Chart and table of population level and growth rate for the Lisbon, Portugal metro area from 1950 to 2025.

In 1800, the population of Portugal was estimated to be approximately 2.8 million; a figure that would see gradual growth throughout the 19th century. During this time, Portugal experienced a series of political and military challenges, including an invasion by Napoleonic France, the cessation of Brazil (it's largest colony), and a civil war caused by royal succession; nonetheless, Portugal remained an international power throughout the 1800s, with significant spheres of influence on all continents. 20th century At the turn of the 20th century, Portugal's international standing began to diminish, and its weakening position in Africa initiated a wave of civil unrest in the metropole. In 1908, following a period of political instability, King Carlos I and his heir were assassinated in Lisbon, and the 5 October 1910 Revolution permanently brought an end to the monarchy. This, however, did not end the political instability, which was further exacerbated by the impacts of the First World War and Spanish Flu pandemic (which, combined, resulted in the deaths of more than 220,000 Portuguese people). Portugal would then experience a rapid population gain following the establishment of the Second Republic (Estado Novo) in 1933, under the 34 year reign of António de Oliveira Salazar, which would see Portugal’s currency stabilized and significant economic growth lasting until the 1960s. However, Portugal’s population would decline in the early 1960s, as escalating colonial wars overseas, combined with increasing political instability at home would see many citizens emigrating elsewhere in Europe; particularly youths attempting to avoid the country’s military draft. Growth would largely resume following the end of the dictatorship with the Carnation Revolution of 1974, as many Portuguese migrants in the now independent colonies would return to Europe. Recent decades While growth would slow (and decline slightly) amidst economic troubles in the 1980s, Portugal’s population generally increased until 2008, when it peaked at 10.6 million people. From 2008 until today, a combination of the long term impacts of the 2008 financial crisis and declining fertility rates have resulted in a steady drop in the country’s population. As a result, in 2020, Portugal is estimated to have fallen to 10.2 million people, although it is also regarded as one of the most stable, peaceful and democratic countries in the world.

The Portuguese region with the highest social network usage in 2024 was Greater Lisbon, with 75 percent of its population participating in social networks. Following, Península de Setúbal had a share of 73.43 percent. The region with the lowest social network use was Central Portugal, with 66.21 percent.

After a steep decline in the number of international visitors arriving to Portugal during the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), 2022 recorded similar values to the pre-pandemic times. Lisbon was the most visited Portuguese region by international travelers in the same year, having received a total of *** million overnight visitors. In 2023, the number of international tourists in the country was even higher. Lisbon received almost *** million foreign guests. The Algarve – the Southern-most region in the European country – ranked second, with *** million tourists from other nations. Spanish visitors dominated, but the Algarve was mainly for the British International tourists in Portugal mostly originated from European countries. The United Kingdom recorded the highest number of travelers visiting Portugal in 2024, reaching the benchmark of almost *** million. Spain accounted for over **** million visitors to Portugal, ******* of whom selecting the Algarve as destination. This southern region of the country received, in 2024, *** million British tourists, who were only surpassed in number by Portuguese visitors. Travel and tourism had an undeniable economic impact The great influx of tourists in Portugal had a considerable economic impact in the country. As of 2024, the travel and tourism sector contributed with **** billion U. S. dollars to the gross domestic product of Portugal, which surpasses 2019 values. In terms of sales revenue, the sector presents a rising tendency. The year 2019 registered ** billion euros in sales revenue, which were topped in 2023. During this year, almost ** billion euros were generated in sales of tourism services.

The history of modern Brazil begins in the year 1500 when Pedro Álvares Cabral arrived with a small fleet and claimed the land for the Portuguese Empire. With the Treaty of Torsedillas in 1494, Spain and Portugal agreed to split the New World peacefully, thus allowing Portugal to take control of the area with little competition from other European powers. As the Portuguese did not arrive with large numbers, and the indigenous population was overwhelmed with disease, large numbers of African slaves were transported across the Atlantic and forced to harvest or mine Brazil's wealth of natural resources. These slaves were forced to work in sugar, coffee and rubber plantations and gold and diamond mines, which helped fund Portuguese expansion across the globe. In modern history, transatlantic slavery brought more Africans to Brazil than any other country in the world. This combination of European, African and indigenous peoples set the foundation for what has become one of the most ethnically diverse countries across the globe.

