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Following its heyday as a world power during the 15th and 16th centuries, Portugal lost much of its wealth and status with the destruction of Lisbon in a 1755 earthquake, occupation during the Napoleonic Wars, and the independence in 1822 of Brazil as a colony. A 1910 revolution deposed the monarchy; for most of the next six decades, repressive governments ran the country. In 1974, a left-wing military coup installed broad democratic reforms. The following year, Portugal granted independence to all of its African colonies. Portugal is a founding member of NATO and entered the EC (now the EU) in 1986.
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Country
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Surface Area: 92,391 square km
Population: 10,524,145 (July 2004 est.)
Located in: Southwestern Europe
Capital City: Lisbon
Head of State: S.E. Jorge Fernando Branco de SAMPAIO
Prime Minister: Jose Manuel DURAO BARROSO
Independent since: 1143 (independent republic proclaimed 5 October 1910)
Currency: €uro
Flag (image): 
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