Discover
The identity of the nation
Portugal lies at the western tip of Europe, on the Iberian Peninsula, and carries a history marked by the great maritime discoveries that, centuries ago, took Portuguese navigators to nearly every continent. Today it is a small country in territory and population, but with a strong cultural identity, shaped by the Portuguese language, by fado music and by a pace of life more relaxed than that of other European capitals.
Most of the population identifies as Christian, the great majority Catholic, the result of centuries of history tied to the Church. But this identity is, in large part, cultural: many Portuguese call themselves Catholic out of family tradition, without living an active, personal faith. The country is today one of the most secularized in Europe, with a growing number of people, especially young people, who practice no religion at all.
In this setting, the evangelical movement is small but has been growing visibly in recent years, driven in good part by the arrival of immigrants from Brazil and from Lusophone (Portuguese-speaking) African countries. New churches have emerged, and there is also a growing number of Portuguese who leave cultural Catholicism to live a personal evangelical faith, even though this sometimes creates tension within their own family.
Portugal also holds a historic calling to connect peoples: it was the country that, centuries ago, carried the Portuguese language to four continents, and today it can be a bridge to reach the Lusophone world, made up of countries like Brazil, Angola and Mozambique, as well as the Muslim and Hindu immigrant communities living within its territory, many of them still with no real contact with the gospel.
The missionary challenge in Portugal is not persecution, since religious freedom is full, but spiritual indifference: a society that has heard about Jesus for centuries and now needs to rediscover him as something alive and personal, not just a tradition inherited from ancestors.
- Territory occupied since antiquity by Lusitanians, Celts and Romans, and later by Germanic and Arab peoples.
- 1139 Afonso Henriques proclaims himself king and founds the Kingdom of Portugal.
- 1249 End of the Christian Reconquest in the Algarve; the country's borders remain practically the same to this day.
- 1415-1498 Beginning of the Age of Discovery: Portuguese maritime expeditions reach Africa and India.
- 1500 The expedition of Pedro Álvares Cabral reaches the territory that is now Brazil.
- 1580-1640 Portugal comes under the Spanish crown, a period known as the Iberian Union.
- 1755 A major earthquake destroys much of Lisbon.
- 1822 Brazil becomes independent from Portugal.
- 1910 End of the monarchy and proclamation of the First Republic.
- 1926-1974 Period of dictatorship, with strong state control over society.
- 1974 The Carnation Revolution overthrows the dictatorship almost peacefully and restores democracy.
- 1986 Portugal joins the European Union.
- Today A democratic, developed country, but facing challenges of secularization and low birth rates.
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Portugueseofficial language, spoken by virtually the entire population
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Mirandesethe country's second official language, spoken by a small community in the northeast, in the Miranda do Douro region
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Immigrant languagescreoles from Lusophone African countries, Ukrainian and other languages brought by immigrant communities
Portugal lies at the western tip of the Iberian Peninsula (the region of Europe where Portugal and Spain sit), with an extensive coastline along the Atlantic Ocean. The country's territory also includes the Azores and Madeira archipelagos, groups of islands in the middle of the ocean. The terrain varies a great deal: drier plains in the south, mountain ranges and highlands in the center and north, and the Tagus River, the largest river on the peninsula, crosses the center of the country before reaching the sea at Lisbon.
Major cities
- LisbonCapital, largest city and main port of the country
- PortoSecond largest city, known for Port wine
- BragaHistoric city in the north, seat of an important Catholic archdiocese
- CoimbraHome to the country's oldest university, founded in 1290
- FaroMain city of the Algarve, a tourist region in the south
Climate and temperature
Pastéis de Nata
A small custard tart in flaky pastry, created in a Lisbon monastery.
Bacalhau
Salted cod prepared in hundreds of different ways, a symbol of Portuguese cuisine.
Caldo Verde
Soup made with thinly sliced kale, potato and olive oil, served with slices of sausage.
Francesinha
A sandwich filled with several kinds of meat and cheese, covered in a spicy sauce; a specialty of Porto.
Cozido à Portuguesa
A hearty dish with various meats, sausages and vegetables, all boiled together.
Leitão à Bairrada
Whole roast suckling pig, crispy on the outside, typical of the Bairrada region.
Vinho do Porto
A fortified, sweet wine produced in the Douro River region.
Understand
Culture and spirituality
2a · The culture
Hospitality and warmth
The Portuguese value welcoming people well and taking time to talk, even with strangers.
Saudade
A feeling of nostalgia and affection for something or someone distant, deeply present in the country's music and poetry.
