Political divisions of Portugal
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Districts
There are 18 Districts (distritos, singular - distrito) in mainland Portugal:
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note: Territorial division in Portugal is currently in flux, because of planned centralization. Districts are to be phased out.
Portugal will be divided into two autonomous regions (regiões autónomas, singular - região autónoma): the Azores (Açores) and Madeira, greater metropolitan areas (grandes áreas metropolitanas, singular - grande área metropolitana), urban communities(comunidades urbanas, singular - comunidade urbana) and intermunicipal communities (comunidades intermunicipais, singular - comunidade intermunicipal). The divisions are organized by level of autonomy, from greatest to smallest.
Each metropolitan area, urban community and autonomous region is further subdivided into municipalities.
Metropolitan Areas
The metropolitan areas (Grande Área Metropolitana, in Portuguese) are territorial units formed by grouping municipalities. Their purpose is to economize on municipal investments and services. New Portuguese laws approved in May 2003 give the metropolitan areas greater autonomy. They are required to include at least nine municipalities with a total of at least 350,000 inhabitants.
Lisbon (Lisboa)
The Lisbon Metropolitan Area consists of 18 municipalities (largest to smallest, by population): Lisbon, Sintra, Loures, Amadora, Cascais, Oeiras, Almada, Seixal, Odivelas, Vila Franca de Xira, Setúbal, Barreiro, Moita, Mafra, Palmela, Montijo, Sesimbra, and Alcochete. By the 2001 census, its population was 2,547,665 inhabitants. It is also known as Grande Lisboa (Greater Lisbon), but this term, normally, refers to the territory north of the Tagus river. The capital is Lisbon.
Oporto (Porto)
Also known as Grande Porto (Greater Oporto), the Oporto Metropolitan Area consists of 14 municipalities (largest to smallest, by population): Vila Nova de Gaia, Oporto, Matosinhos, Gondomar, Santa Maria da Feira, Maia, Valongo, Vila do Conde, Santo Tirso, Póvoa de Varzim, Trofa, Espinho, Arouca and São João da Madeira. By the 2001 census, its population was 1,509,958 inhabitants and the capital is Oporto.
Minho
Has 12 municipalities (largest to smallest): Braga, Guimarães, Vila Nova de Famalicão, Barcelos, Fafe, Vila Verde, Vizela, Celorico de Basto, Amares, Cabeceiras de Basto, Vieira do Minho and Terras de Bouro. Braga is the capital. By the 2001 census, its population was 754,830 inhabitants.
Aveiro
Has 13 municipalities (largest to smallest): Aveiro, Oliveira de Azeméis, Ovar, Águeda, Ílhavo, Anadia, Estarreja, Vale de Cambra, Albergaria-a-Velha, Vagos, Oliveira do Bairro, Sever do Vouga and Murtosa. Aveiro is the capital. By the 2001 census, its population was 460,157 inhabitants.
Coimbra
Has 16 municipalities (largest to smallest): Coimbra, Figueira da Foz, Cantanhede, Montemor-o-Velho, Soure, Mealhada, Penacova, Lousã, Condeixa-a-Nova, Miranda do Corvo, Mira, Tábua, Mortágua, Vila Nova de Poiares, Penela and Góis. By the 2001 census, its population was 430,845 inhabitants.
Algarve
Has 16 municipalities (largest to smallest): Loulé, Faro, Portimão, Olhão, Silves, Albufeira, Lagos, Tavira, Lagoa, Vila Real de Santo António, São Brás de Alportel, Monchique, Castro Marim, Aljezur, Vila do Bispo and Alcoutim. Faro is the capital. By the 2001 census, its population was 391,819 inhabitants.
Viseu
Has 21 municipalities (largest to smallest): Viseu, Tondela, Seia, Mangualde, São Pedro do Sul, Castro Daire, Gouveia, Nelas, Sátão, Santa Comba Dão, Vouzela, Moimenta da Beira, Oliveira de Frades, Carregal do Sal, Penalva do Castelo, Tarouca, Aguiar da Beira, Sernancelhe, Vila Nova de Paiva, Fornos de Algodres and Penedono. Viseu is the capital. By the 2001 census, its population was 354,162 inhabitants.
Urban Communities
They are also metropolitan areas, but smaller.
Oeste
Oeste (Eng. West) is a community northwest of Lisbon in the central-litoral part of Portugal. The capital is Caldas da Rainha and it has 12 municipalities (largest to smallest): Torres Vedras, Alcobaça, Caldas da Rainha, Alenquer, Peniche, Lourinhã, Nazaré, Cadaval, Bombarral, Óbidos, Arruda dos Vinhos and Sobral de Monte Agraço. By the 2001 census, its population was 338,747 inhabitants.
