The People

The nation has a relatively homogeneous population. Blacks from former African colonies form the largest minority group.

Portuguese is the official language and there are no large linguistic minorities. Almost all the people are Roman Catholics. There is freedom of religion, and small minorities of Protestants and Jews are in the larger cities. Religious festivals and feasts, celebrated with great enthusiasm, play an important role in Portuguese life.

Primary education is free and compulsory from age 6 to age 15. There are not enough schools in all areas, and Portugal's adult illiteracy rate of about 11 per cent is one of the highest in Europe. Secondary education is provided by the government; attendance is not compulsory.

The major universities are in Lisbon, Coimbra, and Oporto. The oldest is Coimbra University, founded in 1290. There are also schools of art, music, education, commerce, and medicine, as well as a naval and a military academy.

Lisbon, cultural center of the nation, has numerous libraries, museums, and art galleries. The most important of these are the National Library, the Historical Archives, and the Military Museum.

Soccer is Portugal's most popular sport. Another prominent spectator sport is bullfighting, which differs from the Spanish variety in that the bull is not killed.