Net migration in Portugal
Portugal: Net migration was 16,472 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Net migration in Portugal, 1960–2025
Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
Analysis
In 2025, net migration in Portugal stood at 16,472.
That represents a change of down 20.2% on the previous year and up 613.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net migration in Portugal peaked at 69,606 in 2021 and was at its lowest, -191,862, in 1970.
Portugal ranks 38th of 218 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Net migration in Portugal, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | -95,886 | — |
| 1961 | -112,768 | +17.6% |
| 1962 | -113,947 | +1.0% |
| 1963 | -116,874 | +2.6% |
| 1964 | -118,763 | +1.6% |
| 1965 | -123,855 | +4.3% |
| 1966 | -129,233 | +4.3% |
| 1967 | -136,232 | +5.4% |
| 1968 | -145,200 | +6.6% |
| 1969 | -161,114 | +11.0% |
| 1970 | -191,862 | +19.1% |
| 1971 | 48,944 | -125.5% |
| 1972 | 39,058 | -20.2% |
| 1973 | 39,748 | +1.8% |
| 1974 | 41,254 | +3.8% |
| 1975 | 42,262 | +2.4% |
| 1976 | 40,490 | -4.2% |
| 1977 | 37,779 | -6.7% |
| 1978 | 34,345 | -9.1% |
| 1979 | 32,434 | -5.6% |
| 1980 | 29,881 | -7.9% |
| 1981 | -7,938 | -126.6% |
| 1982 | -15,006 | +89.0% |
| 1983 | -16,568 | +10.4% |
| 1984 | -16,658 | +0.5% |
| 1985 | -19,183 | +15.2% |
| 1986 | -20,000 | +4.3% |
| 1987 | -23,142 | +15.7% |
| 1988 | -26,595 | +14.9% |
| 1989 | -30,615 | +15.1% |
| 1990 | -34,855 | +13.8% |
| 1991 | -37,914 | +8.8% |
| 1992 | -11,847 | -68.8% |
| 1993 | 8,561 | -172.3% |
| 1994 | 20,761 | +142.5% |
| 1995 | 26,971 | +29.9% |
| 1996 | 32,640 | +21.0% |
| 1997 | 36,922 | +13.1% |
| 1998 | 40,931 | +10.9% |
| 1999 | 49,572 | +21.1% |
| 2000 | 60,586 | +22.2% |
| 2001 | 55,565 | -8.3% |
| 2002 | 42,169 | -24.1% |
| 2003 | 24,740 | -41.3% |
| 2004 | 13,928 | -43.7% |
| 2005 | 15,537 | +11.6% |
| 2006 | 16,754 | +7.8% |
| 2007 | 21,064 | +25.7% |
| 2008 | 9,478 | -55.0% |
| 2009 | 14,532 | +53.3% |
| 2010 | -5,627 | -138.7% |
| 2011 | -31,513 | +460.0% |
| 2012 | -37,083 | +17.7% |
| 2013 | -36,342 | -2.0% |
| 2014 | -26,447 | -27.2% |
| 2015 | -3,209 | -87.9% |
| 2016 | -775 | -75.8% |
| 2017 | 13,979 | -1903.7% |
| 2018 | 22,495 | +60.9% |
| 2019 | 63,031 | +180.2% |
| 2020 | 54,076 | -14.2% |
| 2021 | 69,606 | +28.7% |
| 2022 | 68,696 | -1.3% |
| 2023 | 29,102 | -57.6% |
| 2024 | 20,648 | -29.0% |
| 2025 | 16,472 | -20.2% |
Portugal compared with similar countries
- Portugal's 16,472 is above the median for high income countries, which is 843, 19.5× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Portugal's 16,472 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 166, 99.2× the median. (57 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Net migration 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | +1903.7% | -775 | 13,979 |
| 2011 | -460.0% | -5,627 | -31,513 |
| 2019 | +180.2% | 22,495 | 63,031 |
| 1993 | +172.3% | -11,847 | 8,561 |
| 1994 | +142.5% | 8,561 | 20,761 |
| 2010 | -138.7% | 14,532 | -5,627 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | -125,387 | -161,114 | -95,886 | 10 |
| 1970s | 16,445 | -191,862 | 48,944 | 10 |
| 1980s | -14,582 | -30,615 | 29,881 | 10 |
| 1990s | 13,174 | -37,914 | 49,572 | 10 |
| 2000s | 27,435 | 9,478 | 60,586 | 10 |
| 2010s | -4,149 | -37,083 | 63,031 | 10 |
| 2020s | 43,100 | 16,472 | 69,606 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Portugal
More financial sector data for Portugal
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, annual growth rate 19.33 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0021 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per capita 67.16 units per person (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, annual growth rate 13.63 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0015 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per capita 49.04 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, annual growth rate 19.33 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0021 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per capita 67.16 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, SDR, annual growth rate 13.63 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is net migration in Portugal?
- Net migration in Portugal was 16,472 in 2025, according to World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
- What is the highest net migration recorded in Portugal?
- The highest recorded value was 69,606 in 2021.
- What is the lowest net migration recorded in Portugal?
- The lowest recorded value was -191,862 in 1970.
- How does Portugal rank for net migration?
- Portugal ranks 38th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is net migration rising or falling in Portugal?
- Over the last ten years it is up 613.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Portugal data come from?
- The figures come from World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division, published as part of Net migration. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 66 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Net migration is the net total of migrants during the period, that is, the number of immigrants minus the number of emigrants, including both citizens and noncitizens.