Portugal Population

Portugal was one of the world’s largest and richest empires in the 16th century, but in modern times has been one of the poorest countries in Western Europe after years of military dictatorship, underdevelopment and financial crisis. Now the country is growing.

Key figures and facts

• Capital: Lisbon
• Ethnic groups: Portuguese, descendants of Portuguese colonies in Africa correspond to less than 100,000 people, Eastern Europeans
• Language: Portuguese (official), Mirandesian (official but only used in some areas)
• Religion: Catholics 81%, other Christians 3.3%, others 0.6%, none 6.8%, unspecified 8.3% (2011)
• Population: 10 291 196 (2018)
• Control Form: Parliamentary democracy
• Area: 92 210 km²
• Currency: euro
• GNP per capita: 30 659 PPP $
• National Day: June 10th

Population of Portugal

The population in Portugal is estimated at 10.6 million (2006). In 2006, annual population growth was calculated at 0.36%. The birth rate for 2005 was 10.72 ‰ and mortality 10.5 ‰.

Portugal has long been one of the countries in Europe with the highest population growth, and the increase was far greater than the potential for increased employment in agriculture and industry. Emigration has therefore been very large for long periods, especially to Brazil – where over 1 million Portuguese settled in the years between 1820 and 1920 – and the former African colonies Mozambique and Angola. Since 1960, there has been a significant emigration to other European countries, especially France and Germany, and to the United States. Some of the relocation was offset by the arrival of approximately 800,000 Portuguese return from the former colonies (retornados or desalojados).

The population is ethnically very homogeneous, and so to speak, the entire population is considered Portuguese. In addition, there are small groups of hijackers, Angolans, Brazilians, Frenchmen and Spaniards. The original population, the Iberians, was all mixed in ancient times with Celts, Phoenicians and especially Romans. During the migrations came Germans, then Arabs, and during the 16th century, African slaves were introduced.

The highest population density is in the coastal areas, especially to the area north of Tejo. The hinterland and the southernmost part of the country are far thinner. The villages are the largest in the south (Alentejo), where they are often gathered around the individual large estates, while small farms and smaller villages are common further north, where there is also more scattered settlement. About 65.6% of the population live in cities and urban areas (2005). The largest cities are Lisbon (564,600 in 2001) and Porto (263,100 in 2001).

Population of Portugal by Year (Historical)

Year	Population	Annual Growth Rate	Population Density	Global Rank
2020	10,196,598	-0.290%	111.3299	89
2019	10,226,076	-0.290%	111.6518	88
2018	10,256,082	-0.310%	111.9794	88
2017	10,288,416	-0.360%	112.3324	88
2016	10,325,427	-0.410%	112.7365	88
2015	10,368,240	-0.430%	113.2040	86
2010	10,595,947	0.170%	115.6901	79
2005	10,508,384	0.410%	114.7341	76
2000	10,297,001	0.400%	112.4262	74
1995	10,091,214	0.390%	110.1793	72
1990	9,895,253	-0.070%	108.0398	71
1985	9,929,073	0.360%	108.4090	65
1980	9,750,853	1.230%	106.4632	60
1975	9,172,130	1.180%	100.1446	61
1970	8,651,229	-0.480%	94.4573	62
1965	8,862,169	0.040%	96.7604	54
1960	8,844,534	0.500%	96.5678	49
1955	8,625,421	0.490%	94.1755	47
1950	8,416,856	0.000%	91.8983	42

