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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. The standard was developed by the European Union and extensively used by national governments, Eurostat and other EU bodies for statistical and policy matters. Until 4 November 2002, the Sistema Estatístico 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 Diário da República, this system was abandoned in order to harmonize the national system with that of Eurostat.

Subdivisions

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.

Changes NUTS 2-3 (1986—2024)

• 1986
• 1989
• 1999
• 2002
• 2010
• 2013
• 2024

NUTS I

The first and broadest subdivision of Portugal is between continental Portugal and the two autonomous regions of the Azores and Madeira.

NUTS II

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. Since the creation of Oeste e Vale do Tejo in 2024, Portugal is divided into seven regions, in continental Portugal, plus the two autonomous regions that are their own NUTS II regions.

NUTS III

The eight regions of Portugal are likewise subdivided into 25 subregions (Portuguese: subregiões) 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.

The two autonomous regions (Portuguese: regiões autónomas) in the Atlantic, correspond to their own NUTS I, II and III categories.

NUTS Codes

The regions, subregions and their NUTS codes are:

LAUs

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

See also

• Administrative divisions of Portugal
• ISO 3166-2 codes of Portugal
• FIPS region codes of Portugal
• List of Portuguese regions by Human Development Index
• Subdivisions of Portugal

References

1. The NUTS system was approved by Community Legislation in 1998, but only entered into function in 2003 through enacting regulations.
2. University of Coimbra (2010), p.2
3. Instituto Nacional de Estatística (Portuguese language) Archived 2007-03-16 at the Wayback Machine – Nomenclatura das Unidades Territoriais para fins Estatísticos 2002, accessed May 2006
4. de Informação Geográfica (Portuguese language) – Biblioteca de Mapas Administrativos, accessed May 2006
5. ^ Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/674 of 26 December 2022 amending the Annexes to Regulation (EC) No 1059/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the establishment of a common classification of territorial units for statistics (NUTS)
6. 2013 Apresentação INE NUTS (in Portuguese)

Sources

• Hierarchical list of the Nomenclature of territorial units for statistics - NUTS and the Statistical regions of Europe
• Overview map of EU Countries - NUTS level 1
  • PORTUGAL - NUTS level 2
  • PORTUGAL - NUTS level 3
• Correspondence between the NUTS levels and the national administrative units
• List of current NUTS codes
  • Download current NUTS codes (ODS format)
• Regions of Portugal, Statoids.com
• Municipalities of Portugal, Statoids.com
• Regiões de Portugal, LOCAL.PT

• Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics
• Administrative divisions of Portugal