Portugal's ageing crisis and shifting households revealed in new EU data tool
A new interactive platform by Pordata provides a detailed comparison of the 27 EU member states across population, economy, living costs, and the environment. The tool launches as Portugal marks 40 years since joining the European Economic Community in January 1986.
The data highlights key trends, including Portugal's rapid ageing, shifting household structures, and high immigration growth despite a relatively low share of foreign residents.
Portugal's population has aged faster than the EU average since 2011. The share of young people (0-14 years) fell from 15.5% to around 13% by 2023, while seniors (65+) rose from 17% to over 24%. This shift gives Portugal one of the EU's highest old-age dependency ratios—around 38%, compared to the EU average of 32%. Only Italy and Greece show similar levels, with Portugal now having just 53 young people for every 100 seniors.
Household structures have also changed. Solo living has surged across the EU, and Portugal saw a near-50% rise in people living alone. Meanwhile, households with children dropped by 6.8 percentage points since 2011, with only a quarter now including children.
Education levels reveal mixed results. While Portugal's 25- to 34-year-olds match the EU average, four in ten adults still lack a secondary education—far higher than in Poland or Lithuania.
On immigration, Portugal recorded the EU's highest annual growth rate (34.3%) between 2012 and 2023. Yet, its share of foreign residents (9.6%) ranks only 12th, well below Luxembourg's 47.3%. Estonia and Lithuania follow closely in immigration growth, with rates of 30.3% and 30.2% respectively.
The platform's data underscores Portugal's demographic challenges, from rapid ageing to declining youth populations. Despite leading in immigration growth, its foreign resident share remains modest. The findings also reflect broader EU trends, such as rising solo living and varying education levels across member states. The tool offers policymakers and researchers a clearer picture of Portugal's position within the EU as it marks four decades of membership.
