

www.autodetaildoctor.com

Basic Education

Basic education is for ages six to fifteen. It’s divided into three cycles: the first cycle is for four years and for ages six to ten, the second cycle is for two years and for ages ten to twelve, and the third cycle is for three years for ages twelve to fifteen. The first cycle is completed in primary schools, while the second and third are completed in secondary schools.

 In order to enter the first cycle, the child must be six by the 16th of September. If a child is six by December 31st, they can also enter first cycle, but older the children get priority when filling the classrooms. Basic education must be attended in the area where the child lives, or where the parents work. 

In order to register a child to school they need to show registration papers, health certificate, three passport photos, proof of identity, and a leaving certificate that confirms the previous level completed by a student.

www.mychoicefreedom.com

At the end of the school year, students have to be assessed by a National Exam. Those who do not reach a satisfactory score will not move on to the next stage, but will reapeat all or part of the year. Students who pass the general assessment at the end of the third cycle get awarded with a certificate of basic education by their school.

Secondary Education

Children ages fourteen and fifteen may continue with secondary education. Secondary education has a cost for enrollment and tuition, textbooks, and other school supplies. At the end of the tenth and eleventh year of schooling, there is a general written test in every subject called internal assessment. This test, along with the Class Council decides if a student can advance to the next class or repeat. In the twelfth year, an external assessment is given in the form of a written exam.  A student must pass every subject in order to pass that year. A certificate is awarded to each student that passes and indicates their final mark in each subject.

www.racetams.net

Higher Education

In order to apply to higher education, a student must have completed three years of secondary education and have a diploma(or equivalent) from secondary school. Higher education includes polytechnics, public and private institutions. Degrees to be achieved can be a bachelors degree, which takes three years, or licentiate degree, taking up to six years. 

www.wedonumbers.com

Population Statistics for Portugal

As of July 2014, the population of Portugal was 10,813,834.

www.portuguesearmeriicansinrhodeisland.com

www.tightropeforum.com

Population growth rate is 0.12%.

Birth rate is 9.42 births/1000 population.

Death rate is 10.97 deaths/1000 population.

Fertility rate is 1.52 live births/woman

Infant mortality

Total- 4.48 deaths/1000 live births

Male- 4.92 deaths/1000 live births

Female-4.02 deaths/1000 live births

Life Expectancy at birth

Total-79.01 years
Male-75.76 years
Female- 82.47 years

www.facebook.com

www.eurail.com

Urban population is 61.1% of total population

HIV/AIDS
Adult prevalence rate 0.6%
People living with HIV/AIDS 42,000
Deaths due to HIV/AIDS is less than 500

Obesity's adult prevalence is 24%

Literacy(15+ can read and write)
Total is 95.4%
97% male
94% female 

Unemployment(15-24)
total-37.6%
male-36.4%
female- 39.1%

Cultural Symbols

Cultural Symbols of Portugal

Portuguese Flag

The Portuguese flag is made up of a coat of arms, red color and green color. The five blue shields inside the white shield represent the first King of Portugal, Afonso Henriques, and his victory against five Moorish Kings at the battle of Ourique. The five white dots inside each blue shield represent Christianity. Seven castles are shown to represent the locations conquered from the Moorish Kings. The yellow sphere represents the world discovered by the Portuguese. All these parts make up the Portuguese coat of arms. The green color represents hope and red color represents courage and the blood shed by Portuguese in battle.

commons.wikimedia.org

Galo de Barcelos (Barcelos Rooster)

The Galo de Barcelos is a national symbol of Portugal that represents honesty, trust, integrity and honor and is also thought to bring good luck. As the old tale goes, there was a theft of silver from a landowner in Barcelos and the criminal could not be found. When a stranger from a neighboring area was spotted in Barcelos, the authorities seized him and blamed him for the crime despite all his oaths of innocence. He was sentenced to a hanging. During his execution, he asked the Lord to make the dead rooster crow three times to prove his innocence. In the presence of the judge, the rooster crowed three times and the stranger was fortunately hanged unsuccessfully due to a bad knot. Since then, the rooster became a reminder the tale. 

en.wikipedia.org

Guimarães Castle

One of the most attractive places to visit in Portugal is the Guimarães Castle, the birthplace of the first king, Afonso Henriques, and the first capital of Portugal. In the 1000s, it was originally built to protect the Portuguese form attack, but in the 1200s the size of the castle was enlarged by the king. The castle is very well preserved and a big tourist attraction today.

commons.wikimedia.org

www.worldfortravel.com

www.all-about-portugal.com