Vale do Sousa
Vale do Sousa is a community just east of Oporto, the first to be formed (January 2004) and it has a growing economical and industrial environment. Vale do Sousa consists of 6 municipalities (largest to smallest): Paredes, Penafiel, Felgueiras, Paços de Ferreira, Lousada and Castelo de Paiva. Penafiel is the capital. By the 2001 census, its population was 327,768 inhabitants.
Leiria
It has 8 municipalities (largest to smallest): Leiria, Pombal, Ourém, Marinha Grande, Porto de Mós, Batalha, Ansião and Alvaiázere. Leiria is the capital. By the 2001 census, its population was 317,271 inhabitants.
Lezíria do Tejo
It has 11 municipalities (largest to smallest): Santarém, Cartaxo, Benavente, Almeirim, Coruche, Rio Maior, Azambuja, Salvaterra de Magos, Chamusca, Alpiarça and Golegã. Santarém is the capital. By the 2001 census, its population was 240,322 inhabitants.
Baixo Alentejo
It is the largest political division of Portugal (by area) and has 18 municipalities (largest to smallest): Beja, Santiago do Cacém, Odemira, Serpa, Moura, Grândola, Alcácer do Sal, Sines, Aljustrel, Ferreira do Alentejo, Mértola, Almodôvar, Castro Verde, Ourique, Vidigueira, Cuba, Alvito and Barrancos. By the 2001 census, its population was 234,481 inhabitants. The capital is Beja.
Trás-os-Montes
It occupies the northeastern area of Portugal and has 15 municipalities (largest to smallest): Chaves, Bragança, Mirandela, Valpaços, Macedo de Cavaleiros, Vila Pouca de Aguiar, Montalegre, Mogadouro, Vinhais, Miranda do Douro, Ribeira de Pena, Boticas, Alfândega da Fé, Vimioso and Freixo de Espada Cinta The capital is Bragança and by the 2001 census, its population was 227,883 inhabitants.
Valimar
Valimar is a community, north of Oporto (formed March 2004) in the historical region of Entre-Douro-e-Minho. Its name suggest sea (Port. mar), Valleys (Port. vale) and Lima River. Valimar gathers 6 municipalities: Arcos de Valdevez, Caminha, Esposende, Ponte da Barca, Ponte de Lima and Viana do Castelo. The capital of the community is Ponte de Lima. By the 2001 census, its population was 220,799 inhabitants.
Centro Alentejo
It has 16 municipalities (largest to smallest): Évora, Elvas, Montemor-o-Novo, Estremoz, Vendas Novas, Reguengos de Monsaraz, Vila Viçosa, Campo Maior, Borba, Arraiolos, Redondo, Portel, Alandroal, Mora, Viana do Alentejo and Mourão. The capital is Évora. By the 2001 census, its population was 204,798 inhabitants.
Baixo Tâmega
It has 7 municipalities (largest to smallest): Amarante, Marco de Canavezes, Baião, Cinfães, Celorico de Basto, Resende and Mondim de Basto. The capital is Amarante. By the 2001 census, its population was 198,058 inhabitants.
Douro
It has 15 municipalities (largest to smallest): Vila Real, Lamego, Peso da Régua, Alijó, Torre de Moncorvo, São João da Pesqueira, Santa Marta de Penaguião, Vila Nova de Foz Côa, Vila Flor, Carrazeda de Ansiães, Armamar, Sabrosa, Tabuaço, Murça and Mesão Frio. The capital is Vila Real. By the 2001 census, its population was 195,203 inhabitants.
Médio Tejo
It has 11 municipalities (largest to smallest): Tomar, Abrantes, Torres Novas, Entroncamento, Alcanena, Ferreira do Zêzere, Mação, Vila Nova da Barquinha, Sardoal, Constância and Vila de Rei. The capital is Tomar. By the 2001 census, its population was 191,617 inhabitants.
Beiras
It has 12 municipalities (largest to smallest): Covilhã, Guarda, Sabugal, Pinhel, Trancoso, Celorico da Beira, Almeida, Belmonte, Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo, Penamacor, Meda and Manteigas. The capital is Guarda. By the 2001 census, its population was 183,592 inhabitants.
Intermunicipal communities
Pinhal
Pinhal (Eng. Pinewood) has 7 municipalities (largest to smallest): Oliveira do Hospital, Sertã, Arganil, Figueirá dos Vinhos, Pampilhosa da Serra, Pedrógão Grande and Castanheira de Pêra. The capital is Sertã. By the 2001 census, its population was 73,185 inhabitants.
Vale do Minho
The Minho Valley Community has 5 municipalities (largest to smallest): Monção, Valença, Melgaço, Paredes de Coura and Vila Nova de Cerveira. The capital is Valença. By the 2001 census, its population was 62,373 inhabitants.
Undefined areas
So far (May, 2004), there are still to be defined the municipalities of:
- Beira Interior Sul
Not a definitive list: Castelo Branco, Fundão, Idanha-a-Nova, Proença-a-Nova, Oleiros, Vila Velha de Ródão. The total population is 119,263, by the 2001 census.