Major Cities in Portugal by Population

Rank	City	Population
1	Lisbon	517,691
2	Porto	249,522
3	Amadora	178,747
4	Braga	121,283
5	Setubal	116,999
6	Coimbra	106,471
7	Queluz	103,288
8	Funchal	100,736
9	Cacem	93,871
10	Vila Nova de Gaia	70,700
11	Algueirao	66,139
12	Loures	66,120
13	Felgueiras	57,954
14	Evora	55,509
15	Rio de Mouro	54,584
16	Odivelas	54,513
17	Aveiro	54,051
18	Amora	52,466
19	Corroios	52,409
20	Barreiro	51,169
21	Monsanto	49,889
22	Rio Tinto	49,855
23	Sao Domingos de Rana	46,607
24	Figueira da Foz	46,489
25	Leiria	45,001
26	Ponte de Lima	44,556
27	Faro	41,244
28	Sesimbra	41,023
29	Guimaraes	40,493
30	Ermesinde	39,309
31	Santo Antonio dos Olivais	38,825
32	Portimao	38,376
33	Benfica	36,874
34	Cascais	36,325
35	Maia	36,315
36	Viana do Castelo	36,037
37	Oeiras	34,889
38	Beja	34,649
39	Esposende	34,514
40	Braganca	34,264
41	Almada	33,897
42	Olivais	33,677
43	Castelo Branco	33,368
44	Alcabideche	33,204
45	Espinho	32,675
46	Camara de Lobos	32,098
47	Guarda	32,000
48	Alvalade	31,702
49	Arrentela	30,045
50	Montijo	29,900
51	Charneca de Caparica	29,652
52	Santarem	29,274
53	Olhao	29,128
54	Povoa de Varzim	28,933
55	Senhora da Hora	28,819
56	Marinha Grande	28,805
57	Povoa de Santa Iria	28,790
58	Sequeira	28,391
59	Massama	28,001
60	Matosinhos	27,959
61	Gondomar	27,580
62	Aguas Santas	27,575
63	Vila do Conde	27,531
64	Caldas da Rainha	27,267
65	Sao Martinho	26,371
66	Canidelo	26,320
67	Viseu	26,253
68	Sintra	26,082
69	Paco de Arcos	25,863
70	Sao Mamede de Infesta	25,829
71	Quinta Do Conde	25,495
72	Torres Vedras	24,332
73	Oliveira do Douro	24,296
74	Fanzeres	23,805
75	Estoril	23,589
76	Carnaxide	23,587
77	Pinhal Novo	23,399
78	Monte Estoril	23,264
79	Canico	23,257
80	Pontinha	23,138
81	Loule	22,998
82	Arcos de Valdevez	22,736
83	Moscavide e Portela	22,377
84	Sao Joao da Madeira	21,968
85	Lavradio	21,766
86	Bougado	21,569
87	Valongo	21,217
88	Caparica	21,056
89	Belas	20,908
90	Laranjeira	20,877
91	Linda-a-Velha	20,784
92	Trofa	20,581
93	Baiao	20,411
94	Laranjeiro	20,362
95	Carcavelos	20,255
96	Camarate	20,066
97	Ponta Delgada	19,945
98	Entroncamento	19,776
99	Paredes	19,723
100	Moncao	19,627
101	Piedade	19,361
102	Custoias	19,295
103	Alges	19,216
104	Tomar	19,057
105	Barcelos	18,974
106	Pedroso	18,852
107	Vilar de Andorinho	18,833
108	Sao Joao da Talha	18,814
109	Azeitao	18,766
110	Lagos	18,720
111	Quarteira	18,672
112	Santa Iria da Azoia	18,462
113	Ovar	18,341
114	Vila Franca de Xira	18,244
115	Leca da Palmeira	17,885
116	Moita	17,684
117	Sacavem	17,607
118	Covilha	17,499
119	Chaves	17,424
120	Ramada	17,424
121	Pombal	17,244
122	Ilhavo	17,125
123	Parede	17,101
124	Condeixa-a-Nova	16,967
125	Alfragide	16,933
126	Sao Pedro da Cova	16,900
127	Vila Real	16,890
128	Palmela	16,823
129	Fafe	16,757
130	Cabeceiras de Basto	16,599
131	Feira	16,265
132	Leca do Bailio	15,992
133	Vialonga	15,977
134	Albufeira	15,740
135	Baguim do Monte	15,739
136	Alcobaca	15,689
137	Peniche	15,551
138	Portalegre	15,470
139	Alfena	15,100
140	Tavira	15,022
141	Torres Novas	14,891
142	Povoa de Santo Adriao	14,786
