Administratively, Portugal is de jure unitary and decentralized state. Nonetheless, operationally, it is a highly centralized system with administrative divisions organized into three tiers. The State is organized under the principles of subsidiarity, local government autonomy, and democratic decentralization of the public service.
The Lisbon Metropolitan Area is a metropolitan area in Portugal centered on Lisbon, the capital and largest city of the country. The metropolitan area, covering 18 municipalities is the largest urban area in the country and the 10th largest in the European Union, with a population in 2015 of 2,812,678 in an area of 3,015.24 km².
The Comunidade Intermunicipal da Região de Aveiro is an administrative division in Portugal. It was created in October 2008, replacing the previously existing Greater Metropolitan Area of Aveiro. Since January 2015, Região de Aveiro is also a NUTS3 subregion of Centro Region, that covers the same area as the intermunicipal community. The main city and seat of the intermunicipal community is Aveiro. The population in 2011 was 370,394, in an area of 1,692.86 square kilometres (653.62 sq mi).
The Comunidade Intermunicipal do Médio Tejo is an administrative division in Portugal. It was created in December 2008, replacing the former Comunidade Urbana do Médio Tejo created in 2004. It takes its name from the river Tagus. Médio Tejo is also a NUTS 3 subregion of Centro Region: since January 2015, the NUTS 3 subregion has covered the same area as the intermunicipal community. The seat of the intermunicipal community is Tomar. Médio Tejo comprises parts of the former districts of Santarém and Castelo Branco.
The Comunidade Intermunicipal da Região de Coimbra is an administrative division in Portugal. It was created in October 2013, replacing the previously existing Greater Metropolitan Area of Coimbra. Since January 2015, Região de Coimbra is also a NUTS3 subregion of Centro Region, that covers the same area as the intermunicipal community. The main city and seat of the intermunicipal community is Coimbra. The population in 2011 was 460,139, in an area of 4,335.57 km².
The metropolitan area is a type of administrative division in Portugal. Since the 2013 local government reform, there are two metropolitan areas: Lisbon and Porto. The metropolitan areas of Lisbon and Porto were created in 1991. A law passed in 2003 supported the creation of more metropolitan areas, under the conditions that they consisted of at least nine municipalities (concelhos) and had at least 350,000 inhabitants. Several metropolitan areas were created under this law, but a law passed in 2008 abolished these, converting them into intermunicipal communities, whose territories are (roughly) based on the NUTS III statistical regions.
The Comunidade Intermunicipal do Ave is an administrative division in Portugal. It was created in 2009. It takes its name from the Ave River. The seat of the intermunicipal community is Guimarães. Ave comprises parts of the former districts of Braga and Vila Real. The population in 2011 was 425,411, in an area of 1,451.31 km².
The Comunidade Intermunicipal do Cávado is an administrative division in northern Portugal. It was created in 2008. It is also a NUTS3 subregion of the Norte Region. The seat of the intermunicipal community is Braga, Norte. Cávado comprises part of the former Braga District. The population in 2011 was 410,169, in an area of 1,245.79 square kilometres (481.00 sq mi), which makes it one of the most densely populated subregions of Portugal.
The Comunidade Intermunicipal da Lezíria do Tejo is an administrative division in Portugal. It was established as an Associação de Municípios in 1987, converted into a Comunidade Urbana in 2003, and converted into a Comunidade Intermunicipal in November 2008. It is also a NUTS3 subregion of the Alentejo Region. The seat of the intermunicipal community is the city of Santarém. Lezíria do Tejo comprises municipalities of the former districts of Santarém and Lisbon. The population in 2011 was 247,453, in an area of 4,275 square kilometres (1,651 sq mi). In the past, the territory of this administrative division was roughly entirely set in the former historical province of Ribatejo and had nothing to do with the former historical province of Alentejo. Lezíria is the Portuguese word for floodplain or freshwater marsh. Tejo is the name of the main river in the region. The Lezíria is a well-renowned center of intensive farming, horse breeding and animal husbandry.
