Latest news and stories about gdp in Portugal for expats and residents.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup has the potential to generate an economic impact of up to 945 million euros for Portugal. Analysts note that the final figure will depend heavily on the performance of the national team, with baseline estimates starting at 378 million euros.
It is evident that economies accelerate and decelerate due to numerous factors. In recent years, it has been common for economic indicators, namely Gross Domestic Product (GDP), to reflect all international instability, from the pandemic to the war in Ukraine and the conflict in the Middle East, with inflationary outbreaks in between. And...
Eurostat revised its figures on Friday, lowering the eurozone's year-on-year GDP growth to 0.3% through March, down from the 0.8% estimate in April. For the European Union as a whole, the year-on-year rate was 0.7%, also revised downwards from the previous 1.0% forecast. In quarterly terms, the eurozone recorded a 0.2% contraction and the EU a 0.1% decline, reversing preliminary estimates that had pointed to 0.1% growth for both. In Portugal, Eurostat recorded year-on-year GDP growth of 2.3% and stability compared to the fourth quarter of 2025. EU GDP grew by 1.6% in 2025 while employment growth slowed.
Analysis of the growth of the economy based on Gross Domestic Product data.
The Portuguese economy stagnated in the first quarter of the year compared to the previous one, INE confirmed this Friday. GDP recorded a year-on-year increase of 2.3%.
The European Commission has revised its projections for Portugal. It maintains the forecast of deficits on the horizon, starting this year, but cuts the estimate for GDP growth.
The European Commission's new economic forecasts are less optimistic than those of the Government. This year, Portuguese GDP is expected to grow by 1.7% and the country will have a slight budget deficit of 0.1%, according to the Commission. However, in 2027 the deficit will be larger.
The economy grew by 0.1% in the eurozone and 0.2% in the EU during the first quarter compared to the final quarter of last year. According to Eurostat's flash estimates released this Wednesday, Portuguese GDP stagnated during that period, though it grew by 2.3% year-on-year. Meanwhile, the broader European economy saw slight growth both quarter-on-quarter and year-on-year. Employment grew more significantly than the economy in both regions. Storms have left the Portuguese economy stagnant in the first quarter.
Public debt under the Maastricht definition, which is the one used by Brussels, increased to 91.0% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the first quarter of this year, up 1.3 percentage points compared to the end of 2025, the Bank of Portugal announced today.
The national economy showed zero growth up to March compared to the fourth quarter of 2025 (which saw a 0.9% increase). Year-on-year, there was growth of 2.3%. The period was marked by storms that severely affected mainland Portugal, particularly the central region. Several industries were hit, with a natural impact on macroeconomic data. Statistics Portugal (INE) released the estimates this Thursday, 30 April. Looking at the quarter-on-quarter change in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by volume, the contribution of net external demand turned negative. This was due to 'a more significant recovery in imports of goods and services than in exports of goods and services,' notes the National Statistics Institute. On the other hand, in the first quarter, 'the contribution of domestic demand turned positive, with a significant acceleration in investment, while private consumption slowed down,' it adds. GDP grows above the full year of 2025 in year-on-year terms. The data indicate an acceleration to 2.3% compared to the same period last year, representing the highest quarterly growth since the fourth quarter of 2024. The rise compares to 1.9% in the last quarter of last year. The economy slowed to 1.9% in 2025.
Growth of the Portuguese economy accelerated to 2.3% in the first quarter compared to the same period last year, according to data released this Thursday by the National Statistics Institute (INE). However, the scenario is more adverse when compared to the final stretch of last year, with the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ...
The publication will allow for an understanding of the evolution of wealth production in the Portuguese economy, based on quick estimates of the quarterly GDP growth rates in volume.
The April CIP-ISEG Economic Situation Barometer estimates that GDP remained stable in the first three months of 2026, representing a year-on-year growth of 2.2%. This result is partly due to a base effect following the contraction in early 2025, the adverse impact of storms in January and February, and the initial effects of the conflict in the Persian Gulf. The report notes a 4.4% year-on-year drop in industrial production in February, largely attributed to the severe weather. It anticipates that public support programs and insurance payouts will mitigate some of the negative impact on growth throughout the year. Rafael Alves Rocha, Director-General of CIP, warns of the risk of an energy price shock spreading through the economy, noting that current government measures are insufficient and calling for direct support for affected companies. While overall economic sentiment deteriorated, some sectors, such as light vehicle production and cement sales, showed positive growth.
An analysis of the structural barriers hindering long-term economic development in Portugal, published by Correio do Minho.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) predicts that Portugal's budgetary position will deteriorate this year to a deficit of 0.1% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which is still more optimistic than most economic institutions. At the same time, the Bretton Woods institution sees the public debt ratio falling below 80%.
A deficit of less than 0.5% of GDP would keep the country more comfortable, according to the Finance Minister, “because if it is [higher], it places us at the discretion of the European Commission's decision.”