143	Gafanha da Nazare	14,729
144	Vilar do Paraiso	14,616
145	Valbom	14,332
146	Lagoa	14,331
147	Arcozelo	14,241
148	Canelas	14,136
149	Costa de Caparica	14,120
150	Valenza	14,061
151	Samora Correia	14,043
152	Santo Tirso	13,910
153	Porto Salvo	13,756
154	Abrantes	13,535
155	Esgueira	13,320
156	Alhos Vedros	13,273
157	Moreira	12,779
158	Montemor-o-Novo	12,743
159	Sines	12,680
160	Beato Antonio	12,626
161	Ourem	12,618
162	Machico	12,456
163	Pedroucos	12,442
164	Perafita	12,427
165	Mirandela	12,393
166	Azenha	12,149
167	Mafra	12,148
168	Aldeia de Paio Pires	12,068
169	Tabua	11,960
170	Rio Maior	11,953
171	Angra do Heroismo	11,934
172	Barcarena	11,857
173	Alijo	11,831
174	Agueda	11,830
175	Fatima	11,687
176	Oliveira de Azemeis	11,660
177	Real	11,589
178	Semelhe	11,589
179	Sao Felix da Marinha	11,574
180	Santa Comba Dao	11,486
181	Avintes	11,466
182	Vila Real de Santo Antonio	11,449
183	Almeirim	11,446
184	Rebordosa	11,380
185	Lousa	11,334
186	Esmoriz	11,282
187	Calendario	11,246
188	Moreira	11,225
189	Vendas Novas	11,137
190	Santo Andre	11,102
191	Obidos	11,076
192	Sao Bras de Alportel	11,042
193	Sobreda	11,035
194	Santo Antonio da Charneca	11,032
195	Cucujaes	10,976
196	Ponte de Sor	10,951
197	Foz do Douro	10,886
198	Canecas	10,867
199	Anta	10,840
200	Lamego	10,817
201	Silves	10,806
202	Grijo	10,796
203	Vale da Amoreira	10,717
204	Grandola	10,626
205	Unhos	10,601
206	Gulpilhares	10,549
207	Margaride	10,541
208	Santo Andre	10,490
209	Charneca	10,398
210	Cartaxo	10,391
211	Aver-o-Mar	10,390
212	Sao Joao das Lampas	10,373
213	Carregado	10,363
214	Melres	10,217
215	Caldas de Vizela	10,128
216	Selho	10,112
217	Moimenta da Beira	10,101
218	Lordelo	9,924
219	Meadela	9,870
220	Elvas	9,793
221	Almancil	9,787
222	Maceira	9,720
223	Fundao	9,614
224	Alcochete	9,594
225	Santa Clara	9,526
226	Lavra	9,522
227	Alenquer	9,515
228	Lourosa	9,508
229	Madalena	9,507
230	Sao Joao de Ver	9,457
231	Rio de Loba	9,418
232	Vila Nova de Famalicao	9,385
233	Famoes	9,324
234	Sao Roque	9,274
235	Moura	9,249
236	Estremoz	9,239
237	Abraveses	9,208
238	Valadares	9,144
239	Guifoes	9,120
240	Alcacer do Sal	9,087
241	Lourinha	9,085
242	Gondizalves	9,037
243	Quinta do Anjo	9,013
244	Vinhais	8,955
245	Marco de Canavezes	8,931
246	Caxias	8,896
247	Mem Martins	8,889
248	Nazare	8,882
249	Benavente	8,821
250	Campo	8,805
251	Mangualde	8,784
252	Queijas	8,717
253	Santana	8,693
254	Tondela	8,689
255	Coruche	8,665
256	Argoncilhe	8,632
257	Ribeirao	8,624
258	Fiaes	8,597
259	Sao Romao do Coronado	8,586
260	Estombar	8,479
261	Tavarede	8,475
262	Torre de Moncorvo	8,461
263	Benedita	8,445
264	Moncarapacho	8,434
265	Aves	8,396
266	Alpendurada	8,374
267	Soure	8,305
268	Bobadela	8,288
269	Sao Bartolomeu de Messines	8,270
270	Casteloes de Cepeda	8,211
271	Vila Vicosa	8,208
272	Atouguia da Baleia	8,202
273	Murtosa	8,171
274	Almargem	8,160
275	Campo Maior	8,124
276	Beduido	8,090
277	Darque	7,981
278	Penafiel	7,954
279	Serzedo	7,889
280	Camacha	7,880
281	Freamunde	7,872
282	Albergaria-a-Velha	7,863
283	Alpiarca	7,835
284	Batalha	7,799