The Comunidade Intermunicipal do Alentejo Central is an administrative division in Portugal. It was created in 2009. The seat of the intermunicipal community is Évora, the main city. Other cities are Estremoz, Montemor-o-Novo, Vendas Novas and Reguengos de Monsaraz. Alentejo Central is coterminous with the former Évora District. The population in 2011 was 166,726, in an area of 7,393.46 km2.
The Comunidade Intermunicipal do Alentejo Litoral is an administrative division in Portugal. It was created in May 2009. It is also a NUTS3 subregion of the Alentejo Region. The seat of the intermunicipal community is Grândola. Alentejo Litoral comprises municipalities of both the Beja District and the Setúbal District. The population in 2011 was 97,925, in an area of 5,309.41 km2.
The Comunidade Intermunicipal do Alto Alentejo is an administrative division in Portugal. It was created in 2009. The seat of the intermunicipal community is Portalegre. Alto Alentejo is coterminous with the former Portalegre District. The population in 2011 was 118,506, in an area of 6,084.34 km². Together with Alentejo Central it covers the area of the former Alto Alentejo Province. With Ponte de Sor the intermunicipal community also includes one municipality that lies in the area of the former Ribatejo Province.
The Comunidade Intermunicipal do Baixo Alentejo is an administrative division in Portugal. It was created in 2009. It is also a NUTS3 subregion of the Alentejo Region. The seat of the intermunicipal community is Beja. Baixo Alentejo comprises 13 of the 14 municipalities of the Beja District. The population in 2011 was 126,692, in an area of 8,542.72 km².
Comunidade Intermunicipal do Oeste is an administrative division of Portugal, located on the country's western central coast. The population in 2011 was 362,540, in an area of 2,220.16 square kilometres (857.21 sq mi). Caldas da Rainha serves as the seat of OesteCIM.
The Comunidade Intermunicipal do Alto Tâmega is an administrative division in northern Portugal. It was created in 2014. Since January 2015, Alto Tâmega is also a NUTS3 subregion of Norte Region, that covers the same area as the intermunicipal community. The seat of the intermunicipal community is Chaves. Alto Tâmega comprises the northern part of the Vila Real District. The population in 2011 was 94,143, in an area of 2,921.91 km².
The Comunidade Intermunicipal do Tâmega e Sousa is an administrative division in northern Portugal. It was created in 2009. Since January 2015, Tâmega e Sousa is also a NUTS3 subregion of Norte Region, that covers the same area as the intermunicipal community. The seat of the intermunicipal community is Penafiel. Tâmega e Sousa comprises parts of the former districts of Aveiro, Braga, Porto and Viseu. The population in 2011 was 432,915, in an area of 1,831.52 km².
The Comunidade Intermunicipal da Região de Leiria is an administrative division in western Portugal. It was created in 2014, replacing the former Associação de Municípios da Região de Leiria created in 2009. Since January 2015, Região de Leiria is also a NUTS3 subregion of Centro Region, that covers the same area as the intermunicipal community. The seat of the intermunicipal community is Leiria. Região de Leiria comprises a large part of the former district of Leiria. The population in 2011 was 294,632, in an area of 2,449.12 km².
The Comunidade Intermunicipal da Beira Baixa is an administrative division in eastern Portugal. It was created in October 2013 out of the former Comunidade Intermunicipal da Beira Interior Sul, created in March 2009. Since January 2015, Beira Baixa is also a NUTS3 subregion of Centro Region, that covers the same area as the intermunicipal community. The seat of the intermunicipal community is Castelo Branco. Beira Baixa comprises a large part of the Castelo Branco District. The population in 2011 was 89,063, in an area of 4,614.64 km².
The Comunidade Intermunicipal das Beiras e Serra da Estrela is an administrative division in eastern Portugal. It was created in 2013. Since January 2015, Beiras e Serra da Estrela is also a NUTS3 subregion of Centro Region, that covers the same area as the intermunicipal community. The seat of the intermunicipal community is Guarda. Beiras e Serra da Estrela comprises parts of the former districts of Guarda and Castelo Branco. The population in 2011 was 236,023, in an area of 6,304.95 square kilometres (2,434.35 sq mi).
