Continental Portugal (Portuguese: Portugal continental, IPA: [puɾtuˈɣal kõtinẽˈtal]) or mainland Portugal comprises the bulk of the Portuguese Republic, namely that part on the Iberian Peninsula and so in continental Europe, having approximately 95% of the total population and 96.6% of the country's land. Mainland Portugal is therefore commonly called by residents of the Portuguese archipelagos of the Azores and Madeira the continent (Portuguese: o continente) in all respects including minor elements of combined governance from Lisbon, the country's capital. Before 1975, when the Portuguese territory also stretched to several now-independent states in Africa, the designation metropolis (Portuguese: metrópole) was also used.
Context
The designation mainland Portugal is used to differentiate the continental territory of Portugal from its insular territory. The latter comprises the archipelagos of Madeira and Azores in the Atlantic Ocean. The Azores and Madeira are also commonly referred to as the autonomous regions (Portuguese: as regiões autónomas), insular Portugal (Portuguese: Portugal Insular) or, simply, the islands (Portuguese: as ilhas).
Continental Portugal is divided into 18 districts. Outside of these the islands of Madeira and the Azores are the Autonomous Regions of Portugal.
The European Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics defines the geographic plurality of the mainland Portugal and the islands as the primary NUTS I territorial division (see administrative divisions of Portugal: NUTS for details).
While in modern Portugal the difference between European continental and total territory is minor (in terms of area), it mattered during the existence of the Portuguese Empire, when the distinction was more frequently made, such as in the colonisation of Brazil. Continental Portugal has an area of 89,015 square kilometres (34,369 sq mi) or 96.6% of the Portuguese national territory (92,145 square kilometres (35,577 sq mi)) and 10,142,079 inhabitants (or 95.3% of the total population of 10,639,726).
Districts
| District | Province(s) | EU Statistical region(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Viana do Castelo | Minho | Alto Minho |
| Braga | Minho | Ave Cávado Tâmega e Sousa |
| Porto | Douro Litoral | Porto Tâmega e Sousa |
| Vila Real | Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro | Douro Alto Tâmega Ave |
| Bragança | Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro | Trás-os-Montes (majority) Douro |
| Aveiro | Beira Litoral (majority) Douro Litoral | Aveiro (majority) Coimbra Porto Tâmega e Sousa |
| Viseu | Beira Alta (majority) Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro Douro Litoral | Viseu Dão Lafões (majority) Douro Beira Litoral Tâmega e Sousa |
| Guarda | Beira Alta (majority) Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro | Beiras e Serra da Estrela (majority) Viseu Dão Lafões Douro |
| Coimbra | Beira Litoral (majority) Beira Alta Beira Baixa | Coimbra |
| Castelo Branco | Beira Baixa | Beira Baixa Beiras e Serra da Estrela Médio Tejo |
| Leiria | Beira Litoral Estremadura | Leiria Oeste |
| Santarém | Ribatejo (majority) Beira Litoral Beira Baixa | Médio Tejo Lezíria do Tejo |
| Lisbon | Estremadura (majority) Ribatejo | Lisbon (majority) Oeste Lezíria do Tejo |
| Portalegre | Alto Alentejo (majority) Ribatejo | Alto Alentejo |
| Évora | Alto Alentejo | Alentejo Central |
| Setúbal | Estremadura Baixo Alentejo | Lisbon Alentejo Litoral |
| Beja | Baixo Alentejo | Baixo Alentejo (majority) Alentejo Litoral |
| Faro | Algarve | Algarve |
EU Statistical Regions (NUTS II)
| NUTS II | Districts (entirely or partly included) |
|---|---|
| Norte Alto Minho Cávado Ave Porto Douro Tâmega e Sousa Alto Tâmega Trás-os-Montes | Viana do Castelo, Braga, Porto, Aveiro (part), Guarda (part), Viseu (part), Vila Real, Bragança |
| Centro Beira Baixa Beiras e Serra da Estrela Região de Aveiro Região de Coimbra Região de Leiria Viseu Dão Lafões | Castelo Branco, Guarda (majority) Aveiro (majority), Coimbra, Leiria (part), Viseu (majority) |
| Oeste e Vale do Tejo Oeste Médio Tejo Lezíria do Tejo | Santarém District, Leiria District (part) |
| Lisbon Metropolitan Region Lisbon | Lisbon (majority), Setúbal (part) |
| Alentejo Alentejo Litoral Alentejo Central Alto Alentejo Baixo Alentejo | Setúbal (part), Évora, Portalegre, Beja |
| Algarve Algarve | Faro |
See also
- Administrative divisions of Portugal
- Autonomous Regions of Portugal
- Districts of Portugal
- Exclusive economic zone of Portugal
- List of regions and sub-regions of Portugal
- Pluricontinentalism
References
- "População residente (Série longa, início 1991 - N.º) por Local de residência (NUTS - 2013), Sexo e Idade; Anual". Instituto Nacional de Estatística (in Portuguese). 15 June 2023. Archived from the original on 17 June 2023. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
- "Official Journal L 87/2023". eur-lex.europa.eu. Retrieved 2024-01-13.
