Final answer:
The statement that Portugal has one of the highest population densities in Europe is false. Portugal has a significant population over ten million but is not as dense or urbanized as other European countries.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement regarding Portugal having one of the highest population densities in Europe is false. When comparing regional population densities in Europe, southern European countries like Italy and Spain have significant populations, with Italy's population being about 62 million and Spain about 49 million. Both Portugal and Greece, while having populations over ten million, do not rank among the highest densities. Portugal has a mixed level of urbanization, with about 50 percent of its population living in urban areas. This contrasts with other southern European countries like Spain, Greece, and particularly Italy, which have higher levels of urbanization. Considering these factors, the rural-to-urban shift in Portugal is not as pronounced as in Western Europe. Cultural factors, including a history of agriculture as the foundation of the economy in southern Europe, and a lower level of industrialization in Portugal compared to northern or Central Europe, all influence Portugal's demographic characteristics. Thus, the statement about Portugal's population density doesn't hold when considering the broader European context.