The Portuguese economy financed the exterior by 2.7% of GDP in 2025, a reduction of 0.6 percentage points compared to what had been the highest financing capacity in nearly three decades, the Bank of Portugal said today.
According to the central bank, private individuals, the financial sector, and public administrations recorded financing capacities of 3.9%, 1.1%, and 0.8% of GDP, respectively.
The Portuguese economy provided 2.7% of GDP in net financing to the rest of the world in 2025, a decrease of 0.6 percentage points compared to the highest financing capacity seen in nearly three decades, the Bank of Portugal (BdP) reported this Friday, the 10th. According to the central bank, households, the financial sector, and public administrations recorded financing capacities of 3.9%, 1.1%, and 0.8% of GDP, respectively, while non-financial corporations were the only sector to show a financing need, equivalent to 3.1% of GDP. Additionally, foreign direct investment in Portugal fell by 34.9% in 2025 to 8.51 billion euros.
In the coming quarters, activity is expected to remain highly dependent on the evolution of the conflict in the Middle East.
The European Commission estimated today that the European Union's (EU) Gross Domestic Product (GDP) may grow 0.4 to 0.6 percentage points less this year compared to previous forecasts due to the impact of the conflict in the Middle East.
The European Commission estimated today that the European Union's (EU) Gross Domestic Product (GDP) may grow 0.4 to 0.6 percentage points less this year compared to previous forecasts due to the impact of the conflict in the Middle East.
This indicator corresponds to the ratio between tax revenues and GDP.
According to provisional results from the INE, the Public Administration had a positive balance of 2,058.6 million euros in 2025, which corresponded to 0.7% of GDP. The figure is above the Government's forecasts, which predicted a surplus of 0.3% of GDP. The Executive calls it a “historic result” that “allows us to look to 2026 with confidence”.
According to provisional results from the INE, the Public Administration recorded a positive balance of 2,058.6 million euros in 2025, corresponding to 0.7% of GDP. This figure is above the Government's forecasts, which had predicted a surplus of 0.3% of GDP.
The executive director of CM says that the Bank of Portugal's forecasts point to a decrease in GDP and an increase in inflation. He adds that the longer the war lasts, the worse this scenario becomes.
Portugal's GDP (Gross Domestic Product) per capita, expressed in purchasing power parities (PPP), was 81% of the European Union (EU) average in 2025, Eurostat announced this Wednesday. According to preliminary data for 2025, GDP per capita expressed in PPP – to account for differences in...
Finance Minister Joaquim Miranda Sarmento anticipated this Tuesday, March 24, that the 2025 budget surplus, to be released this Thursday by the National Statistics Institute, will be a “pleasant surprise and good news for the country.” The Government had forecast a surplus of 0.3% of GDP for 2025, but the minister had already signaled it would be higher than expected. During a presentation at the Strategic Council of the Portuguese Development Bank in Oeiras, Lisbon, Miranda Sarmento highlighted that last year's budget balance “will be well above the forecasts of entities and expectations.” The minister noted that this figure “will be a pleasant surprise and good news for the country,” which will also have a “positive carry-over effect for 2026.” While the 2025 surplus “makes the margin less tight,” two events in the first quarter of this year—storms and the war in Iran—have “made the margin tight again.” Nevertheless, Miranda Sarmento emphasized that balanced public accounts “are fundamental for the country,” and the Government will maintain this principle while “continuing to support the economy and families.” Regarding economic growth, the minister acknowledged that the storms and the situation in Iran “greatly condition what 2026 will be,” but the Government's expectation was for GDP growth above 2%. “We will see the impact the storms had in the first quarter and, the longer the conflict lasts, what impact there will be,” he stated.
The country's economic activity in the first quarter of this year did not escape the devastation caused by the storm Kristin, the Governor of the Bank of Portugal announced this Monday in Leiria. The country has never experienced such a damaging event for its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the recent past, not even during the devastating fires.
The Bank of Portugal announced today that the national economy recorded an external surplus of 112 million euros in January, a year-on-year decrease of 510 million euros, or 82%. This deterioration is partly due to a worsening of the goods trade deficit, which increased by 230 million euros, with exports falling by 342 million and imports decreasing by 111 million. Simultaneously, the services surplus contracted by 172 million euros, mainly due to a 108 million drop in the transport services balance, attributed to greater use of maritime freight transport. The reduction in European Union financial contributions also removed 73 million from the secondary income balance, while the capital account fell by about 71 million, largely due to increased acquisition of carbon emission permits. Regarding the financial account, the Bank of Portugal highlights a positive balance of nearly 60 million euros in January, driven mainly by the central bank — through a reduction in deposit liabilities — and by insurance companies and pension funds, which increased assets in deposits. Conversely, banks and public administrations reduced their net external assets, reflecting an increase in deposit liabilities and higher non-resident investment in Portuguese public debt, according to the bank led by Álvaro Santos Pereira. Net external debt falls to 36.2% of GDP in 2025, reaching a low not seen since 2001.
