Data released by the Francisco Manuel dos Santos Foundation via Pordata shows that children under 10 now make up only 9.8% of Portugal's population, down from 22% in 1975. Portugal is now among the European Union countries with the lowest proportion of children. Additionally, the report highlights that Portuguese children spend an average of 38 hours per week in schools and daycare facilities, one of the highest rates in Europe.
Portugal records historic decline in child population
Monday, 1 June 2026AI summary
Context & Explainers
Pordata is a statistical database (Base de Dados de Portugal Contemporâneo) created by the Francisco Manuel dos Santos Foundation. It collects and publishes verified data on various aspects of Portuguese society, including demographics, education, and health, to support informed public debate.
The Francisco Manuel dos Santos Foundation (Fundação Francisco Manuel dos Santos) is a private, non-profit organization established in 2009. It focuses on promoting civic participation, social research, and the study of contemporary Portugal through initiatives like Pordata and various public policy debates.
7 sources
- Few children, too much time at school: in Portugal, childhood has shrunk and changed its placeexpresso.pt ·
- From lack of access to the pill to job insecurity: the weight of children in the population has fallen by 12 percentage pointspublico.pt ·
- Children spend an average of 38 hours per week at schoolobservador.pt ·
- Historic decline: Portugal becomes one of the EU countries with the fewest childrendn.pt ·
- Portuguese children spend some of the most time at schoolcmjornal.pt ·
- Fewer children, more time in school: the portrait of children in PortugalSIC Notícias ·
- Portugal is one of the European Union countries with the fewest childrenrtp.pt ·