Independence and Monarchy By the early eighteenth century, Portugal had established control over most of modern-day Brazil, and the population more than doubled in each half of the 1800s. The capital of the Portuguese empire was moved to Rio de Janeiro in 1808 (as Napoleon's forces moved closer towards Lisbon), making this the only time in European history where a capital was moved to another continent. The United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves was established in 1815, and when the Portuguese monarchy and capital returned to Lisbon in 1821, the King's son, Dom Pedro, remained in Brazil as regent. The following year, Dom Pedro declared Brazil's independence, and within three years, most other major powers (including Portugal) recognized the Empire of Brazil as an independent monarchy and formed economic relations with it; this was a much more peaceful transition to independence than many of the ex-Spanish colonies in the Americas. Under the reign of Dom Pedro II, Brazil's political stability remained relatively intact, and the economy grew through its exportation of raw materials and economic alliances with Portugal and Britain. Despite pressure from political opponents, Pedro II abolished slavery in 1850 (as part of a trade agreement with Britain), and Brazil remained a powerful, stable and progressive nation under Pedro II's leadership, in stark contrast to its South American neighbors. The booming economy also attracted millions of migrants from Europe and Asia around the turn of the twentieth century, which has had a profound impact on Brazil's demography and culture to this day.

The New Republic

Despite his popularity, King Pedro II was overthrown in a military coup in 1889, ending his 58 year reign and initiating six decades of political instability and economic difficulties. A series of military coups, failed attempts to restore stability, and the decline of Brazil's overseas influence contributed greatly to a weakened economy in the early 1900s. The 1930s saw the emergence of Getúlio Vargas, who ruled as a fascist dictator for two decades. Despite a growing economy and Brazil's alliance with the Allied Powers in the Second World War, the end of fascism in Europe weakened Vargas' position in Brazil, and he was eventually overthrown by the military, who then re-introduced democracy to Brazil in 1945. Vargas was then elected to power in 1951, and remained popular among the general public, however political opposition to his beliefs and methods led to his suicide in 1954. Further political instability ensued and a brutal, yet prosperous, military dictatorship took control in the 1960s and 1970s, but Brazil gradually returned to a democratic nation in the 1980s. Brazil's economic and political stability fluctuated over the subsequent four decades, and a corruption scandal in the 2010s saw the impeachment of President Dilma Rousseff. Despite all of this economic instability and political turmoil, Brazil is one of the world's largest economies and is sometimes seen as a potential superpower. The World Bank classifies it as a upper-middle income country and it has the largest share of global wealth in Latin America. It is the largest Lusophone (Portuguese-speaking), and sixth most populous country in the world, with a population of more than 210 million people.

In Portugal, the right and civic responsibility to vote start at the age of 18 years and are extended for a lifetime. In 2023, there were over 9.26 million registered voters in the country, with those aged between 45 and 49 years constituting the most numerous group, at 858.700 individuals. The youngest registered voters, between 18 and 19 years of age, formed the least numerous cluster, followed by the group between 80 and 84 years, which reckoned 426,000 registered voters. Lisbon counted the highest number of voters in Portugal, while France headed abroad As of December 2024, there were over 10.9 million registered voters in the Portuguese electoral register, with the region of Lisbon gathering the highest number, namely 1.9 million. Porto followed in number of registered voters, while Portalegre’s electoral district was the one with the lowest sum. In total, there were 9.3 million voters residing in national territory. Registered women, namely 4.8 million in number, were slightly more abundant than men.Many Portuguese citizens residing abroad were registered in the Portuguese electoral register in the same year, with Europe aggregating most of them. France was the foreign country harboring the highest number, more than 409,500. Brazil was placed second, where 281,245 Portuguese nationals resided, while the United Kingdom stayed at the 185,850 benchmark. After an unforeseen political crisis, voters will be called to the ballot In March 2025, the Prime Minister Luís Montenegro saw his government crumble after his family business rose alarm around the opposition parties for possible conflicts of interest. This precipitated snap elections, despite most Portuguese believing that these could have been avoided. Even after having voted in previous early elections in 2024, the voters in Portugal mostly intend to vote in 2025, in an elective proccess that will decide the future of the country's governance.

In 2023, it was estimated that more than four million Brazilians were living outside Brazil. The United States had the largest community, with over two million Brazilian citizens. Portugal was the second country with the largest Brazilian community, namely 513,000 citizens. Brazilians abroad The Brazilian community sought economic opportunities in the United States in the 1980s, leading to the establishment of communities in New York and Boston. Facilitated by the common language and Portugal's favorable laws for the Community of Portuguese-speaking countries, Lisbon became the most popular destination in Europe. This city harbors more than 77,000 Brazilians, with women making up the majority of these. Immigration in Brazil Although more than four million Brazilians live outside of Brazil, the country has had a positive migration rate since 2010, meaning that more people are arriving than leaving. One factor contributing to this is the current humanitarian crisis in Venezuela, which has increased the number of refugees arriving in Brazil each year.