285	Colares	7,794
286	Serzedo	7,780
287	Rosto de Cao	7,769
288	Sao Joao da Pesqueira	7,763
289	Ferreiros	7,759
290	Joane	7,758
291	Buarcos	7,754
292	Miranda do Corvo	7,746
293	Santiago do Cacem	7,686
294	Sande	7,678
295	Pragal	7,590
296	Mira	7,571
297	Rabo de Peixe	7,570
298	Castanheira do Ribatejo	7,540
299	Vale de Cambra	7,538
300	Ericeira	7,427
301	Mondim de Basto	7,382
302	Miranda do Douro	7,371
303	Nisa	7,339
304	Almodovar	7,338
305	Nossa Senhora do Monte	7,333
306	Cantanhede	7,236
307	Vila Nova da Barquinha	7,211
308	Vila Nova de Foz Coa	7,201
309	Apulia e Fao	7,190
310	Aradas	7,184
311	Mertola	7,163
312	Mozelos	7,119
313	Alhandra	7,115
314	Reguengos de Monsaraz	7,106
315	Silvalde	7,077
316	Apelacao	7,071
317	Azambuja	7,068
318	Oia	7,007
319	Seia	6,971
320	Jovim	6,956
321	Ponte	6,930
322	Valega	6,894
323	Arrifes	6,870
324	Silveira	6,831
325	Arrifana	6,816
326	Arcos	6,694
327	Amarante	6,671
328	Pacos de Ferreira	6,671
329	Sao Joao	6,651
330	Arcos	6,614
331	Sobrado	6,592
332	Aveleda	6,560
333	Negrelos	6,553
334	Fazendas de Almeirim	6,524
335	A dos Cunhados	6,483
336	Serpa	6,475
337	Horta	6,461
338	Macedo de Cavaleiros	6,455
339	Avanca	6,429
340	Prior Velho	6,389
341	Sao Romao	6,389
342	Cacilhas	6,383
343	Sandim	6,338
344	Carrazeda de Anciaes	6,262
345	Sabrosa	6,250
346	Tabuaco	6,239
347	Foz do Sousa	6,204
348	Lagoa	6,190
349	Perozinho	6,148
350	Oliveira do Bairro	6,128
351	Santa Cruz do Bispo	6,119
352	Oliveira	6,111
353	Arruda dos Vinhos	6,059
354	Aljubarrota	6,035
355	Madalena	6,025
356	Sao Vicente	5,952
357	Praia da Vitoria	5,950
358	Marinhas	5,941
359	Lobao	5,938
360	Gandra	5,923
361	Porto de Mos	5,921
362	Santa Cruz	5,899
363	Fontanelas	5,890
364	Eixo	5,867
365	Olival do Basto	5,848
366	Milharado	5,824
367	Ribeira Brava	5,821
368	Vidigueira	5,821
369	Arazede	5,795
370	Aljezur	5,773
371	Bombarral	5,741
372	Vila Nova da Telha	5,737
373	Redondo	5,734
374	Odemira	5,719
375	Vieira de Leiria	5,696
376	Marinhais	5,677
377	Monte Real	5,645
378	Boticas	5,639
379	Caldelas	5,613
380	Caldas das Taipas	5,612
381	Oleiros	5,610
382	Olival	5,604
383	Sernancelhe	5,560
384	Serta	5,525
385	Branca	5,521
386	Lamas	5,517
387	Moreira de Conegos	5,496
388	Trafaria	5,492
389	Carregal do Sal	5,489
390	Sao Roque	5,464
391	Barrosas	5,462
392	Vilela	5,429
393	Poiares	5,403
394	Pataias	5,399
395	Aguiar da Beira	5,362
396	Riachos	5,352
397	Urgeses	5,346
398	Monchique	5,310
399	Sao Miguel do Couto	5,305
400	Galegos	5,293

Religion

After the Republic was introduced in 1910, the state and church were separated (1911). 92% of the population is still considered Catholics, 1.5% are Protestants. Portugal has one of Europe’s most important places of pilgrimage, Fátima.

Language

The official language is Portuguese. In addition to Portuguese uses approximately 10,000 in the Trás-os-Montes Mirandesian region, which is an Asturian-Leononian dialect of Spanish. Of the country’s approximately 10,500 gypsies use an iberoromanian gypsy language, which in Portugal is called calão, of approximately 5000.