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Portugal · Statistics

Portugal Immigration Statistics

Comprehensive migration data & demographics, updated with 2024 AIMA / INE / OECD reports.

Foreign Residents
1,543,697
Registered foreign nationals (Dec 31, 2024)
Share of Population
~14%
Share of Portugal's 10.75M residents (14.4%)
Annual Growth
+18.3%
Year-over-year increase vs 2023 (AIMA revised baseline)
New Long-Term Immigrants
138,000
Estimated new arrivals in 2024 (OECD long-duration)
01

Migration Overview

Recent numbers show how immigration is now the main driver of Portugal's demographic growth.

Total foreign residents
1,543,697
Record high at end of 2024.
+18.3% vs 2023 (AIMA revised methodology)
Foreign-born population
~14%
Including naturalised citizens; around 1 in 7 residents.
≈1.6 million people
New residence permits (AIMA)
218,332
Residence permits granted in 2024.
Backlog clearance & CPLP registrations
Net migration rate
+1.34%
Positive migratory growth offsetting −0.32% natural decline.
Population grows only because of immigration

A note on the +18.3% growth figure

Different Portuguese agencies (AIMA, INE, PORDATA) use different methodologies and baselines when counting foreign residents. The +18.3% year-over-year figure uses AIMA's revised 2023 total, which incorporated pending regularisations. Using alternative baselines (e.g. PORDATA's 2023 figure of 1,044,238) would yield a significantly higher growth rate. We use the AIMA revised figure as it provides the most consistent like-for-like comparison.

02

Population Demographics

Understanding the composition of foreign residents by region, nationality, and gender.

Resident Categories (By World Region, 2024)

Americas
36.0%
Europe
23.2%
Africa
20.4%
Asia
20.2%

Top Foreign Nationalities (2024)

1 Brazil flag
Brazil
484,596 foreign residents
31.4%
2 India flag
India
98,616 foreign residents
6.4%
3 Angola flag
Angola
92,348 foreign residents
6.0%
Male Residents
56.1%
865,881 foreign men
Driven by labor migration from South Asia
Female Residents
43.9%
677,816 foreign women
Stronger presence in Brazil / Angola communities
03

Residence Permits & Visas

Pathways used to obtain Portuguese residency in 2024 (AIMA residence permit data).

2024 Residence Permits Granted

High processing volume despite normalization after the 2023 backlog peak.
218,332
Professional activity
69,566
31.9% of all new permits
The single largest pathway, reflecting strong demand for labor.
CPLP agreement
53,235
24.4% of all new permits
Streamlined residency route for citizens of Portuguese-speaking countries.
Family reunification
21,802
10.0% of permits
Still a core pillar of Portugal's migration model.
Students
19,252
≈8.8% of permits
International students, especially in major university cities.
Independent activity (D2 / D8)
5,259
Entrepreneurs & digital nomads
De-facto high-volume route for founders and remote workers.
International protection
1,244
Refugee / humanitarian status
Status granted out of 2,677 new protection applications.
04

Integration & Naturalisation

How immigration is reshaping Portugal's society, labor market, and future demographics.

41,393
New Portuguese citizens
Foreigners who acquired Portuguese nationality in 2023.
29.2%
Births to foreign mothers
Share of all live births in 2023 — nearly 1 in 3.
76%
Immigrant employment rate
High participation rate, but hides wage and skills mismatch.
€3.654B
Social security contributions
Paid by foreign workers in 2024, helping finance ~17% of pensions.
12.3%
Non-EU unemployment
Vs 5.1% for nationals, revealing a two-tier labor market.
39.6%
Overqualification
Recent tertiary-educated immigrants working below their skills level (Eurostat 2024).
05

Policy Developments

Recent changes shaping Portugal's migration and residency landscape.

January 2024

Digital family reunification rollout

Family reunification applications for third-country dependants can be submitted fully online via AIMA's portal, cutting in-person bureaucracy and speeding up processing.

June 2024

New Action Plan for Migration

The government ends the open "expression of interest" route and moves toward a more regulated, job-linked system, signalling a pivot from liberalisation to tighter controls.

October 2025

AIMA report & backlog clearance

AIMA's first full migration report confirms that hundreds of thousands of pending SEF files were regularised, inflating the 2023–24 foreign resident totals but giving a more realistic picture.

06

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about moving to Portugal.

Portugal offers several visa options for non-EU citizens. The D7 Visa is for retirees or individuals with passive income. The D2 Visa is for entrepreneurs and self-employed individuals. The D8 Visa is for digital nomads and remote workers (introduced October 2022). Note: the Golden Visa program was terminated in October 2023.
Portugal has a lower cost of living compared to other Western European countries. Housing runs approximately €750/month for a two-bedroom apartment in Lisbon. Dining out costs around €30 per person for fine dining. Public transport is approximately €1 per journey. Costs may vary significantly by region.
Yes, Portugal offers both public and private healthcare options. Residents have access to the public healthcare system (SNS). Private health insurance is available for reduced wait times. Many expats opt for a combination of both systems.
The Non-Habitual Resident (NHR) tax regime ended in 2024. Standard tax rates now apply to most new residents. Consultation with a tax professional is recommended. Tax laws are subject to change.
Processing times vary by visa category, documentation, and current AIMA workload. D7 / D8 Visas take around 3 to 6 months from consulate submission to residency approval. Family Reunification usually takes 4 to 9 months. Golden Visa takes 12 to 18 months on average. AIMA is rolling out new digital systems to reduce processing times.
No, speaking Portuguese is not required to apply for residency. However, language proficiency becomes essential when applying for Portuguese citizenship, which requires passing a basic Portuguese test (A2 level). Learning the language is also important for integration, especially outside Lisbon and Porto.
Yes. Family reunification is a key pillar of Portugal's immigration policy. You can apply to bring your spouse or partner, minor or dependent children, and dependent parents (conditions apply). Applications can now be filed digitally via the AIMA portal.
Yes. Most residence permits, including D2, D7, D8 and family reunion visas, allow you to work in Portugal legally. Highly qualified professionals may also be eligible for the EU Blue Card. Golden Visa holders can work, but passive investment is the primary route for that visa.
Yes. While immigrants contribute significantly to the economy, they face notable wage and skills gaps. Immigrants earn, on average, 28% less than Portuguese workers of the same age and sex. 39.6% of recent, degree-holding immigrants are overqualified for their current jobs. Non-EU citizens face an unemployment rate of 12.3%, compared to 5.1% among natives. This is known as the "Portuguese Labor Paradox" — essential labor, undervalued skills.
Sources & Methodology

Data compiled from AIMA (Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo) 2024 annual statistics, INE (Instituto Nacional de Estatística), OECD International Migration Outlook 2024, Eurostat labour market and fertility statistics, and Portuguese Social Security public reporting. Population denominators use INE 2024 estimates. Growth rates use AIMA revised 2023 baselines — see methodology note in Section 01 for details.

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