Continental Portugal Portuguese Portugal continental IPA puɾtuˈɣal kotinẽˈtal or mainland Portugal comprises the bulk of the Portuguese Republic namely that part on the Iberian Peninsula and so in continental Europe having approximately 95 of the total population and 96 6 of the country s land Mainland Portugal is therefore commonly called by residents of the Portuguese archipelagos of the Azores and Madeira the continent Portuguese o continente in all respects including minor elements of combined governance from Lisbon the country s capital Before 1975 when the Portuguese territory also stretched to several now independent states in Africa the designation metropolis Portuguese metropole was also used Map of continental PortugalContextThe designation mainland Portugal is used to differentiate the continental territory of Portugal from its insular territory The latter comprises the archipelagos of Madeira and Azores in the Atlantic Ocean The Azores and Madeira are also commonly referred to as the autonomous regions Portuguese as regioes autonomas insular Portugal Portuguese Portugal Insular or simply the islands Portuguese as ilhas Continental Portugal is divided into 18 districts Outside of these the islands of Madeira and the Azores are the Autonomous Regions of Portugal The European Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics defines the geographic plurality of the mainland Portugal and the islands as the primary NUTS I territorial division see administrative divisions of Portugal NUTS for details While in modern Portugal the difference between European continental and total territory is minor in terms of area it mattered during the existence of the Portuguese Empire when the distinction was more frequently made such as in the colonisation of Brazil Continental Portugal has an area of 89 015 square kilometres 34 369 sq mi or 96 6 of the Portuguese national territory 92 145 square kilometres 35 577 sq mi and 10 142 079 inhabitants or 95 3 of the total population of 10 639 726 DistrictsDistricts of Portugal District Province s EU Statistical region s Viana do Castelo Minho Alto MinhoBraga Minho Ave Cavado Tamega e SousaPorto Douro Litoral Porto Tamega e SousaVila Real Tras os Montes e Alto Douro Douro Alto Tamega AveBraganca Tras os Montes e Alto Douro Tras os Montes majority DouroAveiro Beira Litoral majority Douro Litoral Aveiro majority Coimbra Porto Tamega e SousaViseu Beira Alta majority Tras os Montes e Alto Douro Douro Litoral Viseu Dao Lafoes majority Douro Beira Litoral Tamega e SousaGuarda Beira Alta majority Tras os Montes e Alto Douro Beiras e Serra da Estrela majority Viseu Dao Lafoes DouroCoimbra Beira Litoral majority Beira Alta Beira Baixa CoimbraCastelo Branco Beira Baixa Beira Baixa Beiras e Serra da Estrela Medio TejoLeiria Beira Litoral Estremadura Leiria OesteSantarem Ribatejo majority Beira Litoral Beira Baixa Medio Tejo Leziria do TejoLisbon Estremadura majority Ribatejo Lisbon majority Oeste Leziria do TejoPortalegre Alto Alentejo majority Ribatejo Alto AlentejoEvora Alto Alentejo Alentejo CentralSetubal Estremadura Baixo Alentejo Lisbon Alentejo LitoralBeja Baixo Alentejo Baixo Alentejo majority Alentejo LitoralFaro Algarve AlgarveEU Statistical Regions NUTS II NUTS3 Portugal NUTS II Districts entirely or partly included Norte Alto Minho Cavado Ave Porto Douro Tamega e Sousa Alto Tamega Tras os Montes Viana do Castelo Braga Porto Aveiro part Guarda part Viseu part Vila Real BragancaCentro Beira Baixa Beiras e Serra da Estrela Regiao de Aveiro Regiao de Coimbra Regiao de Leiria Viseu Dao Lafoes Castelo Branco Guarda majority Aveiro majority Coimbra Leiria part Viseu majority Oeste e Vale do Tejo Oeste Medio Tejo Leziria do Tejo Santarem District Leiria District part Lisbon Metropolitan Region Lisbon Lisbon majority Setubal part Alentejo Alentejo Litoral Alentejo Central Alto Alentejo Baixo Alentejo Setubal part Evora Portalegre BejaAlgarve Algarve FaroSee alsoAdministrative divisions of Portugal Autonomous Regions of Portugal Districts of Portugal Exclusive economic zone of Portugal List of regions and sub regions of Portugal PluricontinentalismReferences Populacao residente Serie longa inicio 1991 N º por Local de residencia NUTS 2013 Sexo e Idade Anual Instituto Nacional de Estatistica in Portuguese 15 June 2023 Archived from the original on 17 June 2023 Retrieved 23 April 2023 Official Journal L 87 2023 eur lex europa eu Retrieved 2024 01 13