- Alto Alentejo
Not a definitive list: Portalegre, Ponte de Sor, Nisa, Sousel, Avis, Gavião, Crato, Marvão, Alter do Chão, Castelo de Vide, Fronteira, Monforte and Arronches. The total population is 95,086 by the 2001 census.
Autonomous regions
Since 1978, Portugal conceded political autonomy to its archipelagos (Madeira and Azores) due to the great distance from Lisbon. The regional autonomies have Regional Governments that are constituted by the Presidente do Governo Regional (Regional Government President) and by Secretários Regionais (Regional Secretaries).
Azores
The Azores (Açores, in Portuguese) is an archipelago of nine islands and some islets discovered and settled by the Portuguese in the 15th century. The Azores lies a third of the distance between Europe and North America. Located on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, the Azores has the only active volcano in Portugal, although there are several underwater volcanoes. The Azores also has the highest mountain in Portugal, Pico (2,351 meters).
The Azorian parliament is located in the town of Horta on Faial Island the political capital of the islands, but Ponta Delgada on São Miguel Island is seen as the capital of the islands, while Angra do Heroísmo on Terceira Island is considered as the historical and cultural capital. Pico Island has vineyards protected by UNESCO and classified as a World Heritage site.
Madeira
Madeira is an archipelago formed by two islands – Madeira and Porto Santo – plus two smaller groups of islands – Desertas and Savage (in Portuguese, Selvagens). The archipelago is closer to Africa than Europe. Madeira has a unique kind of forest (Floresta Laurisilva) known in Portugal as Pérola do Atântico (Pearl of the Atlantic) because of its natural beauty. It is now protected by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
The main city of Madeira is Funchal.
Former Regions
Before 1974, Portugal was divided in regions (regiões, singular - região) or provinces (províncias, singular - província). There was a substancial difference between the european provinces/regions and the overseas colonies (the so-called overseas provincies) Those regions/provinces were abolished and the districts became the 2nd level administrative regions with the Carnation Revolution of 1974.
Mapa_fundo.gif
Map with former Portuguese provincies/regions. From Algarve to Trás-os-Montes and Upper-Douro.
Provinces/Regions
- Alentejo
- Baixo-Alentejo (Lower-Alentejo)
- Alto-Alentejo (Upper-Alentejo)
- District of Portalegre
- Estremadura (do not confuse with Spain's Extremadura)
- Beira
- Beira Litoral
- Beira-Baixa (Lower-Beira)
- District of Castelo Branco
- Beira-Alta (Upper-Beira)
- Beira
- Douro-Litoral
- District of Porto (Oporto)
- Douro-Litoral
- Minho
- District of Braga
- District of Viana do Castelo
- Minho
- Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (Trás-os-Montes and Upper-Douro)
- Açores (Azores)
- District of Ponta Delgada
- District of Angra do Heroísmo
- District of Horta
- Açores (Azores)
Overseas Provinces
- Angola - overseas province (1951-1975). Independence in 1975.
- Cabo Verde/Cape Verde - overseas province (1951-1974); autonomous republic (1974-1975). Independence in 1975.
- Guiné Portuguesa/Portuguese Guinea - overseas province (1951-1974). Unilatereral independence declared in 1973, recognized by Portugal in 1974.
- Macau/Macao - overseas province (1844-1883); combined overseas province with Timor-Leste under Goa (1883-1951); overseas province (1951-1975); overseas territory (1975-1999). Returned to China as a special administrative region in 1999.
- Moçambique (Mozambique/Portuguese East Africa) - overseas province (1951-1974); local administration (1974-1975). Independence in 1975.
- Índia Portuguesa/Portuguese India - overseas province (1946-1962). Annexed by India in 1962 and recognised by Portugal in 1974.
- São Tomé e Príncipe - overseas province (1951-1971); local administration (1971-1975). Independence in 1978.
- Timor-Leste (East-Timor) - overseas territory (1951-1961); republic and unilateral indepedence proclaimed, annexed by Indonesia (1961-1999, UN recognition as Portuguese territory). UN administration in 1999 until independence.
note: Brazil - became kingdom under United Kingdom of Portugal (Reino Unido de Portugal, Brasil e Algarve(s) 1815-1822), independence in 1822.
See also
External links
- Lisbon Metropolitan Area (http://www.aml.pt/English/pgprincipal/main.php)
- Oporto Metropolitan Area (http://www.amp.pt/ampp2_en.htm)
- Madeira's Regional Government (http://www.gov-madeira.pt/)
- Azores' Regional Government (http://www.azores.gov.pt/)
- Current and Former Colonies and Possessions of Portugual from World Statesmen (http://www.worldstatesmen.org/COLONIES.html#Portuguese)de:Administrative Gliederung Portugals
fr:Subdivisions du Portugal it:Divisioni amministrative del Portogallo pt:Subdivisões de Portugal