Latest figures from the National Statistics Institute indicate that the Brazilian community has surged to 574,195, nearly doubling its numbers since 2021
Brazilians constitute more than one-third of Portugal’s foreign population
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Data released by Portugal’s National Statistics Institute has confirmed that Brazilian citizens are the primary driver of the country’s foreign demographic, representing more than one-third of all international residents. Out of the 1.6 million foreign nationals living in Portugal in 2025, there are 574,195 Brazilians, a figure that has almost doubled over the last four years, CNN reports.
Overall, foreign nationals now account for 14 percent of Portugal’s total population, which stands at 11,424,031. Demographic density is highest in the northern region, followed closely by the Greater Lisbon area.
Following the Brazilian cohort, the second-largest immigrant group is Angolan, comprising 103,140 residents, or 6.5 percent of the foreign population, CNN says.
[See more: Portugal named the world’s fourth-best place to retire in 2026]
Other significant foreign communities include Indians (93,683), Cape Verdeans (76,099), Nepalese (56,866), Bangladeshi nationals (56,724), and Guineans (53,555). The country also hosts notable populations from Ukraine, São Tomé and Príncipe, Pakistan, the United Kingdom, Italy, France, China, and Germany.
While Brazil remains the largest community, the data reveals significant shifts in growth rates across other immigrant groups since 2021. Nationals from São Tomé and Príncipe saw the most rapid expansion, recording a 263 percent increase.
This was followed by significant growth among Bangladeshi citizens (230 percent), Pakistanis (215 percent), and Angolans (212 percent).
