Political Divisions Of Portugal Districts Metropolitan Areas

There are 18 Districts (distritos, singular - distrito) in mainland Portugal:

note: Territorial division in Portugal is currently in flux, because of planned decentralization. Districts are to be phased out.

Each metropolitan area, urban community and autonomous region is further subdivided into municipalitiesMany of the municipalities of Portugal are older than the country itself. Some cities, towns and villages have twice the age of Portugal, or even more. Portugal is one of the oldest countries in Europe and in the world. The country was formed as a depende.

2 Metropolitan Areas

The metropolitan areas (Grande Área Metroplitana, in portuguese) are a territorial unity and continuity that gatters municipalities. Its aim is to assure the best joint on investment and services in a supramunicipal way. By the new Portuguese laws, approved in May 2003, the metropolitan areas will have a bigger autonomy. They obligatorily understand a minimum of nine municipalities with, at least, a sum of 350,000 inhabitants.

2.1 Lisbon (Lisboa)

The Lisbon Metropolitan Area consists of 18 municipalities (largest to smallest, by population): LisbonLisbon (in Portuguese, Lisboa is the capital and largest city of Portugal. It is the seat of the district of Lisbon. Geography and Location Lisbon is situated at 38 degrees, 43 minutes north, and 9 degrees, 8 mintes west. It is located in the west of the, 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.

2.2 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.

2.3 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.

2.4 Aveiro

Has 13 municipalities (largest to smallest): Aveiro, Oliveira de Azeméis, Ovar , Águeda , Ílhavo, Anadia, Portugal , 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.

2.5 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.

2.6 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.

2.7 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.

3 Urban Communities

They are also metropolitan areas, but smaller.

3.1 Oeste

Oeste is a community northwest of Lisbon. 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.

3.2 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.

3.3 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.

3.4 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.

3.5 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.

3.6 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 à Cinta The capital is Bragança and by the 2001 census, its population was 227,883 inhabitants.

3.7 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.

3.8 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.

3.9 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.

3.10 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.

3.11 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.

3.12 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.

4 Intermunicipal communities

4.1 Pinhal

Pinhal (pinewood in english) 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.

4.2 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.

5 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.

6 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).

6.1 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 in the middle-Atlantic dorsa, there is only a single active volcano on the Azores and it is the only one in Portugal, although there are several underwater volcanoes. Azores has also the highest mountain in Portugal, Pico (2,351 meters).

The Azorian parliament is located in Horta, Faial Island, being the political capital of the islands. But Ponta Delgada, São Miguel Island, is seen has the capital of the islands. While Angra do Heroísmo , Terceira Island is considered has the historical and cultural capital. The Pico Island has vineyards protected by UNESCO and classified as World Heritage.

6.2 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 rather to Europe. Madeira has a unique kind of forest (Floresta Laurissilva), that is now protect by UNESCO as World Heritage. It is know in Portugal has Pérola do Atântico (Pearl of the Atlantic) because of its natural beauty.

The main city of Madeira is Funchal.

7 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.

Provincies/Regions

- Algarve
  - District of Faro

- Alentejo
  - Baixo-Alentejo (Lower-Alentejo)
    - District of Beja
    - District of Évora
  - Alto-Alentejo (Upper-Alentejo)
    - District of Portalegre

- Estremadura (do not confuse with Spain's Extremadura)
  - District of Lisboa (Lisbon)
  - District of Setúbal

- Ribatejo
  - District of Santarém

- Beira
  - Beira Litoral
    - District of Coimbra
    - District of Leiria
    - District of Aveiro
  - Beira-Baixa (Lower-Beira)
    - District of Castelo Branco
  - Beira-Alta (Upper-Beira)
    - District of Guarda
    - District of Viseu

- Douro-Litoral
  - District of Porto (Oporto)

- Minho
  - District of Braga
  - District of Viana do Castelo

- Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (Trás-os-Montes and Upper-Douro)
  - District of Vila Real
  - District of Bragança (Braganza)

- Açores (Azores)
  - District of Ponta Delgada
  - District of Angra do Heroísmo
  - District of Horta

- Madeira
  - District of Funchal

Overseas Provinces

- Angola
- Moçambique (Mozambique)
- Guiné "Portuguesa" ("Portuguese" Guinea)
- Cabo Verde (Cape Verde)
- São Tomé e Príncipe (São Tomé and Príncipe)
- Índia Portuguesa (Portuguese India - Goa, Daman and Diu)
- Macau (Macao)
- Timor-Leste (East-Timor)

8 See also

9 External Links

Portugal, Political divisions of Portugal

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1 Districts