Portugal is a democratic republic situated on the westernmost tip of Europe, covering a total area of 92,152 km². It forms part of the Iberian Peninsula, with Spain to the north and east and the Atlantic Ocean to the south and west, where the Portuguese archipelagos of Azores and Madeira are located.
Portuguese is the official language of the mainland, as well as the autonomous regions of Madeira and Azores. Others that have also gained official status are Portuguese Sign Language (1997) and Mirandês (1999), the latter spoken in the northeast area of Miranda do Douro (Law No. 7/99, 29 January).
Portugal is a secular state. That said, the Portuguese Republic Constitution states that "the freedom of conscience, religion and form of worship is inviolable" (Art. 41, no. 1) and that "churches and other religious communities are separate from the State and are free to organise themselves and to exercise their functions and form of worship" (Art. 41, no. 4). The predominant religion among the Portuguese people is Roman Catholicism.
The population density of Portugal is around 111.6 inhabitants/km2. However, along the western coastline, mainly between Viana do Castelo and Setúbal, as well as the southern coastline (Algarve), the concentration is higher than the national average. In the metropolitan areas of Lisbon and Porto the numbers are much higher, with figures exceeding 1,000 inhabitants/km2. In the Norte and Centro regions of the country and in Alentejo, in the interior, most areas do not exceed 50 inhabitants/km2, and are generally less attractive areas for the resident population.
On December 31st, 2022, the resident population in Portugal was estimated to be 10,467,366 people, 46,249 more than in 2021 (INE) increasing for the fourth year running.
Resident population: total, by year and by major age groups (Individual - Proportion - %)
Years Major age groups
Total 0-14 15-64 65 or more
2000 100.0 16.4 67.4 16.2
2005 100.0 15.9 66.8 17.3
2010 100.0 15.2 66.3 18.5
2015 100.0 14.2 65.3 20.5
2020 100.0 13.5 64.2 22.3
2021 100.0 12.7 67.3 20.0
2022 100.0 12.9 63.1 24.0
Sources: INE. Last update: 2023-06-15
The population increase in 2022 resulted from a net migration rate of 86,889 people (72,040 in 2021), which offset the negative natural balance of -40,640 (-45,220 in 2021).
It is estimated that 117,843 permanent immigrants entered Portugal in 2022, 21.3 per cent more than in 2021 (97,119), and 30,954 permanent emigrants left, 23.4 per cent more than in 2021 (25,079). The net migration rate was positive (86,889) for the sixth consecutive year.
Annual population rate: total, natural and migratory
| Years | Total | Rate of natural increase | Net migration rate |
| 249,5 | 75,1 | 174,5 | |
| 40,7 | 45,8 | -5,1 | |
| 34,3 | 10,0 | 24,3 | |
| 21,6 | 7,3 | 14,3 | |
| -49,0 | -22,5 | -26,5 | |
| 26,8 | (R)-45,3 | (R)72,1 | |
| 46,2 | -40,6 | 86,9 |
Sources: INE, PORDATA. Last updated: 2023-06-02
In Portugal, unemployment is still low, however, there has been a slight increase over the last year. The group with the highest levels of unemployment continues to be those under the age of 25.
Unemployment rates from 2000 to 2023 by age group (mainland)
| Year | Total | Under 25 | 25-54 | 55-64 |
| 2000 | 3.9 | 8.6 | 3.5 | 3.2 |
| 2005 | 7.6 | 16.2 | 7.2 | 6.1 |
| 2010 | 10.8 | 22.8 | 10.7 | 8.9 |
| 2015 | 12.4 | 32.0 | 11.2 | 12.4 |
| 2020 | 7.0 | 22.5 | 6.0 | 6.5 |
| 2022 | 6.1 | 19.1 | 5.4 | 5.5 |
| 2023 | 6.5 | 20.3 | 5.6 | 6.1 |
Source: INE/ Pordata. Last update: 2024-02-07