The present edition of the AEP follows the last year presentation, organized along four major thematic areas: Territory, People, Economic Hence, the Statistical Yearbook 2005 is made up of two volumes and a CD-ROM: The Volume I includes the analysis of the major themes illustrated with maps and graphics. It presents not only the current reality in Portugal, but also the country in the context of the European Union, be it the 15-member Union or the 25-member one. It is stressed that in this edition the text about the State only deals with General Government information, allowing this theme to be looked at in further detail. A new aspect of this volume is the ‘Country profile’, a presentation in which, inter alia, the political structure of the country is highlighted, as well as the formation and political structure of the European Union. The Volume II contains statistical tables organized along the 4 chapters and 26 sub-chapters focusing themes of social and economic interest (education, health, work, environment, tourism, science and technology and justice, inter alia).

The information is presented over the 305 pages which makes this volume, in chronological order and with geographical itemisation by NUTS II (Nomenclatures of Territorial Units for Statistics) for the last year of information available.