Fertility rate, total (births per woman) (UNESCO Institute) in Portugal
Portugal: Fertility rate, total (births per woman) (UNESCO Institute) was 1.44 births per woman in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
1.44 births per woman
Change on year
up 0.7%
World rank
172nd
of 215 countries
All-time high
3.01 births per woman
in 1970
All-time low
1.21 births per woman
in 2013
Years of data
54
1970–2023
Fertility rate, total in Portugal, 1970–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in births per woman.
Analysis
The most recent figure for fertility rate, total in Portugal is 1.44 births per woman, measured in 2023.
The figure is up 0.7% on the previous year and up 19.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, fertility rate, total in Portugal peaked at 3.01 births per woman in 1970 and was at its lowest, 1.21 births per woman, in 2013.
That places Portugal 172nd out of 215 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 54 years of available data.
Fertility rate, total (births per woman) (UNESCO Institute) in Portugal, year by year
| Year | births per woman | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 3.01 births per woman | — |
| 1971 | 3 births per woman | -0.3% |
| 1972 | 2.86 births per woman | -4.7% |
| 1973 | 2.77 births per woman | -3.1% |
| 1974 | 2.7 births per woman | -2.5% |
| 1975 | 2.75 births per woman | +1.9% |
| 1976 | 2.82 births per woman | +2.5% |
| 1977 | 2.69 births per woman | -4.6% |
| 1978 | 2.45 births per woman | -8.9% |
| 1979 | 2.31 births per woman | -5.7% |
| 1980 | 2.25 births per woman | -2.6% |
| 1981 | 2.13 births per woman | -5.3% |
| 1982 | 2.07 births per woman | -2.8% |
| 1983 | 1.95 births per woman | -5.8% |
| 1984 | 1.9 births per woman | -2.6% |
| 1985 | 1.72 births per woman | -9.5% |
| 1986 | 1.66 births per woman | -3.5% |
| 1987 | 1.62 births per woman | -2.4% |
| 1988 | 1.61 births per woman | -0.6% |
| 1989 | 1.57 births per woman | -2.5% |
| 1990 | 1.56 births per woman | -0.6% |
| 1991 | 1.56 births per woman | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 1.54 births per woman | -1.3% |
| 1993 | 1.52 births per woman | -1.3% |
| 1994 | 1.45 births per woman | -4.6% |
| 1995 | 1.41 births per woman | -2.8% |
| 1996 | 1.44 births per woman | +2.1% |
| 1997 | 1.47 births per woman | +2.1% |
| 1998 | 1.47 births per woman | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 1.5 births per woman | +2.0% |
| 2000 | 1.55 births per woman | +3.3% |
| 2001 | 1.45 births per woman | -6.5% |
| 2002 | 1.46 births per woman | +0.7% |
| 2003 | 1.44 births per woman | -1.4% |
| 2004 | 1.4 births per woman | -2.8% |
| 2005 | 1.41 births per woman | +0.7% |
| 2006 | 1.37 births per woman | -2.8% |
| 2007 | 1.35 births per woman | -1.5% |
| 2008 | 1.39 births per woman | +3.0% |
| 2009 | 1.34 births per woman | -3.6% |
| 2010 | 1.39 births per woman | +3.7% |
| 2011 | 1.35 births per woman | -2.9% |
| 2012 | 1.28 births per woman | -5.2% |
| 2013 | 1.21 births per woman | -5.5% |
| 2014 | 1.24 births per woman | +2.5% |
| 2015 | 1.31 births per woman | +5.6% |
| 2016 | 1.37 births per woman | +4.6% |
| 2017 | 1.38 births per woman | +0.7% |
| 2018 | 1.42 births per woman | +2.9% |
| 2019 | 1.44 births per woman | +1.4% |
| 2020 | 1.42 births per woman | -1.4% |
| 2021 | 1.35 births per woman | -4.9% |
| 2022 | 1.43 births per woman | +5.9% |
| 2023 | 1.44 births per woman | +0.7% |
Portugal compared with similar countries
- Portugal's 1.44 births per woman is below the median for high income countries, which is 1.49 births per woman, 97% of the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Portugal's 1.44 births per woman is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 1.49 births per woman, 97% of the median. (56 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 2.74 births per woman | 2.31 births per woman | 3.01 births per woman | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.85 births per woman | 1.57 births per woman | 2.25 births per woman | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.49 births per woman | 1.41 births per woman | 1.56 births per woman | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.42 births per woman | 1.34 births per woman | 1.55 births per woman | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.34 births per woman | 1.21 births per woman | 1.44 births per woman | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.41 births per woman | 1.35 births per woman | 1.44 births per woman | 4 |
Countries ranked near Portugal
- 171 Sint Maarten (Dutch part) 1.45 births per woman compare
- 173 Cuba 1.44 births per woman compare
- 174 Netherlands 1.43 births per woman compare
- 175 Russia 1.41 births per woman compare
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)
- Population growth rate -0.049 (2100)
- Population density 95.56 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 396,215 (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is fertility rate, total in Portugal?
- Fertility rate, total in Portugal was 1.44 births per woman in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest fertility rate, total recorded in Portugal?
- The highest recorded value was 3.01 births per woman in 1970.
- What is the lowest fertility rate, total recorded in Portugal?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.21 births per woman in 2013.
- How does Portugal rank for fertility rate, total?
- Portugal ranks 172nd out of 215 countries with data for 2023.
- Is fertility rate, total rising or falling in Portugal?
- Over the last ten years it is up 19.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Portugal data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Fertility rate, total (births per woman). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 54 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release