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Portugal and the euro

04 February 2008
by eub2 -- last modified 04 February 2008

Portugal joined the European Union in 1986 and was one of the first-wave EU countries to adopt the euro on 1 January 1999.


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Portugal at a glance

Surface area: 91 910 km2
Population: 10 599 095 (Eurostat 2007, provisional figure)
Joined the European Union: 1 January 1986
Currency: Euro since 1 January 1999 (formerly Portuguese escudo, PTE)

Euro information

Status: Euro-area member since 1 January 1999.

Fixed conversion rate: €1 = 200.482 PTE

Adoption of the euro: The euro banknotes and coins were introduced in Portugal on 1 January 2002, after a transitional period of three years when the euro was the official currency but only existed as 'book money'. The dual circulation period – when both the Portuguese escudo and the euro had legal tender status – ended on 28 February 2002.

Exchange of former national currency: The Banco de Portugal (Central Bank of Portugal) exchanged escudo coins until 31 December 2002 and will continue to exchange escudo banknotes until 28 February 2022.

Documents and publications

  • Documents from the euro changeover, as well as the 2002 information campaign, are available on the Bank of Portugal website

Opinion polls and surveys

Websites

Euro websites

Institutions

Business

Consumers


Source: European Commission