Europe
Living in Portugal
Photo: Dom Luís I Bridge over the Douro, Porto · Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
A small Atlantic-facing country with a mild climate, surf coast and historic cities, popular with remote workers and retirees. Editorial
The numbers
Main city climate13° to 21°CColdest and warmest month averages, Lisbon · 2020
Average temperature16.5°CLisbon (whole country 15.9°C) · 2020
Price level65%Of US prices for everyday goods and services · 2025
Average spending$2,511Per person per month (international $, PPP) · 2025
Income per person$53,100GDP per person a year (international $, PPP) · 2025
Unemployment6.2%Of the labour force · 2025
Homicides0.7Per 100,000 people a year · 2022
Life expectancy82.4 yearsAt birth · 2024
Clean air9 µg/m³Average fine-particle pollution (WHO guideline: 5) · 2023
Forest37%Of the land area · 2024
City dwellers61%Of people live in cities and towns · 2025
Tax revenue22.3%Of GDP · 2024
Language and getting around Editorial
- Languages: Portuguese. English is widely spoken.
- Public transport: Moderate: good in the main cities, a car helps elsewhere.
- Geography: Has a coastline, with mountain areas. Capital: Lisbon.
Moving to Portugal
Visa and residence rules depend on your nationality, job, studies and family, and they change often. Start with the government's own website: vistos.mne.gov.pt.
Sources
| Indicator | Value | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| GDP per person (PPP) | 53,145.73 international $ | 2025 | World Bank WDI |
| Unemployment | 6.16 % of labour force | 2025 | World Bank WDI (ILO estimate) |
| Intentional homicides | 0.72 per 100,000 people | 2022 | World Bank WDI (UNODC) |
| Political stability and absence of violence | 0.7 score, -2.5 to 2.5 | 2025 | Worldwide Governance Indicators |
| Government effectiveness (public services) | 1.02 score, -2.5 to 2.5 | 2025 | Worldwide Governance Indicators |
| Life expectancy at birth | 82.38 years | 2024 | World Bank WDI |
| Health spending per person | 2,971.04 US$ per person | 2024 | World Bank WDI (WHO) |
| Tax revenue | 22.35 % of GDP | 2024 | World Bank WDI (IMF) |
| People living in cities and towns | 61.5 % of population | 2025 | World Bank WDI (UN) |
| Forest area | 36.65 % of land | 2024 | World Bank WDI (FAO) |
| Fine-particle air pollution (PM2.5) | 8.77 µg/m³, annual mean | 2023 | World Bank WDI |
| Price level of household goods and services | 0.65 ratio, United States = 1 | 2025 | Calculated: PPP conversion factor (private consumption) / official exchange rate, World Bank WDI |
| Average household spending per person | 2,511.1 international $ per person per month | 2025 | Calculated: household consumption (PPP) / population / 12, World Bank WDI |
| Average temperature, whole country 1991-2020 | 15.9 °C | 2020 | World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal (CRU TS 4.08, 1991-2020) |
| Average temperature, main city | 16.5 °C | 2020 | NASA POWER climatology, main city |
| Coldest month average, main city | 12.8 °C | 2020 | NASA POWER climatology, main city |
| Warmest month average, main city | 20.5 °C | 2020 | NASA POWER climatology, main city |
| Rainfall, main city | 540 mm per year | 2020 | NASA POWER climatology, main city |
Data checked 2 November 2026. National averages hide differences between cities and regions. Climate figures for Lisbon are 2001–2020 averages.
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