Portugal’s population reaches 11.4 million in 2025

Portugal’s resident population reached 11,424,031 at the end of 2025, with foreign nationals accounting for 14% of the total, or 1,597,539 people, according to new data published by the National Statistics Institute (INE). The figures show migration remains the main driver of population growth in Portugal, even as inflows slowed after changes to the country’s immigration rules.

INE said the total population rose by 0.32% from a year earlier, an increase of 36,809 people. The statistics office also said foreign residents more than doubled between 2021 and 2025, rising by 849,384 people over the period. But that growth slowed sharply in 2025, when the number of foreign residents increased by 59,113, after much larger gains in 2022, 2023 and 2024.

The data suggest a clear deceleration after the end of the “manifestation of interest” mechanism in June 2024 and changes to Portugal’s immigration law led by minister António Leitão Amaro. In 2025, population growth was supported by a positive net migration balance of 70,862, which offset a natural population decline of 34,053.

Greater Lisbon had the largest foreign population, with 546,419 residents, or 34.2% of the total foreign population, followed by the North with 311,095. The Algarve had the highest share of foreign nationals in its regional population, at 27.9%. Brazilians remained the largest foreign community in Portugal, with 574,195 residents, equal to 35.9% of all foreign nationals, while 89.5% of foreign residents came from outside the European Union.

INE also said Portugal’s demographic ageing continued over the period. The share of young people fell to 12.4% of the population in 2025, while the proportion aged 65 or over remained around 23%. The ageing index rose to 188.8, meaning there were nearly 189 elderly people for every 100 young people, although migration helped lift the share of working-age residents.

Originally published at Eco.pt