Portugal’s population growth has been relatively stagnant in recent decades, characterized by low birth rates, an aging population, and periods of net emigration. After peaking at around 10.6 million in the early 2010s, the country’s population began to decline slightly, primarily due to a combination of low fertility rates—among the lowest in Europe—and the outflow of young people seeking better economic opportunities abroad. In recent years, however, Portugal has experienced a modest reversal in this trend, with increased immigration, particularly from Brazil and other Portuguese-speaking countries, helping to stabilize and even slightly increase the population. Despite these recent gains, the long-term demographic outlook remains challenging, as the proportion of elderly citizens continues to rise, posing potential social and economic challenges for the future.
| Year | Population | Population Density Per Square KM |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 8,442,750 | 92.3 |
| 1955 | 8,692,600 | 95 |
| 1960 | 9,036,700 | 98.8 |
| 1965 | 9,128,850 | 99.8 |
| 1970 | 9,044,200 | 98.9 |
| 1975 | 9,411,090 | 102.9 |
| 1980 | 9,777,800 | 106.9 |
| 1985 | 9,897,192 | 108.2 |
| 1990 | 9,922,689 | 108.5 |
| 1995 | 10,065,543 | 110 |
| 2000 | 10,361,404 | 113.3 |
| 2005 | 10,576,759 | 115.6 |
| 2010 | 10,650,026 | 116.4 |
| 2015 | 10,433,546 | 114.1 |
| 2020 | 10,288,283 | 112.5 |
| 2022 | 10,242,081 | 112 |
| 2023 | 10,223,150 | 111.8 |
| 2024 | 10,207,177 | 111.6 |
| 2025 | 10,194,277 | 111.4 |
| 2030 | 10,140,270 | 110.9 |
| 2035 | 10,083,359 | 110.2 |
| 2040 | 10,002,607 | 109.4 |
| 2045 | 9,883,354 | 108.1 |
| 2050 | 9,728,863 | 106.4 |
| 2055 | 9,546,579 | 104.4 |
| 2060 | 9,342,623 | 102.1 |
| 2065 | 9,125,633 | 99.8 |
| 2070 | 8,903,832 | 97.3 |
| 2075 | 8,687,652 | 95 |
| 2080 | 8,489,602 | 92.8 |
| 2085 | 8,315,652 | 90.9 |
| 2090 | 8,159,293 | 89.2 |
| 2095 | 8,011,818 | 87.6 |
| 2100 | 7,869,803 | 86 |
Data from US Census International Database