Statistical regions of Portugal
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Territorial map corresponding to the NUTS I and NUTS II designations
The
Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics
(NUTS) is developed by
Eurostat
, and employed in both
Portugal
and the entire
European Union
for statistical purposes. The NUTS branch extends from NUTS1, NUTS2 and NUTS3 regions, with the complementary LAU (
Local Administrative Units
) sub-categorization being used to differentiate the local areas, of trans-national importance.
Developed by Eurostat and implemented in 1998, the Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics (NUTS) regions, which comprises three levels of the Portuguese territory, are instrumental in
European Union
's
Structural Fund
delivery mechanisms.
[1]
[2]
The standard was developed by the
European Union
and extensively used by national governments, Eurostat and other EU bodies for statistical and policy matters.
[3]
[4]
Until 4 November 2002, the
Sistema Estatistico Nacional
(SEN) used a NUTS codification system that was distinct from the Eurostat system. With the enactment of Decree Law 244/2002 (5 November 2002), published in the Diario da Republica, this system was abandoned in order to harmonize the national system with that of Eurostat.
Subdivisions
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The NUTS system subdivides the nation into three levels: NUTS I, NUTS II and NUTS III. In some European partners, as is the case with Portugal, a complementary hierarchy, respectively LAU I and LAU II (posteriorly referred to as NUTS IV and NUTS V) is employed. The LAU, or
Local Administrative Units
, in the Portuguese context pertains to the 308 municipalities (LAU I) and 3092 civil parishes (LAU II) respectively. In the broadest sense, the NUTS hierarchy, while they may follow some of the borders (municipal or parish) diverge in their delineation.
Subdivision
|
No.
|
Description
|
NUTS 1
: National
|
3
|
Continental Portugal
, the
Azores
and
Madeira
|
NUTS 2: Regions
|
7
|
Regional Coordination Commissions and Autonomous Regions
|
NUTS 3: Subregion
|
25
|
Administrative, Statistical and Autonomous Regions
|
Changes NUTS 2-3 (1986?2013)
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-
1986
-
1989
-
1999
-
2002
-
2010
-
2013
NUTS I
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Territorial map corresponding to the NUTS I and NUTS II designations
The first and broadest subdivision of Portugal is between
continental Portugal
and the two
autonomous regions
of the
Azores
and
Madeira
.
NUTS II
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Although the districts are still the most socially relevant subdivision, their function is being phased in favour of locally oriented regional units, and regions are growing in importance. Portugal is divided into five regions, administered by the Commissions for Coordination and Regional Development (
Portuguese
:
Comissoes de Cooperacao e Desenvolvimento Regional
) in
continental Portugal
, plus the two autonomous regions that are their own NUTS II regions.
NUTS III
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Territorial map corresponding to the 23 statistical subregions of mainland Portugal (NUTS III) and the 2 autonomous regions of Madeira and the Azores
The seven regions of Portugal are likewise subdivided into 25 subregions (
Portuguese
:
subregioes
) that, from 2015, represent the 2
metropolitan areas
, the 21
intermunicipal communities
and the 2
autonomous regions
. Therefore, since the 2013 revision (enforced in 2015), the Portuguese subregions have a statutory and administrative relevance.
[5]
The two autonomous regions (
Portuguese
:
regioes autonomas
) in the Atlantic, correspond to their own NUTS I, II and III categories.
NUTS Codes
[6]
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LAUs
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The LAU1 designated municipalities of Portugal
Municipalities and civil parishes were at NUTS IV and V levels, but these nomenclature units have been abolished and substituted by
LAUs
: the municipality is classified as LAU 1, while the civil parish is LAU level 2. Below the NUTS levels, the two LAU (Local Administrative Unit) levels are:
The LAU codes of Portugal can be downloaded at:
Eurostat
[
dead link
]
See also
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References
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Sources
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