Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception in Portugal

Portugal: Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception was 1.41 births per woman in 2024. ▼ Falling

Latest (2024)
1.41 births per woman
Change on year
down 2.8%
World rank
172nd
of 215 countries
All-time high
3.23 births per woman
in 1962
All-time low
1.21 births per woman
in 2013
Years of data
65
1960–2024

Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception in Portugal, 1960–2024

0123196019922024

Source: United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in births per woman.

Analysis

In 2024, fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception in Portugal stood at 1.41 births per woman.

That represents a change of down 2.8% on the previous year and up 13.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception in Portugal peaked at 3.23 births per woman in 1962 and was at its lowest, 1.21 births per woman, in 2013.

That places Portugal 172nd out of 215 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 65 years of available data.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1960s 3.16 births per woman 3.12 births per woman 3.23 births per woman 10
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 1.45 births per woman 5

Countries ranked near Portugal

  1. 171 Russia 1.42 births per woman compare
  2. 172 Hungary 1.41 births per woman compare
  3. 174 Bermuda 1.41 births per woman compare
  4. 175 Curacao 1.4 births per woman compare
  5. 175 North Macedonia 1.4 births per woman compare

See the full ranking of 215 places →

More population data for Portugal

All data for Portugal →

Frequently asked questions

What is fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception in Portugal?
Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception in Portugal was 1.41 births per woman in 2024, according to United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception recorded in Portugal?
The highest recorded value was 3.23 births per woman in 1962.
What is the lowest fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception recorded in Portugal?
The lowest recorded value was 1.21 births per woman in 2013.
How does Portugal rank for fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception?
Portugal ranks 172nd out of 215 countries with data for 2024.
Is fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception rising or falling in Portugal?
Over the last ten years it is up 13.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Portugal data come from?
The figures come from United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Download this data

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About this data

Indicator
Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception
Unit
births per woman
Source
United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
215 places, 13,943 data points, 1960–2024
Last refreshed

The total fertility rate, in a given year. The unmet need for contraception shows the estimated share of married fertile women of reproductive age who do not want to become pregnant and are not using contraception.