Fado
Traditional music that expresses saudade and the dramas of life, recognized by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage of humanity.
Family and tradition
Strong family ties and respect for the country's history and customs.
Relationship with the sea
Centuries of navigation and fishing have shaped the identity and culture of coastal cities.
Cultural faith
Catholicism is deeply tied to traditions, festivals and the calendar, even among those who do not practice the faith actively.
- Constantly comparing Portugal to Brazil Despite the shared language, these are countries with quite different histories and identities.
- Speaking too fast or being impatient The pace of life tends to be more relaxed than in the large urban centers of other countries.
- Treating European Portuguese as "wrong" There are differences in accent and vocabulary compared with Brazilian Portuguese, not errors.
- Ignoring family meals Meals are important moments of togetherness, not just eating.
- Assuming every Catholic actively practices the faith Many identify as Catholic out of cultural tradition, without living it out day to day.
2b · The field
Areas of spiritual battle and cultural captivity to cover in prayer. Tap each point to understand:
A large part of the population has stopped practicing any faith, seeking meaning for life apart from God.
Many call themselves Catholic out of tradition and culture, without living an active, personal faith.
Popular faith centers more on the Marian apparitions than on the gospel of Christ.
The pursuit of personal autonomy weakens commitment to church and community.
Younger generations have increasingly drifted away from any religious practice.
Beliefs in charms, folk remedies and spells still persist in some regions.
The past glories of the maritime era feed a sense of spiritual self-sufficiency.
Small, fragmented communities make a more united Christian witness difficult.
Traditional culture sometimes views new expressions of faith with suspicion.
Esoteric and mystical practices are gaining ground as an alternative to traditional religion.
Portugal guarantees broad religious freedom by law, and Christians, whether Catholic or evangelical, can gather, evangelize and live out their faith without persecution from the state.
The biggest challenge does not come from the law, but from indifference. Most of the population does not see faith as relevant to daily life, and speaking about Jesus in a personal way can create awkwardness more than hostility.
Those who convert from cultural Catholicism to an evangelical faith sometimes face resistance from their own family, who see the change as a break with the country’s customs and cultural identity.
Immigrant communities, especially from Brazil and from Lusophone African countries, have strengthened local evangelical churches, but in some settings they still face social prejudice.
The persecution score runs from 0 to 100: the higher it is, the greater the pressure on Christians.
Portugal has 35 people groups, most already reached by the gospel through centuries of Christian tradition. Even so, five groups are considered unreached, mostly small communities tied to recent immigration, among them the Moroccan Arab community, the Gujarati community (Hindus originally from India), the Portuguese Jewish community and the Deaf community, which faces communication barriers to receiving the gospel in its own sign language.
- 122K Unreached 1,2%
- 40K Minimally reached 0,4%
- 202K Superficially reached 2%
- 9.7M Partially reached 94,3%
- 221K Significantly reached 2,1%
- 5 Unreached 14,3%
- 2 Minimally reached 5,7%
- 10 Superficially reached 28,6%
- 15 Partially reached 42,9%
- 3 Significantly reached 8,6%
Source of people group data: Joshua Project (joshuaproject.net). Estimates, may vary.
Portuguese-speaking Jews
Gujarati Frontier
Arab Lebanese Muslim
Moroccan Arab Frontier
Sul-Asiático
Nepalês genérico
Deaf Frontier
Source: Joshua Project. Estimates, may vary.
Pray
Intercede for this nation
Every nation carries a redemptive purpose. Marks that seem woven into the identity God desires to restore:
Go
Practical details for those who want to go
Local time
Cost of living
more expensive than Eastern Europe, cheaper than the wealthy countries of Western Europe
Cost by city
Reference values (source: Numbeo). Confirm before traveling.
Practical points for those who go
- Learn European Portuguese: the accent and some words differ quite a bit from Brazilian Portuguese.
- Pack clothes for different seasons: the weather varies a lot between the north, the south and the islands.
- Use public transport: the metro, trains and buses are efficient in the major cities.
- Set aside time to walk: historic centers have narrow streets and cobblestone sidewalks.
- Respect mealtimes: lunch and dinner have more fixed hours than in other countries.
Send and sustain
Not everyone goes, everyone takes part
Not everyone goes. Everyone takes part.
Behind every worker among these peoples stands a network of people who pray without ceasing, care for the family left behind, and faithfully sustain the work. Sending is mission too.
Start with your church: introduce this nation, adopt it in ongoing prayer, and walk alongside those God is raising up to go.