Portuguese people - Definition and Overview

The Portuguese people are an ethnic group with that is primarily associated with the Portuguese language and the country of Portugal.

The origins of the Portuguese vary. Many originate from Celtic-Iberian (Lusitanian or Lusotino) people, and from the Latin peoples. Some may have north-African descent due to the occupation of the Iberian peninsula by the Almoravid and Almohad dynasties for more than five centuries. It also may be possible that some Portuguese may be descent of Phoenicians, Greeks, Carthaginians, Visigoths and Suevi.

There are around 10.4 million Portuguese in Portugal. A significant Portuguese population exists in Brazil, Angola, Mozambique, Cape Verde, Macau and other former Portuguese colonies; as well as substantial immigrant communities in France (nearly 1 million), Luxembourg (amounting to over a third of the population of this state), Germany, Switzerland, USA and Venezuela.

See also

• List of Portuguese people
• Demographics of Portugal
• Portuguese (Guyana)