Portugal’s Population Reaches Record High, Driven by Positive Migration Trends
According to 2023 data released by Portugal’s National Institute of Statistics (INE), the country’s population has reached its highest level since at least 2015, largely driven by positive migration trends. The resident population increased to 10.64 million people, marking a growth of 1.16% year-on-year, primarily due to immigration.
The number of permanent immigrants entering Portugal rose by 13.3% compared to 2022, reaching a total of 189,367 people. This figure represents a 95% increase over the number recorded in 2021, and an impressive 513% rise since 2015, when just 36,849 permanent immigrants arrived. This period also coincides with Portugal’s recovery from the financial assistance program (the “Troika” period), marking a substantial shift in migration patterns.
In contrast, permanent emigration, which had gradually decreased from 2015 to 2021 (from 40,377 to 25,079 people), began to rise again in 2022 and continued to increase in 2023, reaching 33,666 individuals. Despite this uptick in emigration, the overall migration balance remained positive for the seventh consecutive year, increasing from 136,144 in 2022 to 155,701 in 2023.
The demographic shifts also reveal an aging population. Data from the 2015-2023 period show that the average age of women has risen to 48.6 years, while for men it stands at 45.4 years.
In terms of mortality, while the country has seen a reduction in deaths compared to the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 118,295 deaths recorded in 2023 represent a 4.9% decrease compared to 2022, but still remain above pre-pandemic levels, with the highest number recorded in 2018 at 113,051. Infant mortality, however, has dropped slightly, falling to 2.5%—a rate that was only lower in the pandemic years of 2020 and 2021.
INE’s statistics also highlight a significant increase in the number of marriages over the 2015-2023 period, with 2023 seeing the highest number of marriages in recent years. Additionally, the average age of people marrying for the first time has reached record levels: 34.3 years for women and 35.8 years for men.
Overall, the data paints a picture of a growing, increasingly diverse population, with migration continuing to play a key role in shaping Portugal’s demographic future.
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