Following its heyday as a global maritime 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 of its wealthiest colony of Brazil in 1822. 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 European Union) in 1986.

Portugal's publicly-owned TV broadcaster operates two domestic channels as well as external service channels to Africa. Portugal has roughly 40 domestic TV stations. In addition, viewers have widespread access to international broadcasters, and more than half of all households connected to multichannel cable or satellite TV systems. Portuguese publicly-owned radio operates three national networks and provides regional and external services. There are also several privately-owned national radio stations and some 300 regional and local commercial radio stations.

Portugal has 28 daily newspapers, including the popular Jornal de Noticias in Oporto and Diario de Noticias in Lisbon. Most major newspapers in Portugal are dailies and cover a wide variety of interests including national and local news, business, and sports. The newspaper Publico is an independent news source containing sections dealing with both Lisbon and Oporto.