Flag of Portugal

🎨 What the flag means

Portugal's flag is green and red, with the national emblem where the colours meet. The golden armillary sphere, an old tool for studying the sky, honours the explorers of the Age of Discoveries. The shield shows seven castles and five small blue shields. Many people say green stands for hope and red for the courage of the Portuguese people.

📊 Quick facts

👥 Population

10.3 million (2021)

🏙️ Capital

Lisbon545.8 thousand people (2021)

🗣️ Main language

Portuguese

✨ 3 fun facts

1. Most of the world's cork, used for bottle stoppers, comes from the bark of Portugal's cork oak trees.
2. In 1498, Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama reached India by sea, opening a new trade route from Europe.
3. Portugal includes two groups of islands far out in the Atlantic Ocean: Madeira and the Azores.