Demographic Ageing Dashboard

2026-05-20

Solhemmet Research

This analysis provides an integrated view of demographic ageing in Portugal by combining recent population trends, municipality-level ageing indicators, and 2035 scenarios. It highlights where pressure on care, housing, and local services is rising fastest and how that pattern differs between coastal and inland regions.

Ageing in Portugal

How Portugal’s population is ageing today, how it is projected to change by 2035, and where the pressure is greatest, municipality by municipality.

Population 2024

10.75M

↑ +109,909 vs 2023

Older Adults (65+)

2.61M

24.3% of the population

Ageing Index

192.4

older adults per 100 young people

Median Age

47.3

years (↑ vs 47.1 in 2023)

Population Evolution by Major Age Group

Age 65+
Age 80+
Age 0-14

Source: INE, 2021 Census & 2024 Resident Population Estimates

Ageing Index by Region (NUTS II) — 2024

< 170 (less aged)
170-200
> 200 (more aged)

Key Conclusion

Portugal is the 4th most aged country in the world. Center and Alentejo post the highest ageing indexes (229 and 232 respectively). In 2024 there are 192 older adults for every 100 young people — in 1991 there were only 72. Inland municipalities such as Oleiros and Alcoutim reach indexes above 780, over four times the national average.

Sources: INE — 2021 Census (Final Results, Nov. 2022); Provisional Resident Population Estimates 2024 (Jun. 2025); Resident Population Projections 2025-2100, central scenario (Sep. 2025); PORDATA — Ageing index by municipality; Eurostat — Age structure

Note: municipal projections for 2035 are estimates based on INE NUTS II regional trends applied proportionally to 2024 data.