The size of Olivenza

         In the world there are 21 independent countries smaller than Olivenza, and about 20 non-autonomous territories awaiting their self-determination also have a smaller area than Olivenza.

         Besides the town, the territory of Olivenza includes seven villages:

S. Francisco,

S. Rafael,

Vila Real,

S. Domingos de Gusmão,

S. Bento da Contenda,

S. Jorge de Alor e

Táliga.

In all, Olivenza is 750 Km2 in area. Its area is slightly superior to that of countries like Singapore or Bahrain.

To have a clearer idea, the most important Portuguese municipalities (Lisbon and Oporto) put together cover an area six times smaller than Olivenza.

Gibraltar is less than 6 Km2 in area; it is 125 times smaller than Olivenza. If the Spanish Government claims the restitution of Gibraltar from the United Kingdom, on historical grounds but with no juridical arguments, why cannot Portugal demand that Spain give back Olivenza, since there are no doubts about the Portuguese rights to this territory?

Population of the territory of Olivenza*
Olivenza	8.274 Inhab.
S. Francisco de Olivenza	468 Inhab.
S. Rafael de Olivenza	265 Inhab.
Vila Real	96 Inhab.
S. Domingos de Gusmão	31 Inhab.
S. Bento da Contenda	564 Inhab.
S. Jorge de Alor	478 Inhab.
Táliga	736 Inhab.
TOTAL	10.912 Inhab.

* Census of 1991.

        Just like the other villages in the Alentejo, a province in the South of Portugal, the territory of Olivenza is deeply depopulated.
        Most of its inhabitants concentrate in Olivenza.
       The inhabitants of the town are mainly Spanish colonists brought there to populate the Portuguese fortress.
        It is in the rural area of Olivenza that the Portuguese culture still survives, in spite of the Spanish colonialist, and often repressive, strategies.