Portuguese Emigration Drops to 2021 Levels

Entries of Portuguese decreased in all countries, except Germany, Belgium, United States and Australia. Switzerland remains the main destination.

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2025 December 19 . 5:51 PM

1 min read

As we can see in the image there are buildings, plants, flowers, windows, few people here and... — As we can see in the image there are buildings, plants, flowers, windows, few people here and there, vehicles, sky and clouds.

Portuguese Emigration Drops to 2021 Levels

Portuguese emigration fell in 2024, marking the lowest level since 2021. Around 65,000 people left the country, down by 5,000 from the previous year. However, immigration to Portugal has not matched the outflow, leaving a less favourable net migration balance compared to other developed European nations.

Switzerland remained the top destination for Portuguese emigrants, followed by Spain and France. Yet, overall departures declined, with the United Kingdom contributing to nearly half the reduction. Stricter post-Brexit rules have made moving there harder for Portuguese nationals.

Most countries saw fewer Portuguese arrivals in 2024, except for Germany, Belgium, the United States, and Australia. Germany recorded the biggest rise, with 7,410 Portuguese immigrants—though no specific reason for this increase has been identified. Meanwhile, Portugal’s community in Luxembourg stayed strong, making up 13.5% of all foreign arrivals there. Inês Vidigal, executive coordinator of the Emigration Observatory, predicts emigration will stay steady at 65,000 to 70,000 annually in the near future. Despite the drop, the gap between those leaving and arriving persists, shaping Portugal’s migration trends.

The decline in emigration brings Portugal’s figures back to 2021 levels. Yet, with immigration not rising at the same pace, the country’s net migration balance remains weaker than in other high-income European nations. Experts expect these patterns to continue in the coming years.