Annual change in population in Portugal
Portugal: Annual change in population was 13,661 people in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
13,661 people
Change on year
down 47.7%
World rank
132nd
of 236 countries
All-time high
130,003 people
in 1972
All-time low
-84,715 people
in 1970
Years of data
73
1951–2023
Annual change in population in Portugal, 1951–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for annual change in population in Portugal is 13,661 people, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of down 47.7% on the previous year and up 124.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual change in population in Portugal peaked at 130,003 people in 1972 and was at its lowest, -84,715 people, in 1970.
That places Portugal 132nd out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Annual change in population in Portugal, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | 55,324 people | — |
| 1952 | 49,223 people | -11.0% |
| 1953 | 49,320 people | +0.2% |
| 1954 | 44,223 people | -10.3% |
| 1955 | 45,922 people | +3.8% |
| 1956 | 41,172 people | -10.3% |
| 1957 | 39,225 people | -4.7% |
| 1958 | 49,489 people | +26.2% |
| 1959 | 47,597 people | -3.8% |
| 1960 | 32,851 people | -31.0% |
| 1961 | 15,157 people | -53.9% |
| 1962 | 7,395 people | -51.2% |
| 1963 | 2,529 people | -65.8% |
| 1964 | -2,540 people | -200.4% |
| 1965 | -6,141 people | +141.8% |
| 1966 | -17,146 people | +179.2% |
| 1967 | -26,635 people | +55.3% |
| 1968 | -36,133 people | +35.7% |
| 1969 | -55,471 people | +53.5% |
| 1970 | -84,715 people | +52.7% |
| 1971 | 16,064 people | -119.0% |
| 1972 | 130,003 people | +709.3% |
| 1973 | 123,644 people | -4.9% |
| 1974 | 119,941 people | -3.0% |
| 1975 | 123,128 people | +2.7% |
| 1976 | 127,960 people | +3.9% |
| 1977 | 127,907 people | -0.0% |
| 1978 | 118,227 people | -7.6% |
| 1979 | 106,906 people | -9.6% |
| 1980 | 100,319 people | -6.2% |
| 1981 | 73,966 people | -26.3% |
| 1982 | 48,257 people | -34.8% |
| 1983 | 39,412 people | -18.3% |
| 1984 | 31,636 people | -19.7% |
| 1985 | 22,582 people | -28.6% |
| 1986 | 13,622 people | -39.7% |
| 1987 | 8,893 people | -34.7% |
| 1988 | 2,598 people | -70.8% |
| 1989 | -3,208 people | -223.5% |
| 1990 | -11,854 people | +269.5% |
| 1991 | -20,345 people | +71.6% |
| 1992 | -8,836 people | -56.6% |
| 1993 | 11,996 people | -235.8% |
| 1994 | 26,146 people | +118.0% |
| 1995 | 33,269 people | +27.2% |
| 1996 | 35,899 people | +7.9% |
| 1997 | 42,893 people | +19.5% |
| 1998 | 48,976 people | +14.2% |
| 1999 | 55,353 people | +13.0% |
| 2000 | 68,319 people | +23.4% |
| 2001 | 71,133 people | +4.1% |
| 2002 | 58,716 people | -17.5% |
| 2003 | 41,201 people | -29.8% |
| 2004 | 27,140 people | -34.1% |
| 2005 | 21,607 people | -20.4% |
| 2006 | 21,130 people | -2.2% |
| 2007 | 22,699 people | +7.4% |
| 2008 | 17,264 people | -23.9% |
| 2009 | 12,179 people | -29.5% |
| 2010 | 2,394 people | -80.3% |
| 2011 | -21,609 people | -1002.6% |
| 2012 | -43,895 people | +103.1% |
| 2013 | -54,868 people | +25.0% |
| 2014 | -52,084 people | -5.1% |
| 2015 | -35,939 people | -31.0% |
| 2016 | -23,887 people | -33.5% |
| 2017 | -15,539 people | -34.9% |
| 2018 | -5,483 people | -64.7% |
| 2019 | 17,863 people | -425.8% |
| 2020 | 27,301 people | +52.8% |
| 2021 | 20,438 people | -25.1% |
| 2022 | 26,117 people | +27.8% |
| 2023 | 13,661 people | -47.7% |
Portugal compared with similar countries
- Portugal's 13,661 people is above the median for high income countries, which is 3,163 people, 4.3× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Portugal's 13,661 people is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 15,382 people, 89% of the median. (56 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Annual change in population in Portugal changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | -1002.6% | 2,394 people | -21,609 people |
| 1972 | +709.3% | 16,064 people | 130,003 people |
| 2019 | +425.8% | -5,483 people | 17,863 people |
| 1990 | -269.5% | -3,208 people | -11,854 people |
| 1993 | +235.8% | -8,836 people | 11,996 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 46,833 people | 39,225 people | 55,324 people | 9 |
| 1960s | -8,613 people | -55,471 people | 32,851 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 90,906 people | -84,715 people | 130,003 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 33,808 people | -3,208 people | 100,319 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 21,350 people | -20,345 people | 55,353 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 36,139 people | 12,179 people | 71,133 people | 10 |
| 2010s | -23,305 people | -54,868 people | 17,863 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 21,879 people | 13,661 people | 27,301 people | 4 |
Countries ranked near Portugal
More population data for Portugal
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.0538 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -4.39 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.0538 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.4941 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 9,261 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population -0.2816 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate 0.0558 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth -0.0% (2100)
- Population density 95.56 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 396,215 people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual change in population in Portugal?
- Annual change in population in Portugal was 13,661 people in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual change in population recorded in Portugal?
- The highest recorded value was 130,003 people in 1972.
- What is the lowest annual change in population recorded in Portugal?
- The lowest recorded value was -84,715 people in 1970.
- How does Portugal rank for annual change in population?
- Portugal ranks 132nd out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is annual change in population rising or falling in Portugal?
- Over the last ten years it is up 124.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Portugal data come from?
- The figures come from UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Annual change in population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 73 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Annual change in population, calculated as the difference between population on 1 July of consecutive years.