@Portugal:Economy
Economy - overview: Portugal is an upcoming capitalist economy with a per capita GDP two-thirds that of the four big West European economies. In 1999, it continued to enjoy sturdy economic growth, falling interest rates, and low unemployment. The country qualified for the European Monetary Union (EMU) in 1998 and joined with 10 other European countries in launching the euro on 1 January 1999. Portugal's inflation rate for 1999, 2.4%, was comfortably low. The country continues to run a trade deficit and a balance of payments deficit. The government is working to modernize capital plant and increase the country's competitiveness in the increasingly integrated world markets. Growth is expected to remain stable in 2000 as the economic integration of Europe proceeds. Improvement in the education sector is critical to the catch-up process.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $151.4 billion (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 3.2% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $15,300 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 4% industry: 36% services: 60% (1999 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.4% (1999 est.)
Labor force: 4.75 million (1998 est.)