Portugal: health and care

What is life expectancy in Portugal?

Life expectancy at birth in Portugal was 82.5 years in 2024, up from 81.4 in 2021, according to Eurostat.

Life expectancy at birth is the average number of years a newborn would live if death rates at each age stayed as they were that year. It is not a forecast. It fell in 2020 and 2021 because of COVID-19 deaths and has since recovered. Eurostat publishes figures by sex and for every age. Life expectancy at 65 is also used to set Portugal's pension age.

Official sources: Eurostat: Life expectancy by age and sex (demo_mlexpec)

What is the fertility rate in Portugal?

Portugal's total fertility rate was 1.41 children per woman in 2024, down from 1.45 in 2023, according to Eurostat. It was 1.35 in 2021.

The total fertility rate is the average number of children a woman would have if she experienced that year's birth rates at each age throughout her life. About 2.1 is needed to keep a population stable without migration. Portugal's population has been growing in recent years because of immigration, reaching 10,804,871 in 2025 according to the World Bank.

Official sources: Eurostat: Fertility indicators (demo_find) · World Bank: Population, total

How much does Portugal spend on health?

Portugal's current health spending was 10.2% of GDP in 2024, according to the World Bank, which uses WHO estimates. It was 10.0% in 2023.

The figure covers public and private spending, including what households pay out of pocket, but not investment in buildings and equipment. Most care is provided by the National Health Service (SNS), funded from taxes. The World Bank also lists 5.85 doctors per 1,000 people in 2022; this counts licensed doctors, not only those working in patient care.

Official sources: World Bank: Current health expenditure (% of GDP) · World Bank: Physicians per 1,000 people

What is the average life expectancy in Portugal?

According to the UN Population Division, life expectancy at birth in Portugal was 82.4 years in 2024. No year since 2005 has been higher. Across Europe & Central Asia the middle value was 79.5 years, and Portugal placed 14th highest of 52. Of 193 countries with 2024 data, 23rd highest.

What is Portugal's infant mortality rate?

The UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation puts the infant mortality rate in Portugal at 2.7 per 1,000 in 2024. It is the bottom of the series, which starts in 2005. It is 34th highest of 51 in Europe & Central Asia, where the median is 3.4 per 1,000. Of 192 countries with 2024 data, 171st highest.

How many women die in childbirth in Portugal?

The latest figure from the WHO, for 2023, is 15.0 per 100,000. The peak was 19.0 per 100,000 in 2021 and the low 8.0 per 100,000 in 2005. Across Europe & Central Asia the middle value was 6.0 per 100,000, and Portugal placed 8th highest of 51. Of 192 countries with 2023 data, 133rd highest.

What share of GDP does Portugal spend on health care?

10.2% of GDP: that is current health spending in Portugal for 2024, according to the WHO. The peak was 11.2% of GDP in 2021 and the low 9.3% of GDP in 2007. Europe & Central Asia median: 9.4% of GDP; Portugal is 6th highest of 17.

How much do people in Portugal pay for health care themselves?

The latest figure from the WHO, for 2024, is 28.2%. The peak was 30.6% in 2019 and the low 23.7% in 2005. It is 2nd highest of 17 in Europe & Central Asia, where the median is 14.1%.

What is the doctor to patient ratio in Portugal?

According to the WHO, the number of doctors per 1,000 people in Portugal was 5.9 per 1,000 in 2022. It is the top of the series, which starts in 2005. Europe & Central Asia median: 3.7 per 1,000; Portugal is 2nd highest of 42. Of 125 countries with 2022 data, 3rd highest.

How many hospital beds per person does Portugal have?

In 2022, hospital beds per 1,000 people in Portugal was 3.5 per 1,000, according to the WHO. Its high point since 2005 was 2005, at 3.6 per 1,000; its low point was 2014, at 3.3 per 1,000. Across Europe & Central Asia the middle value was 4.3 per 1,000, and Portugal placed 31st highest of 42. Worldwide: 45th of 110.

What is the measles vaccination rate in Portugal?

The latest figure from WHO and UNICEF, for 2024, is 99.0%. That is the highest since at least 2005. Across Europe & Central Asia the middle value was 94.0%, and Portugal placed 1st highest of 51. Worldwide: 1